How to Enable or Disable Dev Drive in Windows 11
Let’s explore how to enable or disable the Dev Drive feature in Windows 11.
You can enable or disable Dev Drive in Windows 11 using Windows Terminal, Local Group Policy Editor, or Registry Editor. Open the desired tool as administrator and use the specific commands or settings to turn the feature on or off. Changes may require a restart.
What is Dev Drive?
The Dev Drive in Windows 11 is a special storage area that separates your coding projects from your everyday files. This dedicated space organizes your development work and keeps it safe. You can turn off the Dev Drive feature if you do not need this storage on your computer.
Essentially, Dev Drive keeps your development work separate from your everyday files. Using Dev Drive keeps coding projects organized and protected in a dedicated area.
Turning off the Dev Drive creation feature can prevent unwanted special drives from appearing. Disabling this feature enhances computer security by limiting the creation of these specialized storage areas.
How to Turn Dev Drive On or Off
There are three ways to enable or disable the Dev Drive feature on your Windows 11 PC:
1Using Windows Terminal
To enable or disable Dev Drive in Windows 11, open Windows Terminal as an administrator. Once the terminal is open, you’ll type a command to either turn Dev Drive on or off. This is a quick way to manage your Dev Drive settings directly from the command line.
To turn on Dev Drive, type this command and press Enter:
fsutil devdrv enableTo turn off Dev Drive, type this command and press Enter:
fsutil devdrv disable2Using Local Group Policy Editor
The Local Group Policy Editor (a tool for managing system settings) lets you control if Dev Drive is enabled or disabled on your Windows 11 PC. By changing a specific setting in this editor, you can turn the Dev Drive feature on or off. This method gives you a way to manage the Dev Drive setting using a visual menu.
In the editor, navigate to:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > FilesystemFind ‘Enable dev drive’ on the right side and double-click it.
You’ll see a few options:
- Not Configured – This is the default setting.
- Enabled – Allows Dev Drive and lets antivirus work on it.
- Disabled – Stops users from creating new Dev Drives.
Click OK to confirm your selection.
3Using Windows Registry Editor
For more control, you can adjust Dev Drive settings directly within the Windows Registry Editor. Navigate to the specified folder and modify specific values to enable or disable the feature. This advanced method offers precise configuration.
Navigate to this folder:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\PoliciesLook for these two values in the right pane:
- FsEnableDevDrive
- FltmgrDevDriveAllowAntivirusFilter
If these values don’t exist, right-click an empty space, choose “New” > “DWORD (32-bit) Value,” and create both names precisely as shown.
Double-click each one and set the value to:
- 0 to disable Dev Drive.
- 1 to enable Dev Drive.
Summary
You can turn Dev Drive on or off in Windows 11 using three main methods: Windows Terminal, Local Group Policy Editor, or the Windows Registry Editor. The best method for you depends on which tools you are most comfortable using. Turning off Dev Drive can also add an extra layer of security.
Turning off Dev Drive can help keep your computer safer by preventing unwanted special drives from being created. This is useful if you share your computer with others or don’t need the feature.
Admins or everyday users can follow these steps, choosing the method that feels most comfortable. Windows Terminal is the quickest option if you’re familiar with the command line. Group Policy Editor and Registry Editor are good choices if you prefer a visual interface.
If you have any questions or want to share your experience, feel free to leave a comment below!
How to use dev drive on 🪟 Windows 11?
You can use an existing empty partition on your disk, or create space by resizing another partition.
How do I enable Dev drive policy?
Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Filesystem and enable the ‘Enable dev drive’ policy. Note that the optional antivirus filter setting ensures that antivirus protection remains active on Dev Drives, even if local administrators attempt to detach it.
Should I use Dev drive?
This helps you more easily identify what applies to you and assists in making those changes. For more information, go to our learn documentation and check out Dev Home.
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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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