This guide will help you understand what the UserChoice Protection Driver (UCPD) is and how to turn it on or off in Windows 11 using simple steps.

What is the UserChoice Protection Driver (UCPD)?

The UserChoice Protection Driver is a feature in Windows 11 that protects your file associations. File associations mean which app opens a certain type of file. For example, when you double-click a photo, it might open in the Photos app.

Windows keeps track of your preferred apps in a special place called the UserChoice registry key. The UCPD makes sure that other programs or users can’t change these settings without your permission.

Why is this important? It stops unwanted programs from changing your default apps without you knowing.

Note: You can still change your default apps yourself anytime in Windows Settings. UCPD only blocks outside programs from making changes.

Usually, it’s best to keep UCPD turned on for your security. But sometimes, you might need to temporarily turn it off to let a program change file associations.

How to Check if UCPD is Running

You can check if the UserChoice Protection Driver is running using either PowerShell or Command Prompt in the Terminal app.

Press Windows key + X and select Terminal.
Click the dropdown arrow at the top and choose PowerShell or Command Prompt.

Check with PowerShell

Get-Service ucpd

Check with Command Prompt

sc query ucpd

If the status says Running, then UCPD is active.

How to Enable UCPD

Follow these steps to turn UCPD on if it’s off:

Using PowerShell

Open Terminal as Administrator.
Type these commands one by one and press Enter after each:

Set-Service -Name UCPD -StartupType Automatic
Enable-ScheduledTask -TaskName "MicrosoftWindowsAppxDeploymentClientUCPD velocity"

Using Command Prompt

Open Terminal as Administrator and select Command Prompt.
Type these commands one by one and press Enter after each:

sc config UCPD start=auto
schtasks /change /Enable /TN "MicrosoftWindowsAppxDeploymentClientUCPD velocity"

Don’t forget to restart your computer after running these commands to apply the changes.

How to Disable UCPD (Temporarily)

If you need to let a program change your file associations, you can turn off UCPD temporarily. Remember to turn it back on afterward to stay protected.

Using PowerShell

Open Terminal as Administrator.
Type these commands one by one and press Enter:

Set-Service -Name UCPD -StartupType Disabled
Disable-ScheduledTask -TaskName "MicrosoftWindowsAppxDeploymentClientUCPD velocity"

Using Command Prompt

Open Terminal as Administrator and pick Command Prompt.
Type these commands one by one and press Enter:

sc config UCPD start=disabled
schtasks /change /Disable /TN "MicrosoftWindowsAppxDeploymentClientUCPD velocity"

Restart your computer to make sure the changes take effect.

Summary

The UserChoice Protection Driver keeps your file-opening apps safe from unwanted changes.
It’s best to keep it enabled for your security.
You can turn it off temporarily if a trusted program needs to change your file defaults.
Use PowerShell or Command Prompt commands shown above to manage UCPD.
Always restart your PC after making changes.