How Can SMB Compression Speed Up Windows 11 File Transfers?

Windows has a built-in feature called SMB compression. It shrinks your files while they move across your network. By making the files smaller, less data has to travel between computers.

Why use it? It makes your file transfers much faster. This is especially helpful when sending large files to remote servers.

What happens when done? Your computer will spend less time waiting for files to finish moving, leading to a smoother and more efficient experience.

How to Enable SMB Compression

SMB compression is usually on by default. If you need to turn it on, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run box.
2. Type optionalfeatures and press Enter.
3. Look for “SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support” in the list and click the plus sign to expand it.
4. Check the boxes for “SMB 1.0/CIFS Client” and “SMB 1.0/CIFS Server.”
5. FLAG: Admin privileges required
6. Click OK to save your settings.

Map Network Drives With SMB Compression

You can map network drives to use compression for faster speeds.

Using Command Prompt

Use this command format to map a drive:net use * \192.168.1.100\SharedFolder /requestcompression:yes

Here is an example to map a shared folder:net use * \192.168.1.100\Documents /requestcompression:yes

Using PowerShell

With PowerShell app, use this command format:New-SmbMapping -LocalPath "Z:" -RemotePath "\192.168.1.100\Documents" -CompressNetworkTraffic $true

Using Robocopy

With Robocopy, use this command format:robocopy C:\Users\Documents \192.168.1.100\PathToDocuments /compress

Create a New Network Share With SMB Compression

You can create a new folder that uses compression from the very start.

Use PowerShell app to set this up. Here is an example to create a shared folder with compression enabled:New-SmbShare -Name "Documents" -Path "C:\Users\Admin\Documents" -CompressData $true

FLAG: Admin privileges required

Update an Existing Share

If you have an older shared folder, you can turn on compression for it now using this command:Set-SmbShare -Name "Documents" -CompressData $true

FLAG: Admin privileges required

Summary

SMB compression shrinks files as they move through your network to save time. It is perfect for speeding up large file transfers. You can enable it through your Windows settings or by using simple commands in Command Prompt or PowerShell. By using commands like net use, New-SmbShare, and Set-SmbShare, you can manage your shares easily. Using this feature makes your network work faster and more effectively.