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The “No Autorun” issue in Windows occurs when media like CDs, DVDs, or USB drives fail to launch their setup menus automatically upon insertion. While Windows purposefully disabled automatic execution for USB flash drives after Windows XP to combat malware, you can easily fix broken AutoRun and AutoPlay functionality for optical discs and supported media using the methods below. ⚙️ Method 1: Turn On AutoPlay in Windows Settings

The most common cause is that the global AutoPlay setting has been turned off within Windows. Press the Windows Key + I to open the Settings menu.

Navigate to Bluetooth & devices (Windows 11) or Devices (Windows 10). Click on AutoPlay in the side panel.

Switch the toggle for “Use AutoPlay for all media and devices” to On.

Under Choose AutoPlay Defaults, change your preferred media drop-downs to Ask me every time or Open folder to view files.

🛠️ Method 2: Restart the Shell Hardware Detection Service

Windows relies on a specific background system service to recognize disc insertions and trigger AutoRun actions. If this service crashes or stops, AutoRun will fail. Press Windows Key + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. Scroll down and locate Shell Hardware Detection.

Right-click the service and select Restart (or Start if it isn’t running).

To permanently fix this, right-click it again, select Properties, change the Startup type to Automatic, and click Apply. 💻 Method 3: Reset the Windows Registry Configuration

Corrupted registry entries can block the AutoRun flag entirely. You can reset this behavior using the Registry Editor. Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

Navigate to the following path in the left sidebar:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Look for a value named NoDriveTypeAutoRun on the right side.

Double-click it and change its Value data to 91 (this is the default value that allows AutoRun on supported devices).

Next, navigate to:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

If NoDriveTypeAutoRun exists here as well, update its value to 91. Restart your computer for changes to take effect. 💿 Method 4: Manually Open the Installer

If a specific CD or DVD refuses to auto-start despite system settings being correct, the drive’s file structure might be missing an autorun.inf file, or your Windows security policy may be blocking the automatic script. Open This PC / File Explorer.

Right-click on your CD/DVD drive and select Open or Explore.

Look for a file named setup.exe, install.exe, or autorun.exe.

Right-click that file and select Run as administrator to manually start the installation. To narrow down the exact issue, let me know:

Are you trying to get AutoRun working on a USB drive, a CD/DVD, or a virtual disk image (ISO)? What version of Windows are you currently running?

Does this happen with all media devices or just one specific disk? Autorun on a USB stick – Microsoft Q&A