Windows 10: Allow or Deny Apps Access to File System in Windows 10

How to: Allow or Deny Apps Access to File System in Windows 10

How to Allow or Deny Apps Access to File System in Windows 10


Starting with Windows 10 build 17093, you can now allow or deny apps access to the file system on your device (PC) for all users.

Starting with Windows 10 build 17101, Microsoft is giving you more control so you can now decide which UWP apps can access your full file system. Particular UWP apps will be granted permission to have broad file system access. This capability will be granted on a per app basis by Microsoft. If a UWP app has the broad file system access restricted capability, you will receive a consent dialog prompting you to accept or deny the request. If at any time you change your mind about the decision, you can go to Settings > Privacy where youll find a new Settings page for File System Access. On this page, you can turn access on or off globally, and if its on you can also turn it on or off for each app that has requested the capability. UWPs with broad file system access will not appear in the Photos, Videos, or Documents privacy settings pages. If you grant broad file system access, this includes Photos, Videos and Documents.

If you allow access, users on your PC will be able to turn on or off if their apps have access to all their files, including their documents, pictures, videos, and local OneDrive files. If you turn on to allow apps access to your file system, you can choose to turn on (allow) or off (deny) access for individual apps.

This tutorial will show you how to change Privacy settings to allow or deny apps access to the file system for all users or only your account in Windows 10.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: Allow or Deny Apps Access to File System for All Users in Settings
• Option Two: Allow or Deny Apps Access to File System for All Users using a REG file
• Option Three: Turn On or Off Allow Apps Access to Your File System in Settings
• Option Four: Turn On or Off Allow Apps Access to Your File System using a REG file
• Option Five: Turn On or Off Allow Specific Apps Access to Your File System in Settings

OPTION ONE [/i] Allow or Deny Apps Access to File System for All Users in Settings

*note You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.
1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the Privacy icon.

2. Click/tap on File system on the left side, click/tap on the Change button on the right side, and turn On (default) or Off File system access for this device for what you want. (see screenshots below)











OPTION TWO [/i] Allow or Deny Apps Access to File System for All Users using a REG file

*note You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.

The downloadable .reg files below will modify the string value in the registry key below.

Code:

Value string value

Deny = Off
Allow = On

1. Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Turn On Allow Windows and Apps Access to File System for All Users
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_ON_apps_acecss_to_file_system_for_device.reg

Download

3. To Turn Off Allow Windows and Apps Access to File System for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_OFF_apps_acecss_to_file_system_for_device.reg

Download
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.





OPTION THREE [/i] Turn On or Off Allow Apps Access to Your File System in Settings

*note The setting in this option will be grayed out unless File system access for this device is turned on from Option One or Option Two above.
1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the Privacy icon.

2. Click/tap on File system on the left side, turn On (default) or Off Allow apps to access your file system on the right side for what you want. (see screenshot below)









OPTION FOUR [/i] Turn On or Off Allow Apps Access to Your File System using a REG file

*note This option will not get applied until File system access for this device is turned on from Option One or Option Two above.

The downloadable .reg files below will modify the string value in the registry key below.

Code:

Value string value

Deny = Off
Allow = On

1. Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Turn On Allow Apps Access to Your File System
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_ON_apps_access_to_file_system_for_current_account.reg

Download

3. To Turn Off Allow Apps Access to Your File System
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_OFF_apps_access_to_file_system_for_current_account.reg

Download
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.





OPTION FIVE [/i] Turn On or Off Allow Specific Apps Access to Your File System in Settings

*note The settings in this option will be grayed out unless Allow apps to access your file system is turned on from Option Three or Option Four above.

The settings for this option are stored in the subkeys in the registry key below. Each subkey represents a listed app.

Code:

1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the Privacy icon.

2. Click/tap on File System on the left side, turn On or Off apps (if available) you want under Choose which apps can access your file system on the right side. (see screenshot below)

*note Note that each legacy app will not appear individually in the list like Store apps do, but they will respect the toggle.





That's it,
Shawn

:)

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

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credit to Lifehacker.

 

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