This article will see how to disable AutoPlay in Windows 8 using Control Panel, Group Policy, or Registry Editor. But before that, let’s see what AutoPlay and AutoRun are in Windows. Then we will see how to enable or disable AutoPlay or AutoRun in Windows 8/10.
Difference between AutoPlay & Autorun
Autorun is used to automatically start specific programs or enhance multimedia content when you insert CDs, DVDs, or other media types onto your computer. This is different from AutoPlay, but the result is usually the same: when inserted, the CD starts automatically, using a specific program.
AutoPlay allows you to choose which program to use to start different media types, such as DVDs, CDs, etc., containing music, videos, photos. For example, the first time you try playing a CD Music, AutoPlay will ask you Which you want to use the media player if you have more than one installed on your computer. You can read more about AutoPlay in Windows. Autorun is integrated into the types of vehicles that use it, and you cannot modify it. When you try to play a CD using autoplay, AutoPlay will ask you to choose an action to perform – to either play the autorun content or skip it. AutoPlay lets you choose an action, and it’s one way, the successor to AutoRun.
Microsoft has made a fundamental change to prevent malware from spreading using its Autorun mechanism, starting with Windows 7. AutoPlay no longer supports AutoRun functionality, for removable media must be optical. In other words, AutoPlay still works for CD / DVD, but not for USB drives.
AutoPlay in Windows 8/10
When you connect your Windows 7 devices | 8, the Autorun feature automatically runs and starts playing media such as music, photos, and videos. For example, the first time you try to play a music CD, AutoPlay will ask which player you want to use if you have more than one installed on your computer. Although useful, some of you may wish to disable this feature.
Turn off AutoPlay in Windows 10/8
Here is how you can disable AutoPlay in Windows 10/8/7.
1] Control panel
Open Control Panel All Control Panel Items AutoPlay and set the options to your liking.
2] Use Group Policy
Type gpedit.msc in the Run box, and then press ENTER to open the Group Policy Editor. Under Computer Configuration> Administrative Templates> Windows Components> Click Autoplay Policies.
In the RHS Details pane, double-click Disable AutoPlay to open the Properties box.
This policy setting allows you to turn off the Autoplay feature. Autoplay begins reading from a drive as soon as you insert media in the drive. As a result, the setup file of programs and the music on audio media start immediately. Before Windows XP SP2, Autoplay is disabled by default on removable drives, such as the floppy disk drive (but not the CD-ROM drive) and network drives. Starting with Windows XP SP2, Autoplay is enabled for removable drives, including Zip drives and some USB mass storage devices. If you enable this policy setting, Autoplay is disabled on CD-ROM and removable media drives or disabled on all drives. This policy setting disables Autoplay on additional types of drives. You cannot use this setting to enable Autoplay on drives on which it is disabled by default. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, AutoPlay is enabled.
Click Enable, and then select All drives in the Turn off Autoplay box to disable Autorun on all drives.
Restart your computer.
3] Registry Editor
The same can be achieved by editing the Registry. Run Regedit and navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software Microsoft Windows CurrentVersion Policies Explorer
In RHS, you will see the dword NoDriveTypeAutoRun. You should see the default value of 60 or 3C. Right-click on it and give it a decimal value 255 (or hexadecimal value 000000FF). Exit Regedit. Reboot. This will disable AutoRun on all drives.
