Windows10 - autoplay not working?

For many users, the Windows 10 update reset the autoplay options.

What is Autoplay? Autoplay tells Windows what to do if a user inserts a DVD or a USB stick or a camera photo card into their computer.
You would think that this would be a standard action on Windows computers but if I stick a camera card in my laptop I expect the Lightroom program to start up whilst you may not have this program and just want to easily import your photos onto the computer.

For some people, the recent upgrade to Windows 10 reset all the autoplay options which means that when they stick a USB stick or camera card into the computer nothing happens.

How to change the Autoplay defaults

1. Click on Start
2. Click on Settings
3. A window will pop up with the Title ‘Windows Settings'
4. Click on Devices  
   
5. the following window will open up. Click on the Autoplay option in the pane on the left.

You have two options under the ‘Autoplay’ settings. First, make sure that Autoplay is actually switched on by checking that the switch under the text ‘Use Autoplay for all media and devices’ is coloured blue and ‘On’ (If it’s off it will be coloured grey and the text will be ‘off’ - to switch it on, just click on the switch until it is coloured blue and the text shows ‘On’).

Now we can set a default action for a Removable drive (removable drives are USB sticks, external hard drives, etc). If you click the down arrow next to the ‘Choose a default’ text you will get a drop-down menu like this -


Probably the best bet is to click on the ‘Ask me every time’ option.
Next, we set the default action for a Memory card. Again, click on the down arrow next to the ‘Choose a default’ text you will get a drop-down menu like this -

Your menu may be slightly different to mine if you have Picasa or other photo programs installed.

Be careful about selecting the ‘import photos and videos(Photos)’ option. Microsoft have introduced a new photo program that will import all your photos into one big mass with no folders. It is Microsoft’s misguided idea to have a single photo app across all platforms (laptops, tablets and phones) but they have had to dumb down the app to do it. However, I don’t wish to put anyone off the app.

I’m afraid that the import routine that worked so well in previous versions of Windows has been replaced by the new Photos app import. If you have Picasa or any other photo program then I suggest that you select that otherwise I would select the ‘Open folder to view files (File Explorer)’ option. (I will try and find an import program and do another post on photos).

Changing Autoplay settings through Control Panel

You can get much more control over the autoplay settings if you get to them via the Control Panel.
To get to the Control Panel -

1. Click the right mouse button with the cursor on the Windows 10 Start    

2. you will get a pop-up window like this -

Select the 'Control Panel' option and you will get the Control Panel opening up in a window.

(The initial Control Panel view can differ from the window below. Near the top right of the window there is a 'view by' option. The view option below is the 'large icons' view which can be selected by clicking on the down arrow and selecting it)

 

 

Select the  from the “Large icons view” and click the “AutoPlay” icon. The following window will open -

In this window you have the option to choose what happens when you plug in Pictures, Videos, Music, camera cards, different types of DVDs, Blue-ray discs, CDs and programs. just remember to click the 'Save' button at the bottom of the page when you have finished choosing actions.

('Frustrated Business Man With Laptop' image courtesy of [David Castillo Dominici] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)