How to Check SMB Share Caching Mode in Windows 11

Learn how to check SMB share caching mode in Windows 11 using PowerShell, inspect Offline Files settings, and troubleshoot network share access.

Windows 11 can access files and folders stored on SMB network shares, but not every SMB share uses the same caching behavior. One setting that can affect how network files are made available offline is the SMB share caching mode.

The SMB share property called CachingMode controls the offline files caching behavior of a share. Windows provides several modes, including None, Manual, Documents, Programs, and BranchCache.

If you are troubleshooting Offline Files, network-share availability, or differences between two shared folders, checking CachingMode can provide useful information.

In this guide, you will learn how to check SMB share caching mode in Windows 11 using PowerShell, understand each available mode, inspect a specific share, compare multiple shares, and safely change the setting when there is a specific reason to do so.

What Is SMB Share Caching Mode?

CachingMode is an SMB share property that specifies the caching mode of offline files for that share.

It is important to understand that this setting is not the same thing as every form of SMB client-side caching.

For example, SMB leasing and opportunistic locking are protocol mechanisms related to client-side caching and coordination. CachingMode, on the other hand, specifically describes the offline files caching behavior associated with an SMB share.

This distinction is important when troubleshooting Windows network shares.

You can inspect the setting with the PowerShell Get-SmbShare cmdlet.

Get-SmbShare

The result contains a CachingMode property for SMB shares.

Why Check SMB Share Caching Mode?

There are several reasons why you may want to check the caching mode of an SMB share.

• You are troubleshooting Offline Files behavior.
• A network folder behaves differently from another shared folder.
• Users can access files offline when you did not expect them to.
• You are investigating synchronization behavior.
• You are comparing two SMB shares on the same computer.
• You need to document SMB share configuration.
• You are migrating an old file server to a new Windows 11 or Windows Server environment.
• You need to determine whether BranchCache is configured for a share.

Checking the configuration is also useful before making changes. Instead of modifying several SMB settings at once, you can first establish exactly how the share is currently configured.

SMB Caching Mode vs SMB Leasing

Because both settings involve the word "caching," they can easily be confused.

SMB leasing is an SMB protocol mechanism associated with client-side caching and coordination between an SMB client and server.

SMB share CachingMode specifies the offline files caching mode of an SMB share.

They are related to network file access but are not the same setting.

If you want to investigate SMB leasing, see How to Check SMB Leasing in Windows 11.

For opportunistic locking, see How to Check SMB Opportunistic Locking (Oplocks) in Windows 11.

SMB CachingMode Values in Windows

Microsoft documents five primary SMB share caching modes:

• None
• Manual
• Documents
• Programs
• BranchCache

These modes determine how offline files caching is handled for the SMB share.

None

None prevents users from storing documents and programs offline through the share's offline files caching configuration.

This can be appropriate when the administrator does not want the share's files to be made available through Offline Files.

Manual

Manual allows users to identify the documents and programs they want to store offline.

This provides users with more control over which network files are made available offline.

Documents

Documents automatically stores documents offline.

This mode can be useful for shared document folders where offline access is an intended part of the environment.

Programs

Programs automatically stores documents and programs offline.

This is different from the Documents mode because it includes programs as well as documents.

BranchCache

BranchCache enables BranchCache and manual caching of documents on the shared folder.

This mode is particularly relevant in environments where BranchCache is intentionally used to optimize access to content across a wide-area network or distributed office environment.

These definitions are documented by Microsoft for the CachingMode parameter of Set-SmbShare.

How to Check SMB Share Caching Mode in Windows 11

The easiest method is to use PowerShell.

Step 1: Open PowerShell

Open PowerShell from the Windows 11 Start menu.

If you are administering an SMB server or changing share configuration, use an elevated PowerShell window when required.

Step 2: List SMB Shares

Run:

Get-SmbShare

This retrieves the SMB shares available on the computer.

The output can include properties such as the share name, path, description, and other configuration information.

Step 3: Display CachingMode

To focus on the caching setting, run:

Get-SmbShare | Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode

A result may look similar to:

Name        Path                 CachingMode
----        ----                 -----------
Documents   C:\Shares\Documents  None
Projects    D:\Shares\Projects   Manual
Public      D:\Shares\Public     Documents

The actual values on your computer can be different.

Microsoft documents CachingMode as a property exposed by Get-SmbShare.

How to Check One SMB Share

If you already know the name of the share, you can inspect only that share.

For example:

Get-SmbShare -Name "Documents" | Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode

Example output:

Name       Path                 CachingMode
----       ----                 -----------
Documents  C:\Shares\Documents  Documents

This is useful when a server contains many shares and you only need to investigate one folder.

Display All Properties of an SMB Share

When troubleshooting, you may want to see more than just the caching mode.

Run:

Get-SmbShare -Name "Documents" | Format-List *

This displays the available properties of the SMB share.

Depending on the Windows version and share configuration, you may see properties such as:

• Name
• Path
• CachingMode
• LeasingMode
• EncryptData
• CompressData
• ContinuouslyAvailable
• FolderEnumerationMode
• CurrentUsers
• AvailabilityType
• ShareState

This can be useful when you need a broader configuration snapshot.

Check Caching Mode Together With Other SMB Settings

For a more complete view of an SMB share, use:

Get-SmbShare |
Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode, LeasingMode, EncryptData, CompressData

This lets you compare offline files caching with several other share-level SMB properties.

For example:

Name       Path                 CachingMode LeasingMode EncryptData CompressData
----       ----                 ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------
Documents  C:\Shares\Documents  None        Full        False       True
Projects   D:\Shares\Projects   Manual      Full        True        False

The output shown above is only an example. Your actual configuration may be different.

How to Check Which Shares Use Offline Files Caching

If you want to quickly identify shares that are not configured with None, you can filter the results.

Get-SmbShare |
Where-Object CachingMode -ne "None" |
Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode

This can help when auditing a computer that hosts many SMB shares.

You can also filter for a specific caching mode.

Get-SmbShare |
Where-Object CachingMode -eq "Documents" |
Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode

This returns shares configured with the Documents caching mode.

How to Check SMB Shares Using BranchCache Mode

To find shares configured with BranchCache caching mode, use:

Get-SmbShare |
Where-Object CachingMode -eq "BranchCache" |
Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode

This is useful in environments where BranchCache is intentionally deployed and you need to verify which SMB shares are configured for it.

Do not assume that every SMB share benefits from BranchCache. The surrounding network architecture and client/server configuration also matter.

How to Check the Caching Mode of Hidden Shares

Windows can have hidden SMB shares in addition to ordinary user-created shares.

To include hidden shares in your inspection, use:

Get-SmbShare -IncludeHidden |
Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode

This can be useful when performing a more comprehensive SMB configuration audit.

However, avoid changing system-managed shares unless you understand their purpose and the consequences of modifying them.

How to Change SMB Share Caching Mode

Windows provides Set-SmbShare to modify SMB share properties, including CachingMode.

Before changing the setting, record the current value:

Get-SmbShare -Name "Documents" |
Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode

To set a share to None, for example:

Set-SmbShare -Name "Documents" -CachingMode None

To use manual caching:

Set-SmbShare -Name "Documents" -CachingMode Manual

To configure automatic document caching:

Set-SmbShare -Name "Documents" -CachingMode Documents

Microsoft documents -CachingMode on Set-SmbShare with the supported values None, Manual, Documents, Programs, and BranchCache.

Verify the Change

After changing the caching mode, verify the actual SMB share configuration.

Get-SmbShare -Name "Documents" |
Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode

For example:

Name       Path                 CachingMode
----       ----                 -----------
Documents  C:\Shares\Documents  Manual

Do not assume that successfully running Set-SmbShare means the application behavior has been fixed. Test the actual client workflow after making a configuration change.

SMB Caching Mode and Offline Files

SMB share caching mode is specifically related to offline files behavior.

This means it should not be used as a generic explanation for every type of network file caching in Windows.

For example, an SMB connection can still use other protocol mechanisms such as leases and opportunistic locks even though the share's CachingMode is set independently.

