Windows 11 has a Dev Drive feature built on Microsoft's Resilient File System (ReFS) and paired with asynchronous Defender scans. You may be overlooking this feature, but it's a real productivity hack. The Dev Drive is more efficient than the standard NTFS drive at handling massive workloads and frequent small-file operations.
However, you'll want to strategically place items in a Dev Drive because not every folder belongs there. If you move the right directories, you'll see real gains in compile times and processing, amounting to a more responsive device. But moving the wrong ones may be a waste of space and lead to broken workflows.
Dev drives are different from normal drives
ReFS and asynchronous Defender scans change everything about file performance
The Dev Drive on Windows 11 isn't just a dedicated partition; it's a special drive volume built on Microsoft's Resilient File System (ReFS). Traditional NTFS struggles with modern development workloads, including frequent reads and writes, and thousands of small file operations—but that's where ReFS shines. Dev Drive is an ideal workspace for high I/O workloads because ReFS's architecture enables these tasks to be executed more efficiently.
How Dev Drive manages security is another distinct difference. It doesn't wait for a Defender scan before opening or modifying; rather, it allows immediate access to files while security checks run asynchronously in the background.
This architecture reduces subtle delays that may accumulate as an operation becomes more complex, helping workflows become smoother and more responsive. You'll notice these improvements more on large code compilations, projects, or directories with thousands of smaller files.
Other than the gains in speed, Dev Drive enhances reliability at scale. Although Microsoft markets the feature to developers, you'll also see benefits when using high-end applications.
Move your source code and repositories
Relocating build folders, Git clones, and project dependencies speeds up compile times
Developers on Windows 11 should use Dev Drives. It's primarily for them, so naturally, source code directories are the most impactful folders to move. Build processes create thousands of small files—the perfect kind of activity for ReFS's block cloning and copy-on-write to shine.
It makes several tasks, such as repository cloning, switching Git branches, and generating build artifacts, significantly smoother. You'll notice improvements more on SATA SSDs, but you'll also see faster project operations on NVMe drives.
You'll notice improved overall responsiveness during builds and code indexing, even though compile times may not drop as much. Your workflow will have a smoother rhythm because IDE responsiveness, file search, and live syntax analysis feel snappier.
Transfer package caches and toolchains
Node.js, Python, and .NET caches thrive on faster I/O and reduced Defender interference
Package managers and toolchains also generate significant background file activity, which may make workflows slower on a standard drive. Because NPM caches, Python virtual environments, and NuGet package folders all involve frequent reads and writes, they're best suited for the Dev Drive.
Continuous real-time Defender scans on NTFS volumes will typically cause installation, update, or rebuild delays. You can minimize these delays and free your CPU from constant scanning by relocating these high-traffic directories to a Dev Drive.
The cumulative gain in time becomes significant when managing multiple projects or large monorepos. It ultimately reduces the chances of build errors triggered by file access interruptions, and you'll also experience smoother dependency resolution, environment setup, and package installation.
In practice, it translates to fewer pauses caused by "rebuilding wheels" or "resolving dependencies", giving you a more predictable workflow. You can transform a Dev Drive into a high-speed workspace by strategically moving your caches and toolchains—not just for speed, but for a more stable and reliable development environment.
Move your game libraries and asset folders
Faster loading and smoother modding make a Dev Drive worth it
If you game, you'll get tangible benefits using the Dev Drive for titles with frequent updates, heavy modding activity, and massive asset counts. This is relevant to games like Starfield, Baldur's Gate 3, or Microsoft Flight Simulator, because ReFS's faster I/O handling improves the speed of reading and writing small data chunks, shader caches, and texture files.
On large mod libraries, Dev Drive's asynchronous Defender scanning alone can significantly reduce noticeable load times, thereby minimizing stutter during asset streaming.
However, if you play titles that don't stress disk operations as much, the advantage shrinks, and performance gains become minimal.
For gaming, you'll want to use the Dev Drive for expansive, data-heavy games, because it doubles as a performance sandbox, enhancing the experience and delivering consistent gameplay without altering hardware.
Not every folder belongs here
Understanding what a Dev Drive is actually built for
You need precision, not volume, for Dev Drive optimization. Moving documents, photos, media libraries, or other static or rarely accessed files to a Dev Drive may only complicate backups and provide no performance benefits. This also applies to large, unchanged datasets and precompiled executables.
Core Windows system files and directories that depend on NTFS-specific features, such as compression or encryption, also do not belong on a Dev Drive because ReFS doesn't fully replicate these NTFS behaviors.
Avoid creating a Dev Drive from or on your C: system drive. Boot files, restore points, and BitLocker encryption all rely on NTFS, and you may start experiencing startup errors or data loss if you migrate them.
Additionally, avoid moving any folders tied to OneDrive, system temporary files, or AppData. Because of the deep integration with Windows services, they may break sync updates or certain app configurations if placed on ReFS volumes. Moving them may only cause instability.
Getting the most from your Dev Drive
You can transform Windows 11 into a high-performance workspace by strategically using a Dev Drive. It reduces the time needed for builds to complete or files to load, allowing you to focus on productivity.
Placing the right folders—such as source code, package caches, or large game libraries—translates to smoother workflows, faster operations, and fewer interruptions. Aside from Dev Drives, you can also consider tweaking certain settings in Windows 11 to get better overall performance.