Solved Windows 11 - Enable Autoplay?

[JBMusic]

I recently upgraded my music dedicated PC from Windows 10 to 11. In 10 when I plugged in a USB drive it would automatically open the folder for me. With 11 I have to manually access it through the This PC drives menu and click on it. Can you tell me how I can make that automatically open again? I know there's a way, I just forgot how over the years.

Thanks
John B

 

[Lukas]

Windows 11 still has that option, but Microsoft buried it under AutoPlay settings.

Here’s how to get your USB drives to automatically open in File Explorer again:


1. Open AutoPlay Settings

Press Windows key + S and type AutoPlay
Click AutoPlay settings in the results

2. Turn AutoPlay On

At the top, make sure "Use AutoPlay for all media and devices" is ON

3. Set the Action for Removable Drives

Under Removable drive, click the dropdown and choose
"Open folder to view files (File Explorer)"

4. Optional – Also Check Control Panel
In older versions, this setting was also in the classic Control Panel:

- Press Windows key + R, type control /name Microsoft.AutoPlay and press Enter

- Set Removable Drive to "Open folder to view files using File Explorer"

- Click Save

From then on, whenever you plug in a USB stick or external drive, File Explorer should pop ope
n automatically just like it did in Windows 10.

 

[JBMusic]

Thanks, Lucas.

John B

 

[John Vere]

Thanks for this. It never occurred to me that I could fix it.
It’s odd how they completely tried to make all the file menu tasks hidden away. Like the way you have to use the other options to see the other folder options. They used to be one click.

 

[JBMusic]

Thanks for this. It never occurred to me that I could fix it.
It’s odd how they completely tried to make all the file menu tasks hidden away. Like the way you have to use the other options to see the other folder options. They used to be one click.

Yeah. I made the move last Monday. My PC always had the built in ability to upgrade. It took about an hour. A few small differences in the interface but nothing I can't handle. Studio One Ver 7 may work better on this. I'm trying a project in it now and only had one "black screen (formerly blue screen) the other day that told me it ran into a problem and had to restart. It only took a few seconds but thankfully Auto Save saved me from having to redo about 15 minutes of work.

John B