Some apps or games in Microsoft Store are designed to take advantage of specific hardware or software capabilities on your Windows device.聽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聽 > Settings聽 > Privacy & security. Select an App permission (for example, Location) then choose which apps can access it.聽
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聽can use. Windows Desktop apps聽fall under this category.
To see the permissions聽for an app, go to the app product page in Microsoft Store or online. If you don鈥檛 want an app to use any of the features listed, you can choose not to install it.聽
Note:聽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 聽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:聽Access any聽of your聽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:聽Activate and use any Bluetooth connections between your device and other devices.
Calendar:聽Access your calendars.
Call history: Access history of phone calls you made on the device, in Skype or other telephony apps.
Contacts:聽Access your contacts, people, or address book apps.
Custom install actions: Install additional software.
Email:聽Access your email and account info for your email accounts.
Facial recognition:聽Activate and use any facial recognition hardware.
File system:聽Access the files and folders to which you he 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.聽
Location:聽Activate and use聽the聽GPS or other location-finding features on your device.聽Access location data in Maps and other location apps.
Messaging:聽Access your instant messages and account info.
Microphone: Activate and use the microphone on your device.聽
Modifiable app: Enable the user to modify the app.
Motion: Activate and use the accelerometer or other motion-sensing feature on your device.聽
Music library: Access any music files from the Music library on your device.
Near field communications:聽Activate and use any聽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:聽Allows the app to create, modify or delete files in the app鈥檚 install folder.
Pictures library:聽Access any picture files from the Pictures library on your device.
Tasks:聽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:聽Access any video files from the Video library on your device.
Voice聽recognition:聽Activate and use any voice recognition hardware.
Webcam: Activate and use the camera on your device.聽
WiFi: Activate and use WiFi connections between your device, the internet, and other devices.
Wired connections:聽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.聽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聽 > Settings聽 > Privacy. Select the聽app (for example, Calendar) and choose which app permissions are on or off.聽
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聽can use. Windows Desktop apps聽fall under this category.
To see the permissions聽for an app, go to the app product page in Microsoft Store or online. If you don鈥檛 want an app to use any of the features listed, you can choose not to install it.聽
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 聽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:聽Access any聽of your聽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:聽Activate and use any Bluetooth connections between your device and other devices.
Calendar:聽Access your calendars.
Call history: Access history of phone calls you made on the device, in Skype or other telephony apps.
Contacts:聽Access your contacts, people, or address book apps.
Custom install actions: Install additional software.
Email:聽Access your email and account info for your email accounts.
Facial recognition:聽Activate and use any facial recognition hardware.
File system:聽Access the files and folders to which you he 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.聽
Location:聽Activate and use聽the聽GPS or other location-finding features on your device.聽Access location data in Maps and other location apps.
Messaging:聽Access your instant messages and account info.
Microphone: Activate and use the microphone on your device.聽
Modifiable app: Enable the user to modify the app.
Motion: Activate and use the accelerometer or other motion-sensing feature on your device.聽
Music library: Access any music files from the Music library on your device.
Near field communications:聽Activate and use any聽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:聽Allows the app to create, modify or delete files in the app鈥檚 install folder.
Pictures library:聽Access any picture files from the Pictures library on your device.
Tasks:聽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:聽Access any video files from the Video library on your device.
Voice聽recognition:聽Activate and use any voice recognition hardware.
Webcam: Activate and use the camera on your device.聽
WiFi: Activate and use WiFi connections between your device, the internet, and other devices.
Wired connections:聽Activate and use any wired connections, including Ethernet, USB, and Serial communications between your device, the internet, and other devices.