How to Set Dev Drive as Trusted or Untrusted in Windows 11
You can set your Windows 11 Dev Drive as trusted or untrusted to control security and performance.
A Dev Drive is a special volume in Windows 11 designed for developers, offering enhanced performance and security features. Marking it as trusted or untrusted directly impacts how Windows Defender Antivirus scans files on that drive.
When you trust a Dev Drive, Windows Defender runs fewer scans. This can speed up your development tasks. On the other hand, an untrusted status means more thorough scanning. This enhances security but might slow things down a bit.
Newer Windows 11 versions, like 22H2 and later, support Dev Drives. This makes it important to manage their trust status for a better workflow.
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 is a special storage space in Windows 11 that helps make your computer run faster, particularly for tasks developers do, and it uses a smart file system called ReFS to keep your files safe.
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.
What happens if you mark a Dev Drive as untrusted? Windows Defender will protect it more strictly using its real-time protection mode. This is more secure but can slow things down a bit.
Note: Your other drives will still have full real-time protection, regardless of your Dev Drive settings.
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.
Tip: You can also set Windows Terminal to always open as administrator. Learn how here.
Step 2Check Your Dev Drive’s Current Status
In the Terminal window, type this command and press Enter:
fsutil devdrv query <drive letter>:Replace <drive letter> with the letter of your Dev Drive. For example, if your Dev Drive is W, type:
fsutil devdrv query W:Step 3Set the Dev Drive as Trusted
If your drive is untrusted and you want to make it trusted to get better performance, run:
fsutil devdrv trust W:This command makes your W: drive trusted.
Step 4Set the Dev Drive as Untrusted
If your drive is trusted but you want to make it untrusted for stronger security, run:
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.
You can set your Dev Drive as either trusted or untrusted, which changes how Windows Defender protects it; a trusted Dev Drive lets Defender run faster but an untrusted Dev Drive uses full security, and switching is easy.
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 special volume 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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