How to disable media automount in GNOME

Resolution

Media auto-mount can be disabled by using following methods.

RHEL 7, RHEL 8, RHEL 9

To disable it per user:

• Open dconf-editor and goto org > gnome > desktop > media-handling and uncheck automount and automount-open checkbox on right hand side pane.

• Alternatively, use the command below :

  # gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.media-handling automount false
  # gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.media-handling automount-open false 
  # systemctl restart gdm.service
  

To disable it for all users :

• Create a file /etc/dconf/db/local.d/00-media-automount with following content:

  # cat /etc/dconf/db/local.d/00-media-automount
  [org/gnome/desktop/media-handling]
  automount=false
  automount-open=false
  

• After creating the file, apply the changes using below command :

  # dconf update
  

RHEL6

To disable it per user:

• Open System->Preferences->File Management Preferences->Media .

• Alternatively, use the command below:

  $ gconftool-2 --type bool --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/media_automount false
  $ gconftool-2 --type bool --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/media_automount_open false
  

To disable it for all users :

• Run the command below:

  # gconftool-2 --direct --config-source xml:readwrite:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.mandatory -s /apps/nautilus/preferences/media_automount -t bool false
  # gconftool-2 --direct --config-source xml:readwrite:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.mandatory -s /apps/nautilus/preferences/media_automount_open -t bool false
  

RHEL5

To disable it per user:

• Open System->Preferences->Removeable Drives and Media Preferences .

• Alternatively, use the command below:

  $ gconftool-2 --type bool --set /desktop/gnome/volume_manager/automount_drives false
  $ gconftool-2 --type bool --set /desktop/gnome/volume_manager/automount_media false
  

Comment

• The RHEL6 and RHEL5 specific commands only modify the settings for the current user on the console. To make the changes for all users on the RHEL5 and RHEL6 system, refer How to set or unset mandatory or default user profile for Gnome users in Red Hat Enterprise Linux ?

• To restrict access, refer How do I restrict access to removable storage media devices in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 ? and How to prevent users from mounting removable media in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 ?.