How to Enable or Disable Dev Drive in Windows 11
A Dev Drive is a specialized storage volume built on the ReFS (Resilient File System) file system that speeds up file operations for coding projects by up to 30 percent. You can turn this feature on or off through the Windows Settings app if you run Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education versions.
Turning on a Dev Drive helps keep your work files safe and separate from your everyday downloads. Disabling the feature stops new coding drives from being created, which keeps shared PCs clean and secure.
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 development work and keeps it safe. Turning off the feature prevents unwanted storage areas from appearing and limits the creation of specialized volumes.
How to Turn Dev Drive On or Off
Three methods allow users to enable or disable the Dev Drive feature on Windows 11:
1Using Windows Terminal
Opening Windows Terminal as an administrator provides direct command-line control over the storage feature. Executing specific commands toggles the capability instantly.
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 lets you enable dev drive Windows 11 features across your entire system. To use this method, open the policy editor and find the filesystem settings folder. From there, change the main setting to turn the feature on or off depending on what you need.
In the editor, navigate to:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > FilesystemFind 'Enable dev drive' on the right side and double-click it.
Available configuration options appear on screen:
- 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 the selection.
3Using Windows Registry Editor
The Windows Registry Editor allows you to enable dev drive Windows 11 settings by changing system database values. You need to open the registry, go to the correct system folder, and update specific keys to turn the storage feature on or off manually.
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.
Close Registry Editor and restart the PC to apply changes.
Summary
Managing your dev drive Windows 11 options comes down to picking the tool that works best for you. You can use the terminal, policy editor, or registry to control the feature, block new volumes, and keep your computer secure based on your comfort level.
Blocking unwanted special drives helps keep the computer secure, making the adjustment ideal for shared workstations. Administrators and standard users alike can pick whichever workflow suits them best. Windows Terminal delivers the fastest results for command-line users, whereas the policy and registry editors suit those who prefer visual menus.
Feedback and questions are welcome in the comment section below.
How to use dev drive on 🪟 Windows 11?
Utilize an existing empty partition on the disk, or create space by resizing another volume.
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?
Targeting specific configurations helps identify relevant settings faster. Reviewing the official documentation provides additional details regarding Dev Home.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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