Thought Leadership
Microsoft is testing new privacy settings for Windows 11 users.
In the future, users will be able to specify for each individual desktop application whether it may access the camera, microphone, and precise location. The new feature is currently available on systems updated to the experimental Windows Insider Preview version 26340.9233. Previously, access for traditional desktop applications to the camera, microphone, and location could only be controlled via a single, device-wide setting.
Microsoft explained that Insiders would be able to manage these permissions separately for each individual application in the future, giving them more insight into which apps are requesting access to sensitive resources in the first place. The new settings can be found under Settings, Privacy & Security, under Camera, Microphone, or Location, respectively, where access can be granted via individual toggles per application.
At the same time, Microsoft warned to grant access only to applications that users actually know and trust, as some apps may appear under different names via shared system components or browser-based technologies, or be displayed as unsigned if Windows cannot verify the publisher information.
Part of a broader security initiative at Microsoft
The test follows an initiative announced back in February with which Microsoft aims to introduce smartphone-like permission prompts for Windows 11 before apps can access sensitive resources such as the camera or microphone. Windows Platform Engineer Logan Iyer had justified the new security model at the time by stating that apps were increasingly installing unwanted software, overwriting settings, or even modifying core Windows features without users’ prior consent. In the future, users would receive “transparency and control over how apps access their personal data and device features,” according to Iyer, along with the ability to revoke granted permissions at any time.
The new, mobile-feeling security controls are part of the “Windows Baseline Security Mode” and “User Transparency and Consent” initiatives and are set to be rolled out gradually, with Microsoft planning to adjust the scope and speed of the rollout based on user feedback. On the Friday prior, Microsoft had also announced a new accessibility setting that automatically maximizes app windows when opened, such as in tablet mode or when using a screen reader.
(Editorial Team)
