Windows 11 will soon give users more control over the permissions of each Win32 application. A new feature introduced in the latest experimental build from Insider (26340.9212) allows you to block access to the camera and microphone for every installed Win32 application. Microsoft has yet to mention this change in the official release notes for the latest Windows Insider build.
Image source: Microsoft
The ability to fine-tune privacy on a per-app basis has long been standard for iOS and Android users, but only recently did Windows 11 allow permissions to be turned on or off for specific types of apps. The ability to grant or deny permissions has existed in Windows for years, but the option was limited to UWP/MSIX applications and not Win32 applications.
Currently, in Windows 11, using a web camera in a Win32 application (such as the Chrome browser) requires the user to allow all desktop applications to access the camera. A feature currently being tested allows you to configure camera and microphone permissions for individual Win32 applications. This is undoubtedly a huge innovation, since many popular programs are Win32 applications, such as Discord, Chrome or the Steam platform.
Build 26340.9212 began circulating among Insider members in the experimental channel on August 17, 2026. If testing is successful, enhanced app management capabilities may be available to all users in the near future.
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