Disable app access to your files
- Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
- Multiple actionsThis page belongs to a category, containing some changes with similar goal.
- Impact: Minimum
System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: Low
This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.
- Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
- 5 scripts
- No subcategories
- Administrator rights requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
- Fully reversible
You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.
The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.
Overview
This category limits the access of Windows apps to various user-specific folders and other file systems. It enhances privacy by restricting apps from accessing and manipulating files without explicit user permission.
Disabling app access may affect the functionality of certain Microsoft Store, third-party, and system applications.
Apply Now
Choose one of two ways to apply:
Download script
Download and run the script directly- No app needed
- Offline usage
- Easy-to-apply
- Free
- Open-source
Normal — Everyday Privacy (Enterprise-Grade)
- Recommended for all
- Safe for daily use
- No impact on system stability
Read more about Normal and other protection levels
Help
How to apply or restore "Disable app access to your files" using script
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 5 instructions
- 1
Download
Download the script file by clicking on the button above.
Use button above to restore changes. - 2
Keep the file
If warned by your browser, keep the file. - 3
Open
Open the downloaded file. - 4
Exit
Once it's done, press any key to exit the window. - 5
Restart
Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.
Apply with privacy.sexy
Guided, automated application with safety checks- Recommended for most users
- Includes safety checks
- Shows the code
- Free
- Open-source
- Popular
- Offline/Online usage
Help
How to apply or restore "Disable app access to your files" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the category name: Disable app access to your files
- Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.
- 3
Run
Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.
Explore This Guide
- 5 Privacy settings
Choose what to protect based on your needs: Click any option to learn more about what it does. Each change can be applied and reversed individually.
- Some settings and commands may require technical knowledge to apply correctly.
- Most users find the Normal protection above sufficient.
Disable app access to "Documents" folder
This script prevents Windows apps from accessing the Documents folder. It restricts app access to document files without user consent. After running this script, apps can still access the files when explicitly permitted. This script enhances your privacy and security by preventing unauthorized app access. This script configures: Privacy settings user interface ("documentsLibrary")
Disable app access to "Pictures" folder
This script prevents Windows apps from accessing the Pictures folder. It restricts app access to photos and