Devices Turn On or Off AutoPlay in Windows 11


  • Staff
AutoPlay_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off AutoPlay for all media and devices in your account in Windows 11.

AutoPlay lets you choose an action for different kinds of media when you plug in a device or insert media. You can set AutoPlay to open different kinds of content, such as photos, music, and video on different kinds of media, such as drives, CDs, DVDs, cameras, and phones. For example, you can use AutoPlay to select an app that will automatically open photos on a removable drive when you plug it into your PC. With AutoPlay, you don't have to open the same app or reselect preferences every time you plug in a certain device.

When the Shell detects the insertion of new media or the attachment of a hot-plug device, the contents of the device or media are determined. AutoPlay, depending on its current settings, does one of the following.
  • Plays the content automatically.
  • Displays a dialog box prompting the user to choose a default handler for a single content type.
  • Presents, in the case of mixed content, a list of available handler applications to launch. The chosen handler then automatically plays its associated content type.
  • Displays a standard folder view of the files.
  • Does nothing if, earlier, the user had chosen Take no action for that content type as well as specified Always do the selected action. You can turn off AutoPlay for specific media or devices by choosing Take no action as its AutoPlay default.
  • You will only see an AutoPlay notification when you have AutoPlay turned on and connect a device, media, or content that you chose Choose a default (default) or Ask me every time as its AutoPlay default.
  • If you connect a storage device to your PC (for example, a USB flash drive or other external drive), that device won't appear under Devices in AutoPlay. AutoPlay will only show non-storage devices, such as some digital cameras, video cameras, and phones. You can view storage devices in the This PC window in File Explorer.
  • You can press and hold the Shift key when you insert devices or media into your PC to open an AutoPlay notification, regardless of the default setting.


Contents



EXAMPLE: "Ask me every time" AutoPlay notification

AutoPlay_notification.png





Option One

Turn On or Off AutoPlay in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Bluetooth & devices on the left side, and click/tap on AutoPlay on the right side. (see screenshot below)


AutoPlay_Settings-1.png

3 Turn On (default) or Off Use AutoPlay for all media and devices for what you want on the right side. (see screenshot below)

4 If you turned on AutoPlay, you can now Choose AutoPlay defaults for any listed media and devices.

AutoPlay_Settings-2.png

5 You can now close Settings if you like.




Option Two

Turn On or Off AutoPlay in Control Panel


1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the AutoPlay icon.

2 Check (on - default) or uncheck (off) Use AutoPlay for all media and devices for what you want. (see screenshot below)

3 If you turned on AutoPlay, you can now Choose a default for any listed media and devices.

4 Click/tap on Save when finished.

5 You can now close the Control Panel if you like.

AutoPlay_Control_Panel.png





Option Three

Turn On or Off AutoPlay using REG file


1 Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you want.

2 Turn On AutoPlay

This is the default setting.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Turn_on_AutoPlay_for_current_user.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AutoplayHandlers]
"DisableAutoplay"=-

3 Turn Off AutoPlay

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Turn_off_AutoPlay_for_current_user.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AutoplayHandlers]
"DisableAutoplay"=dword:00000001

4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

Attachments

  • AutoPlay.png
    AutoPlay.png
    6.9 KB · Views: 121
  • Turn_off_AutoPlay_for_current_user.reg
    624 bytes · Views: 284
  • Turn_on_AutoPlay_for_current_user.reg
    598 bytes · Views: 272
Last edited:
If I use

[Microsoft.Win32.Registry]::SetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\Settings\AllowAutoPlay", "value", 0x00)
Restart-Computer

I get

sss.png


But at the same time

bbb.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI MS-7D98
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-13490F
    Motherboard
    MSI B760 GAMING PLUS WIFI
    Memory
    2 x 16 Patriot Memory (PDP Systems) PSD516G560081
    Graphics Card(s)
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC 12G (GV-N4070WF3OC-12GD)
    Sound Card
    Bluetooth Аудио
    Monitor(s) Displays
    INNOCN 15K1F
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    WD_BLACK SN770 250GB
    KINGSTON SNV2S1000G (ELFK0S.6)
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1000W
    Case
    CG560 - DeepCool
    Cooling
    ID-COOLING SE-224-XTS / 2 x 140Mm Fan - rear and top; 3 x 120Mm - front
    Keyboard
    Corsair K70 RGB TKL
    Mouse
    Corsair KATAR PRO XT
    Internet Speed
    100 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender Antivirus
    Other Info
    https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/66553205
Hello @abactuon, :-)

That policy only affects disabling the AutoPlay page in Settings. It doesn't affect the Control Panel.


If you like, you might also look at the policies below to disable AutoPlay.


 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
Back
Top Bottom