> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.lithnet.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.lithnet.io/password-protection/v1.0/advanced-help/powershell-reference/import-bannedwordhashes.md). # Import-BannedWordHashes The `Import-BannedWordHashes` cmdlet will import a file containing newline-separated NTLM hashes into the banned word store. ## Syntax ``` Import-BannedWordHashes -Filename -Sorted -BatchSize ``` ### Parameters **`Filename`** Required. The of the file containing the NTLM hashes. Each hash should be in hex format, be 32 characters in length, and each record must appear on a new line. The hash can optionally end with a colon and anything after the colon character is ignored. The following list shows the allowed formats. The hashes are not case sensitive. ``` 8846f7eaee8fb117ad06bdd830b7586c 5835048ce94ad0564e29a924a03510ef:123 e22e04519aa757d12f1219c4f31252f4:3 e22e04519aa757d12f1219c4f31252f4: ``` #### `Sorted` Optional. A boolean value indicating if the hashes in the file are sorted in ascending order or not. The cmdlet will optimize the type of import it performs based on this parameter. A sorted file will allow a much faster import of data into the store. However, there is a significant penalty if you specify that the file is sorted when it is not. If this parameter is omitted, the cmdlet will guess which algorithm to use by reading the first 1000 lines of the file. If those first 1000 lines are all in order, a sorted import will be performed. #### `BatchSize` Optional. Specifies how many hashes to read from an unsorted file before committing to disk. This parameter has no effect on a sorted file. In order to minimize the impact of memory usage when importing unsorted hashes, the hashes are read from the file and committed to the store in batches of this size. The larger the batch size, the faster the import, but the more memory is used. If left unspecified, the default value of 5,000,000 is used which provides an adequate balance of memory usage and speed. ### Examples The following example shows how to import a file of hashes, while allowing the cmdlet to determine the sort status and batch size ```powershell Import-BannedWordHashes -Filename "D:\password-protection\banned-word-hashes.txt" ``` To increase speed, where additional memory is available, you can specify a larger batch size ```powershell Import-BannedWordHashes -Filename "D:\password-protection\banned-word-hashes.txt" -Sorted $false -BatchSize 50000000 ``` --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.lithnet.io/password-protection/v1.0/advanced-help/powershell-reference/import-bannedwordhashes.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.