We've noted for some time it was coming, but it's finally coming: Microsoft has entered the ultimate phase of stepping away from SMB1 in Windows.

This means the most recent Windows 11 preview build, currently available within the Dev and Beta channels, no more has the SMB1 client installed by default on Home versions.

Microsoft's Ned Pyle shared this news earlier today, reminding us that the transmission from SMB1 started a long time ago with the release of Windows 10 Redstone 3.

"We began shipping Windows 10 and Windows Server with SMB1 not installed automatically in RS3, the "Fall Creators Update" of 2017. Initially, we stopped installing the SMB1 server service in any editions of Windows and stopped installing the SMB1 client service in many editions of Windows. Home and Pro editions still had the customer so users could connect with the vast number of consumer and small business third-party NAS devices that only supported SMB1. If the client didn't use whatever outbound use of SMB1 after total 15 times of uptime, it would then automatically uninstall it. In RS5 - version 1809 - we stopped installing SMB1 client in Pro editions," he said.

Next Windows 11 feature update due later this year

However, the transition continues with Windows 11, though it's important to remember that the modification doesn't affect those devices where SMB1 is already enabled.

The new policy will come into effect once the next major Windows 11 feature update launches for productivity devices, something that's projected to happen in the other half of the year.

"This isn't the final story, though: I'm also announcing that we're likely to remove the SMB1 binaries inside a future release. Windows and Windows Server will no longer range from the drivers and DLLs of SMB1. We'll offer an out-of-band unsupported install package for organizations or users that also need SMB1 to connect to old factory machinery, medical gear, consumer NAS, etc. - I'll convey more details on this in some months," Ned Pyle explained.