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Autoplay not working in Windows 10/11 [COMPLETE GUIDE]
10 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Autoplay can be a usefulfeature, but it appears that Windows 10 users are having some issues with it. According to users, Autoplay isn’t working onWindows 10for some strange reason, so is there a way to fix it?
There is a way to fix it, and we’re going to show you exactly how, in this article.
How can I fix Autoplay if it isn’t working in Windows 10?
There are various problems with Autoplay that can occur, and in this article, we’re going to cover the following issues:
1) Reset the Autoplay settings
So, the first thing we’re going to try is resetting the Autoplay settings inWindows 10. If you’re not sure how to do that, just follow these steps:
Most users don’t know what to do when the Windows key stops working. Check outthis guideand be a step ahead.
You can’t open Control Panel? Take a look at this step-by-step guide to find a solution.
You can also change your Autoplay settings from the Settings app. To do that, just follow these steps:
After making these changes, check if Autoplay is working again.
Want to know more about Autoplay settings and how to manage them? Check out this awesome article.
2) Check Registry Editor values
Windows 10 manages Autoplay settings using theregistryand speaking of the registry, there’s one specific key that is in charge of Autoplay settings.
Sometimes this key can be changed when you install newantivirus software, so let’s check this key and see if it has been changed:
If you can’t find the values we mentioned inStep 7andStep 8, don’t worry. This is actually a good thing, and it means that those values weren’t changed.
If changing the registry seems a bit complicated, you can just download .reg files, execute them and add changes to the registry automatically. Just download these files:
After downloading them, just run them both to add them to the registry. We also have to mention that there’s one more value in Registry Editor that can cause Autoplay issues onWindows 10.
After you’ve made changes to the Registry, restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.
If you can’t edit your Windows 10’s registry, read thishandy guideand find the quickest solutions to the issue.
Can’t access the Registry Editor? Things aren’t as scary as they seem. Check out this guide and solve the issue quickly.
3) Check Shell Hardware Detection Service
Shell Hardware Detection Service is in charge of Autoplay functions and if Autoplay isn’t working onWindows 10, maybe Shell Hardware Detection Service isn’t running, as well, so let’s see if we can fix that:
After changing the startup type of this service, the problem should be resolved.
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4) Change notification settings
According to users, you might be able to fix this problem simply by changing your notification settings. Users reported that their AutoPlay notifications were disabled and that caused this error to appear. To fix the issue, you need to do the following:
Once you made these changes, check if the problem with AutoPlay still persists.
If you’re having trouble opening the Setting app, take a look at this article to solve the issue.
5) Make changes to the Group Policy
Another way to fix this issue is to make changes to Group Policy. Group Policy is a useful tool that allows you to configure various system settings. To start Group Policy Editor and fix Autoplay issues, you need to do the following:
After making these changes, the problem should be resolved and AutoPlay will start working again. Few users reported that they had to change this setting forUser Configurationinstead ofComputer Configuration.
To do that, you need to repeat the same steps, but instead of going to theComputer Configuration, you need to go to theUser Configurationsection and follow the instructions above.
Most Windows 10 users have no idea how to edit the Group Policy. Learn how you can do it by reading thissimple article.
You don’t have the Group Policy Editor on your Windows PC? Get it right now in just a couple of easy steps.
6) Disconnect all USB devices
According to users, if Autoplay is not working, the problem might be your USB devices. Users reported that they had a connectedUSB flash drivethat caused this problem to appear.
According to them, the drive was used as a SpeedBoost drive, and while the drive was connected the Autoplay didn’t work with cameras and other devices.
After disconnecting the flash drive the issue was resolved and Autoplay started working for all devices.
7) Use Command Prompt
If Autoplay is not working on your PC, you might be able to fix it simply by usingCommand Prompt. To do that, follow these steps:
After running this command, you just have to restart your PC and the problem should be completely resolved.
If you’re having trouble accessing Command Prompt as an admin, then you better take a closer look at this guide.
8) Turn Autoplay off and on
If you still have problems with Autoplay, you might be able to fix them simply by turning Autoplay off and turning it back on again. This is rather simple and you can do it by following these steps:
You can also turn thisfeatureoff from Control Panel. To do that, you need to do the following:
Both of these methods will disable the Autoplay feature, so feel free to use any of them.
After doing that, check if Autoplay is working on your PC. Few users are suggesting to restart your PC after you turn off the AutoPlay feature, so you might want to try that as well.
9) Install the latest updates
If you still have this problem, you might be able to solve it by installing the latest updates.Windows 10usually installs updates automatically, but sometimes you might skip an important update.
If this happens, you can check for updates manually by doing the following:
If any updates are available, Windows willinstall them in the background. After yourWindows 10is up to date, check if the issue still persists.
Having trouble updating your Windows? Check out this guide that will help you solve them in no time.
That’s about it, we hope at least one of these solutions helped you to solve the problem with Autoplay inWindows 10.
As always, leave all your questions and suggestions in the comments section below.
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More about the topics:System Errors
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.