Fix You can’t connect to file share because it's not secure & Obsolete SMB1 Protocol

While accessing a remote file share, if you get the error message:

You can’t connect to the file share because it’s not secure. This share requires the obsolete SMB1 protocol, which is unsafe and could expose your system to attack. Your system requires SMB2 or higher.

In addition to that above error, the fix mentioned also applies if you see any of the below errors while accessing file shares.

• The specified network name is no longer available
• Unspecified error 0x80004005
• System Error 64
• The specified server cannot perform the requested operation
• Error 58

Why is SMB1 Protocol Obsolete

So why did you get this error ?. The reason is that SMBv1 protocol is now obsolete and Microsoft strongly advises consumers to use SMB2 or higher protocol.

In Windows 10 Fall Creators Update and later versions, the Server Message Block version 1 (SMBv1) network protocol is no longer installed by default. It is superseded by SMBv2 and later protocols starting in 2007.

Hence due to the above reason, you got the error while accessing a share from possibly a Windows 10 machine. 

Here is the complete error message – You can’t connect to the file share because it’s not secure. This share requires the obsolete SMB1 protocol, which is unsafe and could expose your system to attack. Your system requires SMB2 or higher. For more info on resolving this issue, see: 

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=852747

How to Fix (via Control Panel)

Follow these steps:

• On your computer, open Control Panel
• Click Programs
• Click on Turn Windows features on or off link
• Expand the SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support option. Check the box SMB 1.0/CIFS Client
• Click the OK button
• Restart the computer

How to Fix (via PowerShell)

Follow these steps:

• Open the PowerShell and run as Administrator
• Type in this command to check if enabled

Get-WindowsOptionalFeature –Online –FeatureName SMB1Protocol

• You will see the following information, note the State is Disabled

• Type in this command to enable SMB1 Protocol

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1Protocol

• Once it has installed which normally takes a minute or two, you will be prompted to press Y to restart your computer
• After it has restarted, you should now be able to access the network share