How to Enable or Disable Access to All Removable Storage Devices in Windows


Users are allowed read and write access to all removable storage devices they connect to the computer by default in Windows.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable read and write access to all removable storage devices for all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable read and write access to all removable storage devices.



Contents

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Access to All Removable Storage Devices in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Access to All Removable Storage Devices using a REG file



EXAMPLE: Access is denied to a removable disk
Enable or Disable Access to All Removable Storage Devices in Windows-access_is_denied_to_removable_disks.jpg






OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Access to All Removable Storage Devices in Local Group Policy Editor


In Windows 7, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions.

In Windows 8, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro and Enterprise editions.

In Windows 10, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two.


1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Removable Storage Access

Enable or Disable Access to All Removable Storage Devices in Windows-removable_storage_devices_access_gpedit-1.jpg

3 In the right pane of Removable Storage Access in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the All Removable Storage classes: Deny all access policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


5 To Enable Access to All Removable Storage Devices

A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.


6 To Disable Access to All Removable Storage Devices

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable Access to All Removable Storage Devices in Windows-removable_storage_devices_access_gpedit-2.png


7 Close the Local Group Policy Editor.

8 Restart the computer to apply.






OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Access to All Removable Storage Devices using a REG file


The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices

Deny_All DWORD

(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable


1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


2 To Enable Access to All Removable Storage Devices

This is the default setting.

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

Enable_access_to_all_removable_storage_devices.reg

Download


3 To Disable Access to All Removable Storage Devices

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

Disable_access_to_all_removable_storage_devices.reg

Download


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 Restart the computer to apply.

8 You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials



  • Windows 11 Tutorials