This distinction is important because changing CachingMode may not solve a performance problem caused by network latency, insufficient bandwidth, SMB encryption, storage performance, or another SMB feature.

SMB Caching Mode vs SMB Leasing

These two settings are often confused because both involve caching.

Feature	Purpose
SMB CachingMode	Controls offline files caching behavior for an SMB share.
SMB Leasing	Provides SMB client/server caching and coordination mechanisms.
SMB Oplocks	Provides opportunistic locking mechanisms associated with SMB caching and coordination.
SMB Compression	Reduces the amount of data transferred over the network when compression is used.
SMB Encryption	Protects SMB network traffic through encryption.

Understanding these differences makes SMB troubleshooting much easier.

Check SMB Leasing Alongside CachingMode

If a network file-access issue involves caching behavior, inspect both settings.

First check the share's caching mode:

Get-SmbShare -Name "Documents" |
Select-Object Name, CachingMode

Then check the leasing mode:

Get-SmbShare -Name "Documents" |
Select-Object Name, LeasingMode

You can combine both commands:

Get-SmbShare -Name "Documents" |
Select-Object Name, CachingMode, LeasingMode

This gives you a quick view of two different caching-related SMB settings.

For more information about leasing, see How to Check SMB Leasing in Windows 11.

Check Active SMB Connections

After checking the share configuration, inspect active SMB connections from the Windows client.

Get-SmbConnection

For a compact result:

Get-SmbConnection |
Select-Object ServerName, ShareName, UserName, Dialect, Encrypted, NumOpens

This confirms which SMB server and share the client is currently accessing.

See How to Check SMB Connections in Windows 11 for more detailed SMB connection diagnostics.

Check SMB Sessions and Open Files

If the issue involves a particular user or application, checking active SMB sessions can help identify the client involved.

Get-SmbSession |
Select-Object SessionId, ClientComputerName, ClientUserName, NumOpens

You can also check files currently opened through SMB:

Get-SmbOpenFile

These checks are useful when a user reports that a network file is locked, unavailable, or behaving differently from expected.

See How to Check SMB Sessions in Windows 11 and How to Check Open SMB Files in Windows 11.

SMB Caching Mode Troubleshooting Workflow

If you are investigating an Offline Files or SMB share problem, use a structured process.

1. Identify the affected SMB server.
2. Identify the affected SMB share.
3. Check the share's CachingMode.
4. Check the share's LeasingMode.
5. Check active SMB connections.
6. Check the negotiated SMB dialect.
7. Check active SMB sessions.
8. Check open SMB files.
9. Determine whether the problem is specific to Offline Files.
10. Test the application or file workflow again.

This approach helps prevent unrelated SMB settings from being changed unnecessarily.

Check the SMB Dialect

The SMB dialect can help determine what protocol version the active connection negotiated.

Get-SmbConnection |
Select-Object ServerName, ShareName, Dialect

A modern Windows environment may negotiate an SMB 3.x dialect, but the actual result depends on the client, server, and SMB capabilities available on both sides.

For a dedicated guide, see How to Check SMB Dialect in Windows 11.

SMB Caching Mode and Network Performance

Changing CachingMode is not a general solution for slow network transfers.

If large file transfers are slow, first investigate:

• Ethernet or Wi-Fi link speed.
• Packet loss.
• Network latency.
• SMB Multichannel.
• SMB encryption.
• SMB compression.
• Server storage performance.
• Client storage performance.
• Network adapter configuration.

For example, see How to Check SMB Multichannel in Windows 11 and How to Check SMB Compression in Windows 11.

Export SMB Share Caching Information

If you are auditing several SMB servers, you can export the share configuration to a CSV file.

Get-SmbShare |
Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode, LeasingMode, EncryptData, CompressData |
Export-Csv -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\smb-share-settings.csv" -NoTypeInformation

This creates a CSV file on the current user's desktop containing selected SMB share properties.

You can use the exported information to compare configurations between servers or document a baseline before making changes.

Compare Two SMB Shares

Suppose one share behaves normally while another has an issue. Comparing their configuration can reveal differences.

