Allow or Disable apps from having Documents Library access in Windows 11/10

Many apps can have access to the media files found in the storage libraries. You can control this behavior and prevent apps from getting Documents Library access in Windows 11/10. This helps you protect valuable data from malicious apps and threats, such as ransomware.

Disable apps from having Documents Library access in Windows 11/10

Windows 11

In Windows 11, you can configure which apps have access to your files stored in Pictures, Video Libraries or Documents. In short, you can proactively grant or deny apps access to your files on a folder basis. Here’s how it’s done!

1. Right-click the Start button and choose Settings from the list of options displayed.
2. Alternatively, Press Win+I together to open the Settings in Windows 11 directly.
3. Navigate to privacy & security setting.
4. Switch to the right. Under app permissions section, scroll down to Documents heading.
5. When directed to a new screen, slide the toggle next to Document library access to the Off position.

When turned on, all apps having access to the Documents library on this device will be disabled.

Windows 10

Do the following in Windows 10:

1. Press Win+X to go to Settings.
2. Choose Privacy.
3. Scroll down to Documents.
4. In the right pane, go to Allow access to documents libraries on this device heading.
5. Click on the Change button.
6. Disable the Documents library access for this device option.

For users, who take their privacy seriously, this setting is useful!

Press Win+X keys in combination to open the secret Start menu.

From the list of options displayed, select Settings.

When directed to a new screen, choose the Privacy tile.

Scroll down to the Documents option.

In the Documents right-pane, choose the ‘Allow access to documents libraries on this device’ heading.

Click the Change button below the heading.

Slide the toggle for Documents Library access for this device to Off position.

Don’t let apps access your Documents library using a Registry tweak in Windows 11/10

You can achieve the same result via a simple Registry tweak. There are two ways via which you can stop apps from getting Documents Library access in Windows 11/10. One is through the Settings app which we have already seen above and the other via Registry Tweak which we will see now.

Please note that the method involves making changes to the Registry Editor. Serious changes can occur if you make changes to the Registry Editor incorrectly. Create a System Restore Point before proceeding further and making changes.

Press Win+R in combination to open the Run dialog box.

When the Registry Editor opens, navigate to the following path address –

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\documentsLibrary.

Move to the right pane and set the value for the registry string (REG_SZ) named Value to Deny.

The action, when confirmed will block apps from accessing your documents.

That’s all there is to it!

Can I turn off all app permissions?

Yes, you can. Open Windows 11 Settings > Apps > Apps & Features. Select the app, and click Advanced Options. You will see the settings there. You can also go to Windows 11 Settings > Privacy and security > App Permissions section and do the needful.