Microsoft is preparing new privacy controls for Windows 11 that will allow users to manage access to the camera, microphone and location on an app-by-app basis. The feature is currently available in an experimental build distributed through the Windows Insider program.
Build 26340.9767 introduces several operating system improvements, including changes to the way permissions are handled for traditional desktop applications installed through executable files such as .exe installers. Previously, Windows offered broader controls, while individual permission management was more limited for these programs than for newer applications.
The planned change will centralize these options under Settings > Privacy & security. From there, users will be able to select Camera, Microphone or Location and decide which installed programs can use each feature.
For example, a user could allow a videoconferencing application to access the camera while blocking the same permission for other programs. Windows will also provide more information about access activity, including the date and time when location services were last used.
Microsoft warns that some entries may not appear under names that users immediately recognize. Applications relying on shared Windows components may be listed as COM Surrogate or Host Process for Windows Tasks. If Windows cannot confirm the identity of the program responsible for an access request, it may be marked as Unsigned.
The feature remains in testing, and Microsoft has not announced an official date for its wider release. Users should therefore take care when authorizing access to sensitive devices or information, particularly when an application’s identity is unclear.
Sources: Pplware.