Windows 10: Change Windows Defender Controlled Folder Access Settings - Windows 10

How to: Add Protected Folders to Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10

How to Add or Remove Protected Folders for Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10


Starting with Controlled folder access is introduced in Windows Defender Antivirus.

When Controlled folder access is turned on, it helps you protect valuable data from malicious apps and threats, such as ransomware. It is part of Windows Defender Exploit Guard.

Controlled folder access applies to a number of system folders and default locations, including folders such as Documents, Pictures, Movies, and Desktop.

You can add additional folders to be protected, but you cannot remove the default folders in the default list.

Adding other folders to Controlled folder access can be useful, for example, if you don't store files in the default Windows libraries or you've changed the location of the libraries away from the defaults.

You can also add mapped drives.

For more details about Controlled folder access, see:

• Help prevent ransomware and threats from encrypting and changing files | Microsoft Docs
• See how CFA can help protect files from being changed by malicious apps | Microsoft Docs
• Turn on the protected folders feature in Windows 10 | Microsoft Docs
• Add additional folders and apps to be protected by Windows 10 | Microsoft Docs
• Stopping ransomware where it counts: Protecting your data with Controlled folder access Microsoft Secure

This tutorial will show you how to add and remove protected folders for the Controlled folder access feature of Windows Defender Exploit Guard in Windows 10.

*Warning You must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove protected folders for Controlled folder access.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: Add Protected Folders to Controlled Folder Access in Windows Defender Security Center
• Option Two: Remove Protected Folders from Controlled Folder Access in Windows Defender Security Center
• Option Three: Add Protected Folders to Controlled Folder Access in PowerShell
• Option Four: Remove Protected Folders from Controlled Folder Access in PowerShell
• Option Five: Configure Protected Folders Policy for Controlled Folder Access in Local Group Policy Editor
• Option Six: Configure Protected Folders Policy for Controlled Folder Access in Registry Editor

OPTION ONE [/i] Add Protected Folders to Controlled Folder Access in Windows Defender Security Center

*note The list of allowed apps is stored in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Controlled Folder Access\ProtectedFolders
1. Open the Windows Defender Security Center, and click/tap on the Virus & threat protection icon. (see screenshot below)



2. Click/tap on the Manage ransomware protection link under the Ransomware protection section. (see screenshot below)



3. Click/tap on the Protected folders link. (see screenshot below)



4. Click/tap on Yes when prompted by UAC to approve.

5. Click/tap on Add a protected folder. (see screenshot below)



6. Navigate to and select the folder (ex: "D:\My protected folder") you want to add as a protected folder, and click/tap on Select Folder. (see screenshot below)



7. When finished adding folders, you can close Windows Defender Security Center if you like.





OPTION TWO [/i] Remove Protected Folders from Controlled Folder Access in Windows Defender Security Center
1. Open the Windows Defender Security Center, and click/tap on the Virus & threat protection icon. (see screenshot below)



2. Click/tap on the Manage ransomware protection link under the Ransomware protection section. (see screenshot below)



3. Click/tap on the Protected folders link. (see screenshot below)



4. Click/tap on Yes when prompted by UAC to approve.

5. Click/tap on an added folder (ex: "D:\My protected folder") you want to remove, and click/tap on Remove. (see screenshot below)



5. Click/tap on OK to confirm. (see screenshot below)



7. When finished removing folders, you can close Windows Defender Security Center if you like.





OPTION THREE [/i] Add Protected Folders to Controlled Folder Access in PowerShell
1. Open an elevated PowerShell.

2. Enter the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow Add-MpPreference -ControlledFolderAccessProtectedFolders "Full path of folder"

*note Substitute Full path of folder in the command above with the actual full path of the folder (ex: "D:\My protected folder") you want to add as a protected folder.

For example: Add-MpPreference -ControlledFolderAccessProtectedFolders "D:\My protected folder"
3. You can now close the elevated PowerShell if you like.









OPTION FOUR [/i] Remove Protected Folders from Controlled Folder Access in PowerShell
1. Open an elevated PowerShell.

2. Enter the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow Remove-MpPreference -ControlledFolderAccessProtectedFolders "Full path of folder"

*note Substitute Full path of folder in the command above with the actual full path of the folder (ex: "D:\My protected folder") you want to remove as a protected folder.

For example: Remove-MpPreference -ControlledFolderAccessProtectedFolders "D:\My protected folder"
3. You can now close the elevated PowerShell if you like.









OPTION FIVE [/i] Configure Protected Folders Policy for Controlled Folder Access in Local Group Policy Editor

*Warning Protected folders you add using this option cannot be removed using Option Two and Option Four.

*note The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Six below for this policy.
1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Defender Antivirus\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Controlled Folder Access




3. In the right pane of Controlled Folder Access in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Configure protected folders policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (default) or step 6 (configure) below for what you would like to do.


5. To Not "Configure protected folders" for Controlled Folder Access
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see left screenshot below)

*note Not Configured is the default setting.

6. To "Configure protected folders" for Controlled Folder Access
A) Select (dot) Enabled, and click/tap on the Show button in Options. (see left screenshot below)

B) In the Value name column, type the full path of the folder (ex: "D:\My protected folder") you want to add as a protected folder. (see right screenshot below)

*note You will need to double click/tap in the field to be able to enter the full path.

