How to Audit Windows App Permissions (and Why You Should)
Every time you install an app on Windows, you agree to grant it permission to interact with certain parts of your system. For example, video calling apps will need access to your webcam, and browsers will likely ask for your location to show local news, weather, and more.
In most cases, these permissions won’t cause you any concern, but it’s worth checking regularly to see which apps have which rights. Even if you trust apps and developers, you don’t have to reveal more information than you’d like.
There’s always a chance that there’s an app on your computer that you didn’t know about or forgot to remove. Checking these permissions lets you know exactly what programs are installed and what they’re allowed to do. If you’re not happy with something, you can reconfigure these permissions or remove the apps entirely.
Where to find Windows app permissions
You can either look at specific permissions and see which apps have them, or look at specific apps and what permissions they’re asking for. The first option is a little easier: Open Settings from the Start menu, then select Privacy & Security and scroll down to App Permissions .
You’ll see a list of the main permissions that apps can request, starting with the most important: Location , Camera , and Microphone . Click on any permission to see the apps that have access to it, and revoke it if you don’t like it using the toggles on the right. You’ll also see a toggle to block access to that permission for all apps on your system.
For some permissions, you get additional information, including recent requests for those permissions. For example, you can see which apps have recently requested access to your camera. This helps you understand whether apps are using permissions (like location data) responsibly and at a frequency that’s comfortable for you. If not, revoke the permission with one click.
Blocking certain permissions in certain apps may break some of the app’s features or functionality, but if the app is well designed, you should be able to get information about what stopped working and why, as well as what the permission is for. If you need more information, you can always contact the developer directly.
How to check permissions for each app
Open Settings from the Start menu, then select Apps > Installed apps . For apps that have been granted specific permissions, click the three dots next to the app name, then select Advanced options to see the full list of permissions.
If you want to revoke any permissions, turn off the corresponding toggle. Depending on the app, you may see other permissions, such as permission to run the app simultaneously with Windows. Again, if you don’t want that, turn off the corresponding permission using the toggle.
Some apps also have a “Background app permissions” setting, which does exactly what it sounds like: it allows the app to continue running in the background even when it’s closed. This is handy for apps that require a constant stream of real-time data and notifications, but it can take up memory and drain your battery (you can adjust this setting depending on whether your Windows device is connected to a network).
The same screen also provides various troubleshooting options, as well as an “Uninstall” button if you think the app is taking up too many permissions. It’s always a good idea to uninstall programs you no longer use. This frees up disk and RAM space, and improves system security (as it reduces the number of apps that could potentially be hacked).