Windows 10: Windows 11 Test Build Adds Per-App Camera, Microphone, and Location Controls for Desktop...

Microsoft is testing a way to revoke camera, microphone, and location access for individual Win32 desktop programs in Windows 11, extending granular control that until now applied only to Microsoft Store apps.

The capability surfaced in Windows Insider Preview Build 26340.9212 for Windows 11 version 26H2, released to the Experimental channel on August 17, 2026. Microsoft's release notes for the build did not mention the new privacy controls. The toggles were spotted by an X user rather than announced.

The same build finalized the removal of the legacy WMIC command-line tool.

Windows 11's New Per-App Privacy Controls for Desktop Programs


Windows 11 currently provides individual permission toggles for Microsoft Store applications only. A Store video-calling app can be granted camera access while a different Store program is denied it, giving users granular control over that category of software.

Win32 desktop programs, including web browsers, chat clients, and most software installed outside the Store, do not get the same treatment. A single toggle labeled "Let desktop apps access your microphone" governs every non-Store program at once, so granting Discord microphone access leaves the toggle on for every other desktop application on the machine.

Windows already logs which apps have recently used the camera, microphone, or location, but that log shows past activity only and offers no way to block a specific program going forward.

Inside build 26340.9212, new toggles sit directly in the Settings privacy panel and let users revoke camera and microphone access for individual Win32 programs. The same controls extend to location permissions and voice activation, covering hardware categories beyond camera and audio.

The change would let a user grant a video-calling program access to a webcam while denying that same access to a browser or productivity tool, a distinction previously impossible without third-party software. Per-app hardware permissions of this kind have been standard on iOS and Android for more than a decade.

How the Win32 Privacy Controls Were Found and What Else Changed


The discovery did not come from Microsoft. X user @jakub25050 spotted the new toggles inside the Settings app and shared screenshots on August 18, 2026, writing "Huge changes are coming to Windows 11 privacy & security" and tagging Pavan Davuluri, who leads Microsoft's Windows and Devices group, along with the official Windows Insider account and several Windows-focused accounts.

Several Insiders who replied said the toggles had not appeared on their installations, consistent with Microsoft's practice of rolling features out to a subset of testers before widening access.

The same build finalized the removal of WMIC, a legacy command-line tool that ransomware operators have used for years to delete shadow copies, query installed antivirus software, and issue commands on compromised systems without introducing new executables.

Microsoft has described the change as a continuation of a deprecation effort that began years earlier, saying, "Removing a deprecated component helps reduce complexity while keeping you secure and productive."

The per-app Win32 privacy controls remain confined to the Experimental Insider channel and are not tied to a specific release milestone. Testing them requires enrollment in the Windows Insider Program on build 26340.9212 or later. Microsoft has not issued a public statement about the feature or confirmed a release timeline.

As with any Insider feature, it could ship broadly, be redesigned, or be dropped before reaching general availability, and wider testing availability will depend on Microsoft's staged rollout.

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Windows 11 Test Build Adds Per-App Camera, Microphone, and Location Controls for Desktop Programs appeared first on gHacks.

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Windows 11 keeps telling me that it blocked access to my camera and microphone.

Hi, I am Juliet and It's my pleasure to help you today.

How are you? I hope you are doing good.

Here is How to control which apps can use the camera:

In Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.

In Windows 11, ensure that Camera access, Let apps access your camera, and the individual toggle for the Microsoft Store app you wish to use is turned on. If you do not see the app or website you're looking for in the list, it's likely a desktop app. Desktop apps cannot be individually toggled, but access for those apps can be controlled using Let desktop apps access your camera.

And here how to control which apps can use the microphone:

In Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone

In Windows 11, ensure that Microphone access, Let apps access your microphone, and the individual toggle for the Microsoft Store app you wish to use is turned on. If you do not see the app or website you're looking for in the list, it's likely a desktop app. Desktop apps cannot be individually toggled, but access for those apps can be controlled using Let desktop apps access your microphone.

I hope it helps! Let me know the results.

source:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win...

 

Camera and Microphone Privacy

Hi Moustafa,

This issue occurs due to permission issue, driver issue, license for an app is out of sync with the license installed on the computer or if the app is not updated. To give permission to Camera and Microphone app, you may follow
these steps:

• Go to Settings.
• Select Privacy.
• Look for Camera, make sure that “Let apps use my camera” is turned On. You may choose the apps that can use your camera as well.
• Go back to Privacy and select Microphone, make sure that “Let apps use my microphone” is turned On. You may choose the apps that can use your microphone as well.
  

If the issue persists, we would suggest that you check out this
link. This will provide you troubleshooting steps regarding Camera and Microphone issues.

Feel free to contact us if you have further inquiries.

 

Windows 10 camera and microphone

Hi Mary,

Integration of the camera and microphone systems on an application is facilitated by both the hardware and software components of your device. To better understand your concern, we'd like to know the following:

• If you're able to use the camera and microphone on other applications like Skype, Facebook, Google Hangouts etc.
• The last changes made/activities performed on your device prior to the issue.
• The version and build of Windows 10 that you're using on your device. To check this, you can perform the steps posted on this
  
  link.

In the meantime, please refer to the following links to troubleshoot the camera and microphone components of your device:

Troubleshoot camera

Troubleshoot microphone

Also, we'd recommend testing the camera using the application's test procedures. To do this, you can perform the following:

Before a meeting

• Login to the Zoom client.
• Click Settings.
• Click the Video tab.
• You will then see a preview of your camera and you can choose a different camera if needed.
• Click the Audio tab to test for sound.

During a meeting

• In the meeting controls, click the arrow nest to Mute/Unmute.
• Click Audio options.
• This will open the audio settings.
• Click Test Speaker to play a sound. If you cannot hear it, select a different speaker from the menu or adjust the Output volume.
• In the Microphone section, you will see the green Input Level bar move when Zoom is picking up audio.
• Click the Test Mic to test your microphone.
• Your audio will start recording. Click Recording when you are done and it will play back. You can select another microphone from the menu or adjust the input level.
• Tick Automatically adjust microphone settings if you want Zoom to adjust the input volume automatically.

Note: The steps are based on the stated procedures from its developer's website. Please contact the developer should you need further application specific support.

We look forward to your response.