How do I remove old Autoplay entries?

QI was rummaging through Windows 10’s settings recently when I spotted a bunch of old devices in the Autoplay category, under Devices.

I’ve not connected to these in months or years, and will not do so again. For example, there’s an old Android tablet that I’ve since sold! I don’t think these are a security risk as such, because this is a desktop PC that only I use, but I have no idea why they’d still be listed here, and I couldn’t see any way to delete them. Could you advise? Martin Smith

AThey’re still listed because Windows knows that you once connected them, and deigns never to forget. The intention is to be helpful, by remembering what you did (or did not) ask Autoplay to do when you first or last connected a device.

What’s far less obvious is how to clear out the preferences for old or offloaded devices. In fact, short of reinstalling Windows, the only way to delete the redundant Autoplay entries is to get your hands dirty in the registry. It’s not difficult, as such, but it’s important to back up your PC first – just in case you make a mistake or something goes wrong.

With that done, press Windows key+r to open the Run box, then type regedit (see screenshot) and press Enter. Next, use the left-hand pane to navigate to HKEY_ Current_user\software\microsoft\ Windows\currentversion\explorer\ Autoplayhandlers\knowndevices. Still in the left-hand pane, click to expand the Knowndevices key: each of the various ‘Wpddevicehandler’ key headings you see here represents an entry in your Autoplay list. Click to select one and then look for the name of the device in the right-hand pane, alongside Label (see screenshot). When you’ve identified a redundant device, return to the left-hand pane to right-click its ‘Wpddevicehandler’ key heading, then click Delete followed by Yes to confirm.