This tutorial will show you how to change the removal policy of external storage devices such as USB flash drives or external drives in Windows 11.
Windows defines two main policies, Quick removal (default) and Better performance, that control how the system interacts with removable drives.
You can change the policy setting for each external device while connected, and the policy that you set remains in effect if you disconnect the device and then connect it again to the same computer port.
You can use the storage device policy setting to change the manner in which Windows manages removable storage devices to better meet your needs. The policy settings have the following effects:
- Quick removal: This policy manages storage operations in a manner that keeps the device ready to remove at any time. You can remove the device without using the Safely Remove Hardware process. However, to do this, Windows can't cache disk write operations. This can degrade system performance.
- Better performance: This policy manages storage operations in a manner that improves system performance. When this policy is in effect, Windows can cache write operations to the external device. However, you must use the Safely Remove Hardware process to remove the external drive. The Safely Remove Hardware process protects the integrity of data on the device by making sure that all cached operations finish.
Windows default media removal policy
Manage default media removal policy in Windows.
learn.microsoft.com
Internal SATA Drives show up as removeable media - Microsoft Support
How to update your BIOS to recognize SATA drives as internal.
support.microsoft.com
You must be signed in as an administrator to change the removal policy of external storage devices.
Contents
- Option One: Change Removal Policy of External Storage Device in Settings
- Option Two: Change Removal Policy of External Storage Device in Disk Management
- Option Three: Change Removal Policy of External Storage Device in Device Manager
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on Storage on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on Yes if prompted by UAC.
Starting with Windows 11 build 26100.7705 (24H2) and build 26200.7705 (25H2), to help ensure that only authorized Windows users can access system files, Windows now displays a User Account Control (UAC) prompt when you open Storage settings (Settings > System > Storage).
Starting with Windows 11 build 26100.8514 (RP 24H2), and build 26200.8514 (RP 25H2), Microsoft updated Settings > System > Storage, so rather than seeing a UAC prompt immediately when you go to the page, you’ll only see it when going to view temporary files.
4 Click/tap on Advanced storage settings to expand it open, and click/tap on Disks & volumes. (see screenshot below)
5 Click/tap on the Properties button for the removable "disk" you want. (see screenshot below)
6 Under Removal policy, select (dot) Quick removal (default) or Better performance for what you want to set for this specific removable drive. (see screenshot below)
7 You can now close Settings if you like.
1 Open Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc).
2 In the bottom pane, right click on the "Removable" disk label on the left side of the external drive you want, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on the Policies tab, select (dot) Quick removal (default) or Better performance, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
4 You can now close Disk Management if you like.
1 Open Device Manager (devmgmt.msc).
2 Expand open Disk drives, and double click/tap on the removable drive you want. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on the Policies tab, select (dot) Quick removal (default) or Better performance, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
4 You can now close Device Manager if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