Get-SmbShare -Name "Documents" |
Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode, LeasingMode, EncryptData, CompressData

Then check the other share:

Get-SmbShare -Name "Projects" |
Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode, LeasingMode, EncryptData, CompressData

Look for differences rather than immediately changing the problematic share.

Important: Do Not Change CachingMode Without a Reason

Changing SMB share caching behavior can affect how users access files offline.

For that reason, do not change CachingMode simply because you see a value you do not recognize.

First determine what the share is intended to do.

If users depend on Offline Files, changing the mode could change their workflow. If BranchCache is intentionally deployed, replacing its configuration with another caching mode could also change expected behavior.

Document the original setting before making a change.

Useful PowerShell Commands

Purpose	PowerShell Command
List SMB shares	Get-SmbShare
Check caching mode	Get-SmbShare | Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode
Check one share	Get-SmbShare -Name "Documents" | Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode
Show all share properties	Get-SmbShare -Name "Documents" | Format-List *
Find non-None caching modes	Get-SmbShare | Where-Object CachingMode -ne "None"
Find BranchCache shares	Get-SmbShare | Where-Object CachingMode -eq "BranchCache"
Include hidden shares	Get-SmbShare -IncludeHidden
Change caching mode	Set-SmbShare -Name "Documents" -CachingMode Manual
View SMB connections	Get-SmbConnection
View SMB sessions	Get-SmbSession
View open SMB files	Get-SmbOpenFile

Related SMB Guides

This article is part of the Windows 11 SMB troubleshooting series on Pikapom. These related guides can help you investigate the rest of the SMB environment:

• How to Check SMB Opportunistic Locking (Oplocks) in Windows 11
• How to Check SMB Leasing in Windows 11
• How to Check SMB Client Configuration in Windows 11
• How to Check SMB Server Configuration in Windows 11
• How to Check SMB Dialect in Windows 11
• How to Check SMB Multichannel in Windows 11
• How to Check SMB Signing in Windows 11
• How to Check SMB Encryption in Windows 11
• How to Check SMB Compression in Windows 11
• How to Check SMB Share Permissions in Windows 11
• How to Check SMB Connections in Windows 11
• How to Check SMB Sessions in Windows 11
• How to Check Open SMB Files in Windows 11

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SMB CachingMode?

CachingMode is the SMB share property that specifies the offline files caching mode for the share.

How do I check SMB CachingMode in Windows 11?

Run Get-SmbShare | Select-Object Name, Path, CachingMode in PowerShell.

What CachingMode values are available?

Microsoft documents None, Manual, Documents, Programs, and BranchCache.

What does CachingMode None mean?

None prevents users from storing documents and programs offline through the share's offline files caching configuration.

What does CachingMode Manual mean?

Manual allows users to identify documents and programs that they want to store offline.

What does CachingMode Documents mean?

Documents automatically stores documents offline.

What does CachingMode Programs mean?

Programs automatically stores documents and programs offline.

What does CachingMode BranchCache mean?

BranchCache enables BranchCache and manual caching of documents on the shared folder.

Is SMB CachingMode the same as SMB Leasing?

No. CachingMode specifies offline files caching behavior for the share, while SMB leasing is a separate SMB protocol mechanism related to client-side caching and coordination.

Can I change CachingMode with PowerShell?

Yes. The Set-SmbShare cmdlet supports the -CachingMode parameter with the documented caching mode values.

Should I change SMB CachingMode to improve network speed?

Not automatically. CachingMode is primarily related to offline files behavior. Investigate the actual performance bottleneck before changing the share configuration.

Final Thoughts

Checking SMB share caching mode is a useful Windows 11 administration and troubleshooting task when you need to understand Offline Files behavior.

The key property is CachingMode, which can be inspected with Get-SmbShare. Microsoft documents five primary modes: None, Manual, Documents, Programs, and BranchCache.

Remember that SMB share caching mode is different from SMB leasing and opportunistic locking. When troubleshooting network file access, check the relevant settings together rather than assuming that one SMB feature controls everything.

Before changing a production SMB share, record the original configuration, determine the reason for the change, and test the effect with the affected application or workload.