Solution: Slow SMB File Transfer on Windows 11 24H2 with WD

Users upgrading to Windows 11 24H2 have reported significantly slower SMB (Server Message Block) file transfer speeds, particularly when accessing Western Digital (WD) NAS or external drives over a network. If you're experiencing sluggish file transfers, this guide outlines the causes and provides practical solutions to speed things up.

⚠️ What's Causing the Slow SMB Transfer?

Several changes in Windows 11 24H2 may contribute to this issue:

SMB hardening policies (such as disabling SMB1 and enforcing encryption)

Updates to TCP/IP stack or network throttling

WD NAS or My Cloud devices not fully supporting the latest SMB dialects

IPv6 misconfigurations or DNS lookup delays

Power-saving settings on network adapters

These can cause noticeable slowdowns, particularly when transferring large files or accessing shared folders hosted on WD devices.

✅ Solution 1: Change SMB Client Settings in Windows

Microsoft has hardened SMB in recent Windows releases. For older WD NAS devices, compatibility issues can arise.

Steps:

Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.

Navigate to:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Lanman Workstation

Set "Enable insecure guest logons" to Enabled (if using guest access).

Alternatively, open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

Set-Smb Client Configuration -Enable Security Signature $false

⚠️ Warning: Disabling security signatures can increase vulnerability on public networks. Use with caution.

✅ Solution 2: Disable Auto-Tuning and RSS

Windows 11 uses Receive Side Scaling (RSS) and TCP Auto-Tuning by default, which may not always play well with older devices.

Steps:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Run the following commands:

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

netsh interface tcp set global rss=disabled

Restart your computer and test the file transfer again.

✅ Solution 3: Use IP Address Instead of Hostname

Windows 11 sometimes delays lookups when resolving device hostnames via NetBIOS or DNS.

Bookmark this path for quicker access.

You can also edit the hosts file (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts) to map the WD hostname to its IP manually.

✅ Solution 4: Adjust Network Adapter Settings

Ensure your network adapter isn't throttled by power-saving features.

Steps:

Open Device Manager > Network Adapters

Right-click your adapter > Properties > Power Management

Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”

Also, disable Energy Efficient Ethernet under the Advanced tab if available.

Conclusion

Slow SMB file transfers in Windows 11 24H2 can be frustrating, especially when working with older or consumer-grade WD drives. By adjusting SMB configurations, disabling network auto-tuning, and optimizing adapter settings, most users can significantly improve transfer speeds. If problems persist, consider using FTP or WD’s proprietary apps for faster file access.