C) In the Value column to the right of the added app, type the number 0. (see right screenshot below)

*note You will need to double click/tap in the field to be able to enter the number.

D) If you want to remove an added folder, double click/tap on the Value name and Value fields for the app you want to remove, and edit them out until blank. (see right screenshot below)

E) When finished adding and removing folders, click/tap on OK. (see right screenshot below)

F) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see left screenshot below)






7. When finished, close the Local Group Policy Editor.





OPTION SIX [/i] Configure Protected Folders Policy for Controlled Folder Access in Registry Editor

*Warning Protected folders you add using this option cannot be removed using Option Two and Option Four.

*note This option is for the same policy in Option Five.

1. Do step 2 (default), step 3 (add apps), or step 4 (remove apps) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Not "Configure protected folders" for Controlled Folder Access
*note This is the default setting. It will remove all apps added using this policy.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Undo_Configure_protected_folders_group_policy.reg

Download
B) Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

3. "Configure protected folders" to Add Protected Folders
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.

*note This downloadable .reg file will add the registry keys for you to make it easier to set in this step.
Configure_protected_folders_group_policy.reg

Download
B) Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

E) Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

F) Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Controlled Folder Access\ProtectedFolders




G) In the right pane of the ProtectedFolders key, right click on an empty space, click/tap on New, and click/tap on String Value. (see screenshot above)

H) Type the full path of the folder (ex: "D:\My protected folder") you want to add as the name of this string value, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)



I) Double click/tap on this string value (ex: "D:\My protected folder") to modify it. (see screenshot above)

J) Type the number 0, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)



K) Repeat steps 3G to 3J if you want to add anymore folders as protected folders.

L) When finished adding folders, you can close Registry Editor if you like.

4. "Configure protected folders" to Remove Protected Folders
A) Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

B) Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Controlled Folder Access\ProtectedFolders




C) In the right pane of the ProtectedFolders key, right click on the string value (REG_SZ) of the folder (ex: "D:\My protected folder") you want to remove, and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot above)

D) Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)



E) When finished removing folders, you can close Registry Editor if you like.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Enable or Disable Windows Defender Exploit Guard Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10
• How to Add Turn On or Off Controlled Folder Access context menu Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Allowed Apps through Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10
• How to Add Allow App through Controlled Folder Access context menu in Windows 10

:)

 

Pop-Up Message - Unauthorized Changes Blocked

Also see:

• Change Windows Defender Controlled Folder Access Settings - Windows 10 Security System Tutorials
  
• How to Protect Your Files From Ransomware With Windows Defender’s New “Controlled Folder Access”

 

unauthorized change blocked

You also might want to read:

• Change Windows Defender Controlled Folder Access Settings - Windows 10 Security System Tutorials
  
• Configure Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10 - gHacks Tech News
  

 

Yep, it'll literally block everything for a protected folder until allowed.

 

That makes it only good for work PC's(running SAP) and kiosk mode then(both where there will be no changes or deletions made), because it doesn't at least present you with a link to the .exe to white list something, like restore from recycle bin, or to whatever OneDrive process.

 

It would be nice if it had some sort if UAC style Yes/No to approve for a controlled folder instead of just this below.

 

Has not the registry path and value changed or is it just for Home?

Code: reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Controlled Folder Access" /v "EnableControlledFolderAccess" /t REG_DWORD /d "1" /f[/quote]

 

[/quote]
It's the registry key and value you posted now. The only issue is that you have to take ownership of the key before you'll be able to modify the value of the DWORD.

Thank you for the heads up. *Smile

 

Hi Brink, I've just read this post:
Controlled folder access is greyed out - Windows 10 Forums
I don't have the FCU, but am wondering if the option would be greyed out if a 3rd party AV were installed and real-time scanning by Defender were disabled. What do you think?

Configure Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10 - gHacks Tech News

 

Hi Brink.

Was on this thread. Member reported you needed to reboot to make changes and mentioned that sub processes may be doing the saving. Might be worth checking on reboot comment and adding mention of sub process in a "Tip"

Controlled folder access problems

Ken

 

That would be a very good possibility if the 3rd party AV disabled Windows Defender.

If it has a "This setting is managed by your administrator" message above this setting, then a group policy has been configured for it instead.

*Arrow Computer configuration > Administrative templates > Windows components > Windows Defender Antivirus > Windows Defender Exploit Guard > Controlled folder access

 

I'll do some more testing for that, but you shouldn't need to restart to apply if adding the exclusion via the Windows Defender Security Center UI.

EDIT:

I've noticed that if the app is currently running when added as an allowed app, you may need to close and reopen that app to actually apply.

 

Thanks Brink. Any tips that will make it easier to use will help.

Ken

 

The user did not report that- but has Bitdefender installed. Merely that the button was greyed out. I haven't asked him to try disabling or uninstalling Bitdefender (his comments suggest that would not be acceptable long term).
Controlled folder access is greyed out Solved - Windows 10 Forums

If it is true that having a 3rd party AV results in the button being greyed out with no explanation, this is going to give rise to questions. Would seem worth adding to the tutorial that it's a prerequisite that Defender real time scanning be enabled and not disabled by a 3rd party AV being used- which is a very common scenario.

 

Well this sounds like a lawsuit in the making. If you can only use MS's product (Defender Real Time) to get the protection then all AV makers will join lawsuit on the grounds of predatory behaviour... the EU in particular. Should be interesting to watch.