Windows 10: Enable or Disable Disk Write Caching in Windows 10

How to: Enable or Disable Disk Write Caching in Windows 10

How to Enable or Disable Disk Write Caching in Windows 10


Disk write caching is a feature that improves system performance by using fast volatile memory (RAM) to collect write commands sent to data storage devices and cache them until the slower storage device (ex: hard disk) can be written to later. This allows applications to run faster by allowing them to proceed without waiting for data write-requests to be written to the disk.

While disk write caching may increase system performance, it can also increase the chances of data loss in case of power or system failures before the data from the write-cache buffer is flushed by writing the data to the disk.

Windows defines two main policies, Quick removal and Better performance, that control how the system interacts with external storage devices such as USB thumb drives or Thunderbolt-enabled external drives. Beginning in Windows 10 version 1809, the default policy is Quick removal.

In earlier versions of Windows the default policy was Better performance.

You can change the policy setting for each external device, and the policy that you set remains in effect if you disconnect the device and then connect it again to the same computer port.

You can use the storage device policy setting to change the manner in which Windows manages storage devices to better meet your needs. The policy settings have the following effects:

• Quick removal - This policy manages storage operations in a manner that keeps the device ready to remove at any time. You can remove the device without using the Safely Remove Hardware process. However, to do this, Windows cannot cache disk write operations. This may degrade system performance.
• Better performance - This policy manages storage operations in a manner that improves system performance. When this policy is in effect, Windows can cache write operations to the external device. However, you must use the Safely Remove Hardware process to remove the external drive. The Safely Remove Hardware process protects the integrity of data on the device by making sure that all cached operations finish.

Removable disks have disk write caching disabled by default for quick removal without having to use Safely Remove Hardware.

Internal disks have disk write caching enabled by default for better performance, but you must use Safely Remove Hardware before disconnecting the disk to prevent data loss.

Update: Windows 10, version 1809 and later: Change in default removal policy for external storage media | Windows Support

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable disk write caching on storage devices for better performance or quick removal in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to enable or disable disk write caching.



Here's How:

1 Open Device Manager (devmgmt.msc).

2 Expand open Disk drives, and double click/tap on the disk that you want to enable or disable write caching. (see screenshot below)




3 Do step 4 (enable) or step 5 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


4 To Enable Disk Write Caching on the Device
A) Click/tap on the Policies tab, and select (dot) Better performance. (see screenshots below)

B) Check the Enable write caching on the device box under Write-caching policy.

C) Check or uncheck the Turn off Windows write-cache buffer flushing on the device under Write-caching policy.

To prevent data loss, do not check Turn off Windows write-cache buffer flushing on the device unless the device (disk) has a separate power supply (ex: UPS) that allows the device to flush its buffer in case of power failure.


D) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below.





5 To Disable Disk Write Caching on the Device
A) Click/tap on the Policies tab, select (dot) Quick removal, click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshots below)





6 If prompted to restart the computer to apply, click/tap on Yes or No for what you want to do. (see screenshot below)

Yes = Restarts the computer immediately. Be sure to save and close everything first.

No = Allows you to manually restart the computer later when you're ready. Your changes will not be applied until you restart the computer.





That's it,
Shawn

:)

 

Windows 10 USB storage Write Cache Disable command

When I connect USB storage at Windows 10 , Sometimes USB command (SCSI command - Mode selection - Write cache disable)

is issue to storage . I found that USB analyzer.

But windows 7, there's no command like that.

Why windows usb driver for windows10 is sending write cache disable command to storage?

(I've checked already option for write cache disable/enable. The status is enabled.)

 

Auto re-enable of write-caching in Windows 10

Hello Matthew,

If you have any suggestions about Windows 10, I suggest you to post your valuable feedback about Windows 10. So, that it will be helpful for the developers to integrate the changes suggested by you.

• 
  Go to Start , enter the phrase Windows Feedback and then select
  Windows Feedback.
  
• 
  See if someone else has provided similar feedback by entering the topic. If you find similar feedback, select it, add any details, then select
  Upvote.
  
• 
  If you don’t find any similar feedback, select Add new feedback, and choose a topic from
  Select a category and then Select a subcategory. Enter your feedback (the more details the better!), add a screenshot if you can, and you're done.
  

Updates and feedback



Thank You.

 

Hello captain, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

Please go ahead and post some screenshots showing what you see in Device Manager and Properties for this device to see if it may reveal anything.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...en-forums.html

 

Sure. Pretty simple really. Missing tab.

 

Ah, that's why. You won't be able to for a DVD drive.

 

Ooops. That explains it. Thanks.

 

hi Brink,

I can't enable write caching on my Micro SD card 128 GB on Win 10 Surface Pro 2 ?

On Win 7 I was able and works ok.

If I try enable in device manager I get windows error - could not change write caching settings on this device...

Something wrong with WIN 10. I keep my Outlook files on my SD card and always freeze up my outlook 2013 after some time and I must restart computer.

thanks in advance with expert help

 

Hello milanbl30, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

Personally, I wouldn't recommend enabling write caching on removable media to help prevent data loss if it should be disconnected by mistake.

 

I use micro SD like HDD and it's always in slot.. don't worry about that, can you help me to solve my problem ?
My outlook is freezeing everyday and must restart computer, can't work normally...

Outlook email files .pst I keep on micro SD.

 

I'm not sure what may help other than seeing if formatting the SD may.

 

Hiyya Shawn mate doing this I only get what is in the picture and I am guessing I am missing something here.

Ok it is not attaching pics for me but it is the same as what milan had in post #7 - just those two options.

 

Hello John, *Smile

That's normal. It'll vary.