during Application setup For the first time, you might want to double-check whether you tend to allow all the requested permissions and accept all the prompts without paying attention. Conveniently, Windows 11 allows you to revisit these app permissions and manage them as you see fit. This guide will walk you through the steps involved in enabling, disabling, and managing app permissions on Windows 11. So, without further ado, let's get started.
How app permissions work on Windows
require Applications on Windows Permissions to access your computer's hardware and software features. This includes permission to access your location, camera, microphone, etc. For example, the Weather app on Windows will request permission to access your location data to provide relevant information.
Ideally, you'd want to allow an app all the permissions it needs. However, there may be times when an app tries to obtain permissions it doesn't require. Allowing these permissions could put your privacy at risk.
In either case, you'll need to know how to allow or disallow app permissions on Windows 11. This is what we'll cover in the next section.
How to enable or disable permissions for individual apps
If you want to enable or disable permissions for a specific app, you'll need to open the app's settings on Windows. There are two ways you can do this.
Enable disable permissions from settings
Step 1: Open the Start menu and click All apps at the top to view a list of installed apps.
Step 2: Scroll down to locate the app for which you want to configure permissions. Right-click it, select More, and choose App Settings.
Step 3: In the next window, use the toggle switches under App Permissions to enable or disable certain permissions as you see fit.
Moreover, you can allow or disallow an application to run in the background.
Enable or disable permissions for a single app from Settings
If you are looking to modify permissions for many different apps, you can use the following method to save time.
Step 1: Right-click the Start menu and select Settings from the resulting menu.
Step 2: Go to the Apps tab on your left and click on Installed Apps.
Step 3: Use the search bar to find the app for which you want to modify permissions.
Step 4: Click the three-dot menu icon next to the app and select Advanced options.
Step 5: Use the toggle switches under App Permissions to manage permissions for this app.
Any changes you make must take effect immediately. If The app is already running. You may want to restart it for the changes to take effect.
Note that if an app or game doesn't require any special permissions to operate, you won't see any toggle under the App Permissions section. Additionally, some apps may not appear in the list if they can use all system resources.
How to manage app permissions for multiple apps at once
While the above methods are fairly straightforward, if you're looking to manage specific app permissions for multiple different apps at once, there's a much simpler way to do it. Read on to learn how.
Step 1: Open the Start menu and click the gear icon to launch the Settings app.
Step 2: Switch to the Privacy & Security tab in the left column.
Step 3: Scroll down to the App Permissions section to view a list of all app permissions.
Step 4: Click on the permission to configure it. For illustration purposes, we will modify the camera permission for apps.
Step 5: If you want to disable camera permission for all apps on your computer, you can turn off the switch next to “Allow apps to access your camera.”
Alternatively, if you want to configure camera permissions on a per-app basis, tap the down arrow next to “Allow apps to access your camera.”
Next, use the toggle switches next to the apps to quickly manage camera permission for each app.
Similarly, you can repeat the above steps to manage location, microphone, and other app permissions for multiple apps at once. It's important to note that while you can manage app permissions separately for each app, Microsoft Store apps You can't do the same with desktop applications.
Manage permissions carefully
Granting app permissions carelessly can have unintended consequences. Even if you're not concerned about your privacy, it's worth checking app permissions on Windows from time to time. This way, you can monitor the behavior of different apps and restrict nefarious ones.
