Windows 11 is testing a long-requested privacy upgrade that gives users individual control over camera, microphone, and location access for traditional Win32 applications. Experimental Insider Build 26340.9212 brings desktop programs closer to the permission model already available for Microsoft Store apps, although Microsoft has not confirmed a public release date.
Key takeaways
- Experimental Build 26340.9212 adds per-app camera and microphone switches for Win32 software.
- Location access can also be managed for individual desktop applications.
- Windows may display permission prompts when an app first requests access.
- The feature is limited to testing and may change or be removed before release.
The update could be especially useful for PC gamers, streamers, and hardware enthusiasts who regularly install software from multiple sources. Instead of granting every desktop application access to a webcam or headset microphone, users can approve only the programs that need those devices.
Win32 apps get more granular permissions
Windows 11 has supported individual permission controls for Store applications for years. Traditional Win32 programs—including browsers, chat clients, game launchers, and productivity tools—have generally been governed by a shared system switch. Enabling desktop microphone access, for example, potentially allowed every desktop application to use the microphone.
The new interface reportedly lists Win32 applications separately in the relevant Privacy & security pages. Users can then allow or deny access for programs such as Chrome, Edge, Brave, Discord, Steam, Teams, or other installed software without affecting the permissions assigned to other applications.
Camera, microphone, and location controls
The most visible additions concern camera and microphone access. A user could allow Teams or Discord to use a webcam while blocking a browser, game, or utility that has no reason to access it. The controls are managed from Windows 11’s existing privacy settings rather than requiring third-party security software.
Testing also indicates that location permissions can be assigned per desktop application. That could benefit users who disable location services globally but still want mapping, weather, or navigation software to obtain location data. Some reports also point to controls for voice activation, though the exact scope may change during development.
Permission prompts are coming to desktop software
The experimental build reportedly introduces system-level prompts when a Win32 application first requests camera or microphone access. This gives users an opportunity to make a decision at the moment access is requested, with the option to revise that decision later in Settings.
For ThinkComputers readers who frequently evaluate new hardware utilities, RGB controllers, benchmarking tools, and game software, this could provide a clearer way to audit device access without manually investigating each application.
Still experimental, with no release schedule
Build 26340.9212 began shipping through Windows 11’s Experimental Insider channel in August 2026. The feature was discovered by Windows observers and was not included in Microsoft’s official release notes. Availability also appears inconsistent among testers, suggesting a gradual rollout or feature-flagged deployment.
Microsoft has not committed the controls to a specific Windows 11 release. Insider features can be redesigned, delayed, or canceled, so users should not expect the new per-app permissions on standard Windows 11 installations yet. If testing succeeds, the change would close a notable privacy gap between Store applications and the broader Win32 software ecosystem.
Via Windows Latest