Many Windows users have reported that they are getting some error messages while trying to access specific types of files on their Windows system. The error message that they received is shown below.
You can’t connect to the file share because it is not secure. This share requires obsolete SMB1 protocol, which is unsafe and could expose your system to attack. Your system requires SMB2 or higher.
When you try to access any shared folder, it tries to open it using one of the two protocols SMB1 or SMB2. Amongst them, SMB1 is more vulnerable to attack and very unsafe. Therefore, Microsoft has disabled it by default in Windows 10 and higher versions.
It needs an SMB2 or higher version to access the shared folder or file on the system. When the SMB2 is not installed or enabled, it throws such an error. Don’t worry if you are going through the same issue. We have analysed it and come up with detailed steps on how you can fix this error on your Windows system.
How to Fix Your system requires SMB2 or higher Error using PowerShell
In order to fix this issue, you need to check whether the SMB2 protocol is enabled or disabled. If it is disabled, you have to enable it using the PowerShell command which is explained below.
Step 1: Press the Windows and R keys together on your keyboard.
Step 2: Type powershell in the run textbox and press the Ctrl, Shift and Enter keys together.
Step 3: This might prompt a UAC on the screen. You have to accept it by clicking Yes to continue.
Step 4: Now the PowerShell window opens as an admin.
Step 5: Type the below command in the PowerShell window and then press the Enter key.
Get-SmbServerConfiguration | Select EnableSMB2Protocol
Step 6: If the EnableSMB2Protocol displays False, it means it is not enabled.
Step 7: To enable the SMB2 Protocol on your system, type the below line and press the Enter key.
Set-SmbServerConfiguration -EnableSMB2Protocol $true
Step 8: Next, press the Y key on the keyboard and press Enter key.
Step 8: This will enable the SMB2 Protocol. You can check it again by executing the command given in Step 5.
Step 9: Now it will display True.
Step 10: Once done, close the PowerShell window.