How to Manage App Permissions in Windows 11

Traditional Windows desktop apps are not under the control of Windows 11. That means they have complete access to your computer. It is uncontrollable by Windows. However, if you downloaded and installed modern apps from the Microsoft Store [also known as Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps], Windows 11/10 has complete control over them. How to Manage App Permissions in Windows 11?

The Windows operating system gives you complete control over UWP apps. Just like modern iPhone, iPad, and Android apps, you have permissions to control. You have complete control over who has access to your location, camera, microphone, and photos.

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How to Manage an Individual App’s Permissions on Windows 11?

To manage the permissions of a single app, do the following:-

On the taskbar, click the Start button, then search for the app for which you want to change the permissions. For example, we’d like to change the Photos app’s permissions.
Right-click the app and select App Settings from the menu that appears. You can also get to the App Settings page by going to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, selecting an app, and then selecting “Advanced Options.“
The “App permissions” section will now appear. Toggle the app permissions on or off to grant or deny access to the camera, microphone, and other features. Only the permissions that the app requests are listed here.

If the App Permissions section isn’t visible, the program doesn’t have any permissions that you can manage. It’s either a modern app that doesn’t ask for permissions or a traditional desktop app that has full access.

Related: How to Enable DNS over HTTPS on Windows 11

How to Manage Categories of Permissions?

Permissions can also be managed by category in Windows 11. You can find all the apps on your system that have access to your camera, for example. To do so, go through the steps below:

Press the Windows + I keys on the keyboard to launch the Settings app.
On the Settings page’s left sidebar, select the Privacy & security category.
Scroll down to the App permissions section on the right-hand sidebar. After that, select a category to see which apps have access to it. For instance, we’d like to see which apps can access my camera.
The list of apps that can access your webcam can be found under the Camera settings page. You can toggle the toggle to On or Off depending on your requirements.