Windows 11 AutoPlay is Dangerous? Here’s How to Disable It Safely

Steps to Disable AutoPlay via Control Panel:

  1. Open the Control Panel by pressing Win + R, type control, and then press Enter.
  2. Select the category Hardware and Sound.
  3. Click on the AutoPlay option.
  4. Uncheck the Use AutoPlay for all media and devices option at the top.
  5. Scroll down and make sure each device category (such as Removable Drive, Memory Card, etc.) is set to Take no action or Ask me every time if you want to select an action every time a device is connected.
  6. Click the Save button to apply the settings.
AutoPlay Windows 11 in control panel

How to Check if AutoPlay is Disabled

Once you’ve turned off AutoPlay in Windows 11, it’s important to make sure the settings are applied correctly. Here are two easy ways to check if AutoPlay has been turned off:

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1. Try Connecting a USB or DVD and Observe if AutoPlay Appears

The easiest way to check if AutoPlay is turned off is to connect an external device such as a USB flash drive or DVD to your computer.

Steps:

  1. Connect a USB flash drive or insert a DVD into your computer.
  2. Observe if the AutoPlay window appears automatically.
  3. If the AutoPlay window doesn’t appear, it means that the feature has been successfully turned off.

2. Use PowerShell to Check Settings

If you want to make sure AutoPlay settings are more technical, you can use PowerShell to check the registry values associated with AutoPlay.

Steps:

  1. Open PowerShell by typing “PowerShell” in the Start Menu and selecting Run as Administrator.
  2. Run the following command to check the registry value:
Get-ItemProperty -Path “HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer” -Name NoDriveTypeAutoRun
  1. The result of this command will display the value of NoDriveTypeAutoRun. Here is the meaning of the value:
    • Value 0: AutoPlay enabled for all drive types.Value 255 (0xFF): AutoPlay disabled for all drive types.
    • Other values: AutoPlay disabled for a specific type of drive (this value is a combination of drive codes).

Solutions If AutoPlay Is Still On After Being Disabled

If you have disabled AutoPlay in Windows 11 but this feature is still active, don’t worry. Here are some solutions you can try to make sure AutoPlay is completely turned off:

1. Make Sure Windows 11 is Updated to the Latest Version

Sometimes, AutoPlay issues that are still active are caused by bugs or compatibility issues in the version of Windows that you are using. Ensuring your operating system is updated to the latest version can help resolve this issue.

2. Check for Third-Party Software That May Re-Enable AutoPlay

Some third-party apps, especially those related to device management or media players, maybe reactivating AutoPlay without you even realizing it. Check if there are any such apps installed on your computer.

3. Restart Your Computer After Changing Settings

Often, the settings change does not take effect immediately until the computer is restarted. Make sure you restart your computer after disabling AutoPlay.

4. Check Registry Settings

If all of the above steps don’t work, you can check your registry settings to make sure that AutoPlay is completely turned off.

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