WPD Devices: Deny read access
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows Vista
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Removable Storage Access Description
This policy setting denies read access to removable disks, which may include media players, cellular phones, auxiliary displays, and CE devices. If you enable this policy setting, read access is denied to this removable storage class. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, read access is allowed to this removable storage class.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices\{6AC27878-A6FA-4155-BA85-F98F491D4F33} Value name: Deny_Read
Enabled: Deny_Read = 1
Disabled: Deny_Read = 0
This policy sets several registry values:
Deny_Read {F33FDC04-D1AC-4E8E-9A30-19BBD4B108AE} Enabled:
Deny_Read = 1 Disabled:
Deny_Read = 0 MDM / Intune (CSP)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_RemovableStorage/WPDDevices_DenyRead_Access_2 Multiple CSP matches are possible; the first one was selected.
Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: WPD Devices: Deny read access
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Vista
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices\{6AC27878-A6FA-4155-BA85-F98F491D4F33}]
"Deny_Read"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices\{F33FDC04-D1AC-4E8E-9A30-19BBD4B108AE}]
"Deny_Read"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: WPD Devices: Deny read access
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices\{6AC27878-A6FA-4155-BA85-F98F491D4F33}'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Deny_Read' -Value 1 -Type DWord
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices\{F33FDC04-D1AC-4E8E-9A30-19BBD4B108AE}'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Deny_Read' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_RemovableStorage/WPDDevices_DenyRead_Access_2
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: WPD Devices: Deny read access
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices\{6AC27878-A6FA-4155-BA85-F98F491D4F33}' -Name 'Deny_Read' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices\{F33FDC04-D1AC-4E8E-9A30-19BBD4B108AE}' -Name 'Deny_Read' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: WPD Devices: Deny read access
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices\{6AC27878-A6FA-4155-BA85-F98F491D4F33}'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Deny_Read' -Value 1 -Type DWord
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices\{F33FDC04-D1AC-4E8E-9A30-19BBD4B108AE}'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Deny_Read' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: WPD Devices: Deny read access
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: WPD Devices: Deny read access
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices\{6AC27878-A6FA-4155-BA85-F98F491D4F33}' -Name 'Deny_Read' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices\{F33FDC04-D1AC-4E8E-9A30-19BBD4B108AE}' -Name 'Deny_Read' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: WPD Devices: Deny read access
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices\{6AC27878-A6FA-4155-BA85-F98F491D4F33}'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Deny_Read' -Value 1 -Type DWord
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\RemovableStorageDevices\{F33FDC04-D1AC-4E8E-9A30-19BBD4B108AE}'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Deny_Read' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.