GoKawiilMicrosoft rolls out per-app camera, mic and location controls in Windows 11 preview
Microsoft has begun testing a feature in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26340.9233 that lets users control camera, microphone, and precise location access separately for each desktop application. Previously, these permissions were governed by a single device-wide toggle covering all desktop apps at once. The new controls are accessible via Settings > Privacy & security, with individual switches for each app.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
This shift brings Windows closer to the app-permission model already standard on smartphones, giving users far more visibility into which programs request sensitive data. It follows Microsoft's February warning about apps installing unwanted software or altering system settings without consent, signaling a broader push to tighten desktop security as PC software behaves more like mobile apps.
- Camera, mic, and location permissions can now be set per desktop app instead of one global switch.
- Feature is live in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26340.9233 for testing.
- Part of a larger Microsoft effort to add mobile-style consent prompts across Windows 11.
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Published there as: “Microsoft tests new privacy controls for Windows 11 desktop apps”
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