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 the Windows Defender Exploit Guard. This post shows how to add Turn On or Off Controlled folder access & Allow app through Controlled folder access to context menu in Windows 11/10.
Before you begin, create a system restore point.
Add Turn On or Off Controlled folder access to Context Menu
The “Turn On or Off Controlled folder access” context menu will be available when you right-click on the Desktop. This context menu will make it easy for you to turn on or off Controlled folder access on-demand as needed without having to do so through Windows Security.
Controlled folder access in Windows Defender Security Center reviews the apps that can make changes to files in protected folders. Occasionally, an app that is safe to use will be identified as harmful. This happens because Microsoft wants to keep you safe and will sometimes err on the side of caution; however, this might interfere with how you normally use your PC. You can add an app to the list of safe or allowed apps to prevent them from being blocked.
You can add additional folders to the list of protected folders, but you cannot alter the default list, which includes folders such as Documents, Pictures, Movies, and Desktop. Adding other folders to Controlled folder access can be handy, 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.
Start by downloading this zip file which has four reg files to your desktop and extract its contents.
To add Turn On or Off Controlled folder access to the Desktop Context Menu:
- Double-click on the downloaded Add-Turn-Controlled-folder-Access.reg file to merge it.
- Click Run on the prompt. Click Yes on UAC prompt, Yes again, and OK to allow the merge.
- You can now delete the .reg file.
To remove Turn On or Off Controlled folder access to the Desktop Context Menu:
- Double-click on the Remove-Turn-Controlled-folder-Access.reg file to merge it.
- Click Run on the prompt. Click Yes on UAC prompt, Yes again, and OK to allow the merge.
- You can now delete the .reg file.
Add Allow app through Controlled folder access to Context Menu
The “Allow app through Controlled folder access” context menu command will be available when you right-click on a .exe or .com file. When you use this context menu, it will add the app (.exe or .com file) to the list of Controlled folder access allowed apps. This will make it easy for you to add an allowed app you want on-demand without having to do so through Windows Security.
You can specify if certain apps should always be considered safe and given write access to files in protected folders. Allowing apps can be useful if you’re finding a particular app that you know and trust is being blocked by the Controlled folder access feature.
By default, Windows adds apps that it considers friendly to the allowed list – apps added automatically by Windows are not recorded in the list shown in the Windows Defender Security Center app. You shouldn’t need to add most of the apps. Only add apps if they are being blocked and you can verify their trustworthiness.
When you add an app, you have to specify the app’s location. Only the app in that location will be permitted access to the protected folders – if the app (with the same name) is located in a different location, then it will not be added to the allow list and may be blocked by Controlled folder access.
To add Allow app through Controlled folder access to Context Menu
- Double-click on the Allow-App-Controlled-folder-Access.reg to merge it.
- Click Run on the prompt. Click Yes on UAC prompt, Yes again, and OK to allow the merge.
- You can now delete the .reg file.
To remove Allow app through Controlled folder access to Context Menu
- Double-click on the Remove-App-Controlled-folder-Access.reg file to merge it.
- Click Run on the prompt. Click Yes on UAC prompt, Yes again, and OK to allow the merge.
- You can now delete the .reg file.
I hope that you can get this working on your PC.
