How to Manage Removable Storage Access in Windows 11

This post shows steps for students and new users to restrict or allow access to removable storage drives in Windows 11. A USB or removable storage drive is a common way of easily transferring files from one computer to another.

Removable storage devices can also infect computers with malware and viruses. As a result, in highly secured environments, most people turn off using external storage devices in Windows.

By design, Windows allows users to read and write to removable storage devices connected to their computers.

To enhance your device’s security by restricting access to removable storage devices, you can use the steps below to control that.

If access to removable devices is denied in Windows and you want to re-enable or allow to write to removable storage devices, then use the steps below as well.

How to enable or disable access to removable storage devices in Windows 11

As mentioned above, Windows allows users to read and write to removable storage devices they connect to their computers by default.

Below is how to control that in Windows 11.

To control access to removable storage devices in Windows, open Local Group Policy Editor by clicking on the Start menu and searching for Edit group policy, as highlighted below.

Under Best match, select Edit group policy to launch Local Group Policy Editor.

In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, expand the tree: 

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Removable Storage Access

Then, in the Removable Storage Access details pane on the right, locate and double-click the setting All Removable Storage classes: Deny all access.

In the All Removable Storage classes: Deny all access setting window, set the option to Enabled.

Select OK.

Close Local Group Policy Editor.

If All Removable Storage classes: Deny all access is enabled and you want to turn it off via the Local Group Policy Editor, then go to the policy path below:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Removable Storage Access

Locate and double click on All Removable Storage classes: Deny all access settings, then set the option to Not configured.

That should do it!

Other removable devices posts for Windows 11:

• How to mount removable devices in Windows system for Linux
• How to copy files to USB devices in Windows 11
• How to eject removable drives in Windows 11

Conclusion:

• Restricting access to removable storage devices in Windows 11 can enhance device security in highly secured environments and prevent the potential spread of malware and viruses through external drives.
• The ability to enable or disable access to removable storage devices in Windows 11 can be controlled through the Local Group Policy Editor, allowing users to customize their device’s security settings according to their needs.
• In addition to controlling access to removable storage devices, users can also explore other related posts for Windows 11, such as mounting, copying files to, and ejecting removable drives, to further optimize their experience with external storage devices.