How to Allow or Prevent Others From Installing Removable Storage Devices on Windows
Want to prevent others from stealing your PC data through removable storage devices? Or do you want to protect your device from harmful files contained on removable storage devices?
In this article, we’ll explore how you can prevent others from installing removable storage devices on Windows. That way, your device won’t read any removable storage devices without your permission. Lastly, we’ll also show you how to allow others to install specific removable storage devices.

How to Prevent Others From Installing Any Removable Storage Devices
Let’s start by checking out how you could prevent others from installing any removable storage device into your PC. You can do this using either the Local Group Policy Editor or the Registry Editor.
Using the Local Group Policy Editor
The Local Group Policy Editor (LGPE) is a reliable tool for troubleshooting system errors. Interestingly, you may also use it for other tasks such aspreventing others from changing your Windows desktop background.
Now, here’s how to use the LGPE to prevent others from installing removable storage devices on Windows:

SelectEnabledon the next screen to prevent others from installing removable storage devices into your PC. Alternatively, selectDisabledorNot Configuredto restore the default settings.
Finally, pressApplyand then pressOKto save these changes.

Struggling to access the LGPE on Windows Home? There are a few tricks you can apply toaccess the LGPE on Windows Home. But if that sounds complicated to you, then skip to the Registry Editor method.
Using the Registry Editor
The Registry Editor is another reliable tool you can use for tweaking system settings and troubleshooting PC issues.
However, this tool is quite sensitive. So, it’s often worthbacking up the Registryfirst before editing its keys.

Now, here’s how to use the Registry Editor to prevent others from installing removable storage devices on Windows:
From there, follow these steps:

Now, follow these steps:
How to Prevent Others From Installing Specific Removable Storage Devices
In some instances, you might want to prevent others from installing specific removable storage devices. So, let’s show you how you can do that using either the LGPE or the Registry Editor.
Here’s how to use the LGPE to prevent others from installing certain removable storage devices into your PC:
Alternatively, you can use the Registry Editor to prevent others from installing specific storage devices into your PC.
Here are the steps you need to follow:
Now, you’re able to prevent others from installing specific storage devices into your PC through these steps:
How to Allow Others to Install Specific Removable Storage Devices
Instead of preventing others from installing removable storage devices, you might want to allow them to install specific devices. So, let’s show you how you’re able to do that using the LGPE and the Registry Editor.
Here’s how to use the LGPE to allow others to install specific storage devices into your PC:
You can also use the Registry Editor to allow others to install specific storage devices into your PC.
Now, you may allow others to install specific storage devices into your PC through these steps:
Preventing the Installation of Suspicious Storage Devices on Windows Is Easy
Removable storage devices make it easy for you to share files with anyone. However, others might often use removable storage devices to steal your data. In some cases, some people might use faulty storage devices that could wreak havoc on your PC.
And if you only want to disable read or write access for your removable storage devices, then there are solutions for that too.
Want to stop people from peeking at the files on your removable files? Lock them away with these tips for Windows.
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