If you’ve got an older NAS (network-attached storage) device that’s suddenly stopped working with Windows 10 or 11, you’re probably dealing with an SMB1 problem. Microsoft disabled the SMB1 protocol in modern versions of Windows because it’s genuinely insecure — but that doesn’t mean your files are gone forever. With a little care, you can get back in, grab your data, and close the door safely behind you.
Why Your NAS Stopped Working
Older NAS devices — particularly those made before around 2018 — were built to communicate using SMB1, an outdated file-sharing protocol. Modern Windows versions don’t support it by default because SMB1 has serious security vulnerabilities that have been exploited in real-world attacks (including the WannaCry ransomware outbreak).
The good news: Windows still has SMB1 built in, it’s just turned off. You can re-enable it temporarily, copy your files off, and then switch it back off again. The whole process takes about ten minutes.
How to Re-enable SMB1 Temporarily
Step 1 — Open Windows Features
Press Windows key + R, type optionalfeatures and hit OK. This opens the Windows Features panel.
Step 2 — Find SMB support
Scroll down to SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support and tick the box to expand it. You’ll see three sub-options underneath.
Step 3 — Enable with auto-removal
Tick SMB 1.0/CIFS Automatic Removal — this is important. It tells Windows to automatically disable SMB1 again once it hasn’t been used for a while, so you’re not leaving a security hole open indefinitely. Then tick SMB 1.0/CIFS Client to enable the actual connection capability.
Click OK and restart your PC when prompted.
Step 4 — Copy your files
Once your PC has restarted, your NAS should appear in File Explorer under Network. Copy everything you need off the device onto a local drive or cloud storage.
After You’ve Copied Your Files
Don’t leave SMB1 running any longer than necessary. If you ticked Automatic Removal in Step 3, Windows will handle it for you. If you want to turn it off manually straight away, just go back to optionalfeatures and untick the SMB 1.0/CIFS boxes.
It’s also worth checking your NAS manufacturer’s website for firmware updates — some older devices have received updates that add support for SMB2 or SMB3, which would make them fully compatible with modern Windows without any workarounds at all.
The Bottom Line
SMB1 being disabled isn’t a bug — it’s a deliberate security decision. But it doesn’t have to mean losing access to years of photos and files. Re-enable it briefly, get your data somewhere safe, and then lock it back down. Job done.
