Fix 0X00000253: Reply Message Mismatch Error

Quick Answer for Advanced Users

Check Kerberos pre-authentication flags on the computer account in AD, then verify time sync (both sides must be within 5 minutes of each other). If that doesn't work, disable SMB signing enforcement on the client side temporarily.

What's Actually Happening Here

You're seeing ERROR_REPLY_MESSAGE_MISMATCH (0X00000253) when a client sends an authentication request to a domain controller, but the reply doesn't match what the client expects. I've seen this most often in three specific scenarios:

After a domain controller migration or upgrade (Server 2012 R2 to Server 2019 or 2022)
When a Windows 10/11 workstation joins a domain that still has older 2008 R2 controllers
Right after a time synchronization failure — the clock drifts past the Kerberos tolerance window

The core issue is that Kerberos v5 uses timestamps in pre-authentication data. If the client's clock is off by more than 5 minutes (default), the KDC rejects the request and returns an error code that Windows interprets as 0x253. Alternatively, if SMB signing is enforced on one side but not the other, the reply packet gets mangled.

Step-by-Step Fix

Step 1: Check Time Sync First

Don't skip this. Run this command on the client:

w32tm /query /status

Compare the Source and the offset. If it's more than 5 seconds off, the fix is:

w32tm /resync /force

If that fails, reconfigure NTP:

w32tm /config /manualpeerlist:pool.ntp.org /syncfromflags:manual /update

Then restart the time service:

net stop w32time && net start w32time

Step 2: Verify Kerberos Pre-Authentication

Open Active Directory Users and Computers on a domain controller. Find the computer object that's throwing the error. Right-click → Properties → Account tab. Look for the checkbox Do not require Kerberos preauthentication. It should be unchecked for nearly all modern Windows systems. If it's checked, uncheck it, wait for replication (or force it with repadmin /syncall), then reboot the client.

Step 3: Check SMB Signing Settings

If time and Kerberos check out, move to SMB signing mismatch. On the client, open PowerShell as admin and run:

Get-SmbClientConfiguration | Select-Object RequireSecuritySignature, EnableSecuritySignature

If RequireSecuritySignature is True and the server doesn't have signing enabled (or vice versa), you'll get this error. Temporary fix: set both to False on the client:

Set-SmbClientConfiguration -RequireSecuritySignature $false -Force

Re-test. If the error disappears, you need to align signing settings permanently — either enable it on the server or adjust GPOs.

Step 4: Registry Hack as Last Resort

If nothing works, you can add a registry key that relaxes Kerberos ticket validation. I only do this on isolated boxes. Path:

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters

Create a DWORD called RequireSecuritySignature and set it to 0. Reboot.

Alternative Fixes If the Main Steps Fail

Check DNS Records

Sometimes the client is hitting the wrong DC. Run:

nslookup -type=SRV _kerberos._tcp.dc._msdcs.yourdomain.com

If stale records show up, clear DNS cache on the client (ipconfig /flushdns) and check for duplicate DC records.

Disable IPv6 Temporarily

I've seen IPv6 cause this on dual-stack networks. Go to Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings → Uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) for the affected adapter. Reboot and test. If it works, re-enable IPv6 and troubleshoot your IPv6 DNS configuration instead.

Rejoin the Domain

Nuclear option but sometimes necessary. Disjoin the machine from the domain (restart), then rejoin. Make sure you have a local admin account before doing this. Use System Properties → Computer Name tab → Change.

Prevention Tip

The simplest thing you can do: set your domain controllers to sync time with a reliable external NTP source. Configure the PDC emulator to use pool.ntp.org or your internal stratum-1 server. Then push out GPOs that enforce time sync for all workstations. Do that and 0x253 becomes a ghost.

Also, standardize SMB signing across your environment. If you're on Windows Server 2016+, enable it via GPO under Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Network → Lanman Workstation. Set both Digitally sign communications (always) and If client agrees to the same value.

One last thing: don't bother disabling Kerberos pre-authentication globally. That breaks more than it fixes. The registry hack in Step 4 is a crutch, not a cure — use it only for testing.