Windows 11 and 10 always keep Last Access Time up-to-date for every single file and folder to save the time when those items were accessed on an NTFS volume. Previous versions provide options to directly turn on or off this feature but in the current edition of Windows you have four different modes to choose from. Toggling Last Access Time to enable or disable doesn’t really matter much as it will not have any effect on the date.
If you enable the feature in User Managed mode, changes in the last access time stamp take place only when the system identifies any user activity. Disabling the same will prevent Windows 11 or 10 from changing in the last access timestamp while booting up, regardless of the volume size. On the other hand, if you opt for System Managed mode, the last access time stamp will get modified while booting if you make it enable and the feature will be turned off when you choose disabled for the same mode.
Table of Contents
NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate
Here is how to NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate in Windows 11 or 10 –
1] Hack the Registry value
- Press Win+R.
- Type regedit in the dialog box and click OK (9 Ways to Open Registry Editor in Windows 10).
- When a UAC prompts, hit Yes to give your consent.
- Once in the Registry Editor, navigate the following directory –
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem
- Move to the right pane and locate NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate. If you don’t get the mentioned one, create a new DWORD Value (32 Bit) with the same name.
- Double-click NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate to modify it’s value.
- Put any of the following values you prefer and click OK button.
80000000 (hex) = User Managed, Last Access Updates Enabled
80000001 (hex) = User Managed, Last Access Updates Disabled
80000002 (hex) = System Managed, Last Access Updates Enabled
80000003 (hex) = System Managed, Last Access Updates Disabled
- Now, restart Windows 11 or 10 PC or Windows explorer to see the changes.
2] Enable or Disable Last Access Time using Command Prompt
- Click on taskbar search icon and type in cmd.exe. (12 Ways to Open Command Prompt as Administrator in Windows 10).
- When you see Command Prompt at top of search result, press Ctrl+Shift+Enter altogether.
- Click Yes for the User Account Control.
- Once elevated Command Prompt shows up, insert any of the below command lines you want –
(User Managed, Last Access Updates Enabled) = fsutil behavior set disablelastaccess 0
(User Managed, Last Access Updates Disabled) = fsutil behavior set disablelastaccess 1
(Default - System Managed, Last Access Updates Enabled) = fsutil behavior set disablelastaccess 2
(System Managed, Last Access Updates Disabled) = fsutil behavior set disablelastaccess 3
- Exit the prompt and reboot the PC to apply the change.
Methods:
1] Hack the Registry value
2] Enable or Disable Last Access Time with Command Propmt
That’s all!!