Some apps or games in Microsoft Store are designed to take advantage of specific hardware or software capabilities on your Windows device. A photo app might need to use your phone's camera, or a restaurant guide might use your location to recommend nearby places.
In Windows 11, use the Privacy page to choose which apps can use a particular feature. Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security. Select an App permission (for example, Location) then choose which apps can access it.
The Privacy page won't list apps with permission to use all system resources. You can't use the Privacy settings to control what capabilities these apps can use. Windows Desktop apps fall under this category.
To see the permissions for an app, go to the app product page in Microsoft Store or online. If you don’t want an app to use any of the features listed, you can choose not to install it.
Note: Students using Windows 11 SE will not be able to download apps from the Microsoft Store. Apps are managed by their IT Admin. Learn more
Here's more info on what permissions allow an app to do:
Access all your files, peripheral devices, apps, programs, and registry: The app has the ability to read or write to all your files (including documents, pictures, and music) and registry settings, which allows the app to make changes to your computer and settings. It can use any peripheral devices that are either attached or part of your device (such as cameras, microphones, or printers) without notifying you. It also has access to your location, and can use platform features, such as location history, app diagnostics, and more, which are denied to most Store apps. You can't control most of the permissions for this app in Settings > Privacy. Note that while the app has the ability to access these resources, it might not actually do so. For more info about what the app collects or uses, review the privacy policy of the developer.
Account Info: Access any of your account info.
Allow elevation: Allows the app to run with administrator privileges without prompting the user first.
App diagnostics: Get diagnostic information about other running apps.
Bluetooth: Activate and use any Bluetooth connections between your device and other devices.
Calendar: Access your calendars.
Call history: Access history of phone calls you made on the device, in Skype or other telephony apps.
Contacts: Access your contacts, people, or address book apps.
Custom install actions: Install additional software.
Email: Access your email and account info for your email accounts.
Facial recognition: Activate and use any facial recognition hardware.
File system: Access the files and folders to which you have access and read or write to all your files (including documents, pictures, and music).
Fingerprint reader: Activate and use any fingerprint reader hardware.
Local system services: Install a service on the machine that runs with maximum privileges.
Location: Activate and use the GPS or other location-finding features on your device. Access location data in Maps and other location apps.
Messaging: Access your instant messages and account info.
Microphone: Activate and use the microphone on your device.
Modifiable app: Enable the user to modify the app.
Motion: Activate and use the accelerometer or other motion-sensing feature on your device.
Music library: Access any music files from the Music library on your device.
Near field communications: Activate and use any near field communications (NFC) connections between your device and other devices.
Notifications: Access your notifications, found in action center.
Packaged services: Install a service on the machine.
Package write redirect compatability shim: Allows the app to create, modify or delete files in the app’s install folder.
Pictures library: Access any picture files from the Pictures library on your device.
Tasks: Access your task list in Outlook and other task-tracking apps.
Unvirtualized resources: Write registry entries and files that are not cleaned up on uninstall.
Video library: Access any video files from the Video library on your device.
Voice recognition: Activate and use any voice recognition hardware.
Webcam: Activate and use the camera on your device.
WiFi: Activate and use WiFi connections between your device, the internet, and other devices.
Wired connections: Activate and use any wired connections, including Ethernet, USB, and Serial communications between your device, the internet, and other devices.
Some apps or games in Microsoft Store are designed to take advantage of specific hardware or software capabilities on your Windows device. A photo app might need to use your phone's camera, or a restaurant guide might use your location to recommend nearby places.
In Windows 10, use the Privacy page to choose which apps can use a particular feature. Select Start > Settings > Privacy. Select the app (for example, Calendar) and choose which app permissions are on or off.
The Privacy page won't list apps with permission to use all system resources. You can't use the Privacy settings to control what capabilities these apps can use. Windows Desktop apps fall under this category.
To see the permissions for an app, go to the app product page in Microsoft Store or online. If you don’t want an app to use any of the features listed, you can choose not to install it.
Here's more info on what permissions allow an app to do:
Access all your files, peripheral devices, apps, programs, and registry: The app has the ability to read or write to all your files (including documents, pictures, and music) and registry settings, which allows the app to make changes to your computer and settings. It can use any peripheral devices that are either attached or part of your device (such as cameras, microphones, or printers) without notifying you. It also has access to your location, and can use platform features, such as location history, app diagnostics, and more, which are denied to most Store apps. You can't control most of the permissions for this app in Settings > Privacy. Note that while the app has the ability to access these resources, it might not actually do so. For more info about what the app collects or uses, review the privacy policy of the developer.
Account Info: Access any of your account info.
Allow elevation: Allows the app to run with administrator privileges without prompting the user first.
App diagnostics: Get diagnostic information about other running apps.
Bluetooth: Activate and use any Bluetooth connections between your device and other devices.
Calendar: Access your calendars.
Call history: Access history of phone calls you made on the device, in Skype or other telephony apps.
Contacts: Access your contacts, people, or address book apps.
Custom install actions: Install additional software.
Email: Access your email and account info for your email accounts.
Facial recognition: Activate and use any facial recognition hardware.
File system: Access the files and folders to which you have access and read or write to all your files (including documents, pictures, and music).
Fingerprint reader: Activate and use any fingerprint reader hardware.
Local system services: Install a service on the machine that runs with maximum privileges.
Location: Activate and use the GPS or other location-finding features on your device. Access location data in Maps and other location apps.
Messaging: Access your instant messages and account info.
Microphone: Activate and use the microphone on your device.
Modifiable app: Enable the user to modify the app.
Motion: Activate and use the accelerometer or other motion-sensing feature on your device.
Music library: Access any music files from the Music library on your device.
Near field communications: Activate and use any near field communications (NFC) connections between your device and other devices.
Notifications: Access your notifications, found in action center.
Packaged services: Install a service on the machine.
Package write redirect compatability shim: Allows the app to create, modify or delete files in the app’s install folder.
Pictures library: Access any picture files from the Pictures library on your device.
Tasks: Access your task list in Outlook and other task-tracking apps.
Unvirtualized resources: Write registry entries and files that are not cleaned up on uninstall.
Video library: Access any video files from the Video library on your device.
Voice recognition: Activate and use any voice recognition hardware.
Webcam: Activate and use the camera on your device.
WiFi: Activate and use WiFi connections between your device, the internet, and other devices.
Wired connections: Activate and use any wired connections, including Ethernet, USB, and Serial communications between your device, the internet, and other devices.
