Depending on the environment, you may or may not want to allow users to be able to burn CD’s or DVD’s on certain computer systems. Enable or disable CD burning capability in Microsoft Windows 10 with this registry hack.
Option 1 – Registry Setting
- Hold the Windows Key, then press “R” to bring up the Run dialog box.
- Type “regedit“, then press “Enter“. This will open the registry editor.
- Navigate to the following registry key:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE for all users, or HKEY_CURRENT_USER for the currently logged in user.
- Software
- Microsoft
- Window
- CurrentVersion
- Policies
- Explorer
- Look for a key called “NoCDBurning”. If it does not exist, you can create a new DWORD value under the Explorer folder by performing the following steps:
- Click “Edit” > “New” > “DWORD Value“.
- Name it “NoCDBurning” without quotes. Press “Enter” to save.
- Double-click on “NoCDBurning” and you can set the value to “1” to disable CD burning or set it to “0” to enable it.
Log off the current user, then log back in. The ability to drag and drop files to the CD or DVD drive will be disabled as well as the ability to Format discs.
Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. We cannot guarantee that problems resulting from modifications to the registry can be solved. Use the information provided at your own risk.
Option 2 – Group Policy
- Hold the Windows Key, then press “R” to bring up the Run dialog box.
- Type “gpedit.msc“, then select “OK“.
- Go to “User Configuration” > “Administrative Templates” > “Windows Components” > “File Explorer“.
- Open the “Remove CD Burning Features” setting.
- Set the policy to “Enabled” to disable disc burning. Set it to “Disabled” or “Not Configured” to allow disc burning.
FAQ
Does this setting block disc burining via third-party disc burning applications like Nero?
No. This setting is only for the integrated Windows disc burning features.
Sam says
May 21, 2019 at 9:46 amThis worked to prevent file explorer from trying to do the initial cd burn, but after burning with Windows Media Player, file explorer still opens and asks to insert another CD. How does that get turned off?????
Danaan says
June 19, 2018 at 10:36 pmwhoop! Option 1 worked! THANK you!
Thank you says
May 15, 2018 at 11:56 amThank you!
Lisa says
November 21, 2016 at 9:31 amI installed Kaspersky software and it suggested a change of virtualization in BIOS, which I did. I’m not overly tech savvy but wanted to take all security suggestions. After that my Media Player wouldn’t burn CDs although iTunes still would. I followed Mitch’s “Option 1 – Registry Setting” step and I can now burn CDs in Media Player which I prefer. Took a while to get to this site and had tried other things before but nothing fixed. Thank you!!!!!! (11/21/16)
Peter Brooks says
November 18, 2016 at 4:13 amIf I create a USB style CD on another Windows 7 machine, I can still Save As to the CD from Word and the file is written to the CD. I have also tried with Paint and it works. I need a way to stop this.
Rick Johnson says
June 24, 2016 at 12:09 pmI have searching for an answer of how to get rid of the “Burn to disc” context menu since I installed Windows 10 (Over a month ago). I found many answers (many supplied by people who had no idea of what they were talking about) and none of them worked, nntil I found this. Many thanks to Mitch Bartlett.
Antonis says
June 21, 2016 at 6:31 amIs there any logging on the data which are burnt on the CD? For example a log file with the name of the files written?