Windows 11 Tests Per-App Camera, Mic and Location Controls

Microsoft has started testing one of the most significant privacy upgrades for Windows 11 in years: individual permission controls for camera, microphone and location access in classic desktop applications.

The feature appears in Windows 11 Insider build 26340.9767 in the experimental channel. It brings a granular permission system to traditional programs installed through .EXE files, similar to what users already know from smartphones. Until now, per-app controls worked only for apps installed from the Microsoft Store.

How the new controls work

Today, Windows relies on global switches. To stop one app from using the camera or location, users must either hunt for a setting inside that program or turn the permission off for every app. The second route is annoying when you later need one app to work, because the permission has to be re-enabled manually.

With the new system, users open Settings > Privacy & security and choose Camera, Microphone or Location. Each section lists the programs that can use that resource, and each can be allowed or blocked on its own without affecting the others.

The update also adds an indicator showing when an app last accessed the computer's location. It covers popular software such as Chrome and Excel, making it easier to spot which programs use sensitive data and how often.

App publisher labels

Another addition is an identifier showing who developed each application. If the system cannot verify an app's origin, it marks it as "Unsigned", which should help users decide before granting permissions. Microsoft warns that some programs may appear under unfamiliar names because they rely on shared Windows components or are built on web apps.

Mobile platforms such as iOS and Android have spent years refining permission systems and warning users about overreaching apps. Windows has lacked the same level of detail.

The features are currently limited to Insiders in the experimental channel. Given their importance, they are likely to reach a public update in the coming months, but Microsoft first needs to test them and make sure they work reliably before a wider release.