Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel can now decide which desktop apps access their camera, microphone, and location. Instead of relying on a single setting for all desktop apps, you can now review and manage access individually, giving you more control over your privacy without disrupting the apps you use every day.
From all-or-nothing to app-by-app control
Traditionally, camera, microphone, and location access for desktop apps have been governed by one global toggle. When the toggle is enabled, desktop apps can access these resources. When the desktop toggle is off, none of them can.
With this update, Windows introduces individual controls for desktop apps, extending the per-app privacy management experience to traditional desktop applications. This means you can now:
- See which desktop apps have requested access to your camera, microphone, or location
- Review and manage permissions for each app individually
- Update or review those permissions at any time through Settings
Your existing choices continue to work
Nothing changes unless you choose to change it. Apps that already had access keep it, and apps that were blocked remain blocked. Newly installed apps will ask the first time they need your camera, microphone, or location.
Gain more precise control without disrupting your apps
Windows supports a broad and diverse ecosystem of desktop applications. This update brings more precise privacy protection across that ecosystem, giving you clearer, app-by-app decisions while keeping the applications you rely on working as expected.
As the ecosystem evolves, we’re continuing to invest in privacy experiences that make permissions easier to understand and manage. This update is focused on three goals:
- Making it clearer when applications request access to sensitive resources
- Enabling permission decisions at the individual app level
- Bringing desktop apps closer to familiar permission experiences already available elsewhere in Windows
The result is a more intuitive way to understand which apps can access your camera, microphone, and location, while preserving compatibility with the desktop applications you rely on every day. This experience is designed to help you make informed permission decisions by providing greater transparency and control over app access requests.
A note on unsigned apps
If Windows cannot verify the publisher of an app requesting access, you’ll see it identified as Unsigned. This does not necessarily mean the app is unsafe, but rather that Windows has less information about its source. Before granting access, make sure you recognize the app, that you obtained the app from a trusted source, and that you are comfortable allowing it to use your camera, microphone, and/or location.
For more information, see Learn more about unsigned apps
Looking ahead
Providing app-level camera, microphone, and location control is an important step toward more precise, understandable privacy protection across Windows. We’ll continue improving this and other privacy experiences across Windows, using Windows Insider feedback to guide what comes next.
The easiest way to provide feedback is through the Feedback Hub app (Win + F) in Windows. Your thoughts and suggestions will help us refine the experience as we prepare for broader availability and help shape future investments in this space.
What to expect with future Windows Insider Preview builds
- App attribution improvements. Most desktop apps will appear under a clear, recognizable name. In some cases, apps that use shared or browser-hosted components may appear differently while we continue improving attribution accuracy.
- Enterprise management. Existing enterprise policy controls remain in place. We’re exploring additional management capabilities to give organizations more flexibility over time. We will share additional information soon.
- An iterative rollout. The first Windows Insider release gives us an opportunity to refine app identification and usability before broader availability.
Try it and tell us what you think
If you’re enrolled in the Windows Insider Program, look for the new controls under Settings > Privacy & security. There, you’ll be able to review and manage camera, microphone, and location permissions for individual desktop apps.
If something doesn’t look right, or you have suggestions for improvement, use Feedback Hub (Win + F) and file feedback for Settings > Privacy Settings.
With app-by-app controls, Windows gives you a clearer, more precise way to protect access to your camera, microphone, and location.
Securing today. Preparing for what’s next. Learn more in the Windows Security book and Windows Server Security book. To stay up to date on the latest in security features and enhancements, visit the Microsoft Security site, follow the Microsoft Security Blog, or connect with Microsoft Security on LinkedIn and @MSFTSecurity.