How to Set Dev Drive as Trusted or Untrusted in Windows 11
Setting your Windows 11 Dev Drive as trusted or untrusted helps you manage its security and performance.
A Dev Drive is a special storage space in Windows 11 designed for developers, giving them better speed and protection. Deciding whether to trust it or not changes how Windows Defender scans files on that drive.
When you trust a Dev Drive, Windows Defender scans files less often. This can make your development work faster. If you mark it as untrusted, Defender scans more thoroughly, which improves security but might slow things down a little.
Windows 11 versions 22H2 and newer let you create Dev Drives. This setting is important for making your development tasks run smoother.
Open Windows Terminal as Administrator and use commands like `fsutil devdrv trust :` to set it as trusted for better performance. Use `fsutil devdrv untrust :` for enhanced security, though it may be slower.
What is a Dev Drive?
A Dev Drive in Windows 11 is a specialized storage area made to speed up your computer for coding and development work. It uses a system called ReFS (Resilient File System) to keep your files safe and secure. By default, Windows treats a Dev Drive as trusted, which helps Windows Defender run faster while still protecting your data.
By default, Windows trusts a Dev Drive. This means Windows Defender (the built-in security software) runs in a faster performance mode on that drive, giving you good security and good speed.
Marking a Dev Drive as untrusted triggers stricter protection from Windows Defender. The program uses its real-time protection mode for untrusted Dev Drives, offering increased security but potentially reducing system speed.
How to Set a Dev Drive as Trusted or Untrusted
Here’s how you can check and change your Dev Drive’s trust status.
Step 1Open Windows Terminal as Administrator
⚠️ Requires admin privileges
- Click the Start menu (Windows icon in the bottom-left corner).
- Type Terminal in the search box.
- When you see Windows Terminal in the results, right-click it and select Run as administrator.
Step 2Check Your Dev Drive’s Current Status
Your Dev Drive’s trust status shows if the Dev Drive is trusted or untrusted. To check your Dev Drive’s current setting, open Windows Terminal and type `fsutil devdrv query :` followed by your Dev Drive letter, like `W:`. This command shows your Dev Drive’s trust setting: ‘0’ indicates untrusted, and ‘1’ indicates trusted.
fsutil devdrv query <drive letter>:Replace <drive letter> with the actual letter of your Dev Drive. For example, if your Dev Drive is W, type:
Windows 11 users can improve Dev Drive performance by changing its trust setting from untrusted to trusted. This change activates optimizations. To make a Dev Drive trusted, run the `DevDriveManager.exe` tool.
fsutil devdrv trust W:This command makes your W: drive trusted.
Step 4Set the Dev Drive as Untrusted
To set your Dev Drive as untrusted, use a command in Windows Terminal. This is a good idea if you’re storing sensitive files on the drive and want Windows Defender’s real-time protection turned on for maximum security. For example, to make your W: drive untrusted, type `fsutil devdrv untrust W:` and press Enter.
fsutil devdrv untrust W:This command marks your W: drive as untrusted.
Summary
- Trusted Dev Drive: Windows Defender runs in faster performance mode.
- Untrusted Dev Drive: Defender uses real-time protection, which is more secure but slower.
- You can easily switch between trusted and untrusted using simple commands in Windows Terminal.
A trusted Dev Drive allows Windows Defender to operate in a faster mode, benefiting performance during development. Conversely, an untrusted Dev Drive utilizes Defender’s full real-time protection for enhanced security, though it might impact speed. Switching between these settings is possible with commands in Windows Terminal.
Learn More
For more information, visit the official Microsoft page on Trusted Dev Drives.
How do I turn off dev drive protection?
Let's check if the dev drive feature is disabled. Again open settings. Application. Click on storage expand advanced storage settings. And click on disk. And volumes.
What is a dev drive in 🪟 Windows 11?
Often, it’s memory and file access that slow things down. This is where a “dev drive” can help. It’s a specialized storage area from Microsoft built on ReFS (Resilient File System). A dev drive is optimized for handling many small files at once.
How do I disable Dev Drive antivirus?
Go to Virus & Threat protection settings by clicking the Manage settings. Disable Real-time Protection. Disable Dev Drive protection (If you have)
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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