How to Disable AutoRun and AutoPlay for External Devices GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > Windows 77 77 people found this article helpful

How to Disable AutoRun and AutoPlay for External Devices

AutoRun leaves your computer vulnerable to malware

By Mary Landesman Mary Landesman Writer Brevard College Mary Landesman is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and a security expert. She was named as one of the women to watch in IT security. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on August 20, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide Disable AutoRun: In Windows Registry, create a new DWORD named NoDriveTypeAutoRun. Select a value.Disable AutoPlay in Windows 10: Go to Start > Settings > Devices > turn off AutoPlay. Disable AutoPlay in 8, 8.1: Start > Apps > Windows System. Open Control Panel > Autoplay. Select options.
This article explains how to disable AutoRun in Windows by editing the Windows Registry and how to disable AutoPlay in Windows 10, 8.1 and 8.

Disable AutoRun in Windows

The Windows AutoRun feature enables programs to run from external devices as soon as the device is attached to your computer. Because malware can exploit AutoRun, many users disable it. There's no interface setting to turn off AutoRun completely. Instead, you edit the Windows Registry. Press Win+R and type regedit to launch the Registry Editor. You must confirm elevated privileges to modify registry settings. Go to the key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
If the entry NoDriveTypeAutoRun does not appear, create a new DWORD value by right-clicking in the right pane to access the context menu and selecting New DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the DWORD NoDriveTypeAutoRun, and set its value to one of the following: FF to disable AutoRun on all drives.20 to disable AutoRun on CD-ROM drives.4 to disable AutoRun on removable drives.8 to disable AutoRun on fixed drives.10 to disable AutoRun on network drives.40 to disable AutoRun on RAM disks.1 to disable AutoRun on unknown drives. To turn AutoRun back on, delete the DWORD NoDriveTypeAutoRun value.

Disable AutoPlay in Windows

AutoPlay is a Windows feature that's part of AutoRun. AutoPlay prompts you to play music and videos or display pictures. You can disable AutoPlay in a few steps, but the process depends on your Windows version.

Windows 10

Select the Start icon in the lower-left corner, then select the Settings icon in the left pane. Select Devices. Select AutoPlay from the left pane, then select the AutoPlay toggle to turn it Off.

Windows 8

In Windows 8 and 8.1: On the Start screen, select Apps > Windows System. Open the Control Panel and select AutoPlay. In the Choose what happens when you insert each type of media or device section, select the option you want. For example, you can choose different options for pictures or videos. To completely disable AutoPlay, deselect the Use AutoPlay for all media and devices box. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Stop Autoplay on Discovery Plus How to Stop the Automatic Installation of Suggested Windows 11 Apps How to Remove Write Protection on a Micro SD Card How to Stop Apple Music From Automatically Playing How to Disable Taskbar Button Grouping in Windows How to Disable Cortana in Windows 10 How to Disable the Touchpad on Windows 10 How to Turn Off Netflix Autoplay Previews and Next Episode How to Stop Autoplay Videos How to Get Rid of Reels on Facebook How to Enable or Disable the Administrator Account in Windows How to Turn off Incognito Mode How to Remove Write Protection on Windows 10, 8, and 7 What Is a Registry Value? How to Disable Protected Mode in Internet Explorer 12 Best Free Spyware Removal Tools (October 2022) Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies