How to remove administrative shares in Windows

This article describes how to remove default administrative shares, and how to prevent these shares from being automatically created in Windows.

Introduction

By default, Windows Server automatically creates special hidden administrative shares that administrators, programs, and services can use to manage the computer environment or network. These special shared resources aren't visible in Windows Explorer or in My Computer. However, you can view them by using the Shared Folders tool in Computer Management. Depending on the configuration of your computer, some or all of the following special shared resources may be listed in the Shares folder in Shared Folders:

• <DriveLetter>$: It's a shared root partition or volume. Shared root partitions and volumes are displayed as the drive letter name appended with the dollar sign ($). For example, when drive letters C and D are shared, they're displayed as C$ and D$.

• ADMIN$: It's a resource that is used during remote administration of a computer.

• IPC$: It's a resource that shares the named pipes that you must have for communication between programs. This resource cannot be deleted.

• NETLOGON: It's a resource that is used on domain controllers.

• SYSVOL: It's a resource that is used on domain controllers.

• PRINT$: It's a resource that is used during the remote administration of printers.

• FAX$: It's a shared folder on a server that is used by fax clients during fax transmission.

Note

NETLOGON and SYSVOL aren't hidden shares. Instead, they are special administrative shares.

Generally, we recommend that you don't modify these special shared resources. However, if you want to remove the special shared resources and prevent them from being created automatically, you can do it by editing the registry.

Editing registry to remove administrative shares

Important

This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information, see How to back up and restore the registry in Windows.

To remove administrative shares and prevent them from being automatically created in Windows, follow these steps:

1. Select Start, and then select Run.

2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then select OK.

3. Locate, and then select the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters\AutoShareServer

   Note

   The registry subkey AutoShareServer must be set as type REG_DWORD. When this value is set to 0 (zero), Windows does not automatically create administrative shares. Be aware that this does not apply to the IPC$ share or shares that you create manually.

4. On the Edit menu, select Modify. In the Value data box, type 0, and then select OK.

5. Exit Registry Editor.

6. Stop and then start the Server service. To do it, follow these steps:

   1. Select Start, and then select Run.

   2. In the Open box, type cmd, and then select OK.

   3. At the command prompt, type the following lines. Press Enter after each line:

      net stop server  
      net start server
      

7. To verify that the administrative shares are now gone run:

   net share
   

8. Type exit to close the Command Prompt window.