This tutorial will show you how to add "AutoPlay" to the Desktop context menu for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
The AutoPlay context menu allows users to directly open AutoPlay settings in either Settings or Control Panel. This context menu can be handy if you change your AutoPlay settings often.
AutoPlay lets you choose an action for different kinds of media when you plug in a device or insert media. You can set AutoPlay to open different kinds of content, such as photos, music, and video on different kinds of media, such as drives, CDs, DVDs, cameras, and phones. For example, you can use AutoPlay to select an app that will automatically open photos on a removable drive when you plug it into your PC. With AutoPlay, you don't have to open the same app or reselect preferences every time you plug in a certain device.
While you must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove the "AutoPlay" context menu, all users can use the context menu if added.
EXAMPLE: AutoPlay context menu, and AutoPlay in Settings and Control Panel
In Windows 11, you will need to click/tap on Show more options first by default, then click/tap on AutoPlay.
Here's How:
1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you want.
2 Add "AutoPlay" Desktop Context Menu
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Add_AutoPlay_to_Desktop_context_menu.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\AutoPlay]
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-5362"
"MUIVerb"="AutoPlay"
"Position"="Bottom"
"SubCommands"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\shell\AutoPlay\shell\001menu]
"MUIVerb"="Open AutoPlay in Settings"
"Icon"="shell32.dll,-16826"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\shell\AutoPlay\shell\001menu\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:autoplay"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\shell\AutoPlay\shell\002menu]
"MUIVerb"="Open AutoPlay in Control Panel"
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-27"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\shell\AutoPlay\shell\002menu\command]
@="control /name Microsoft.AutoPlay"3 Remove "AutoPlay" Desktop Context Menu
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Remove_AutoPlay_from_Desktop_context_menu.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\AutoPlay]4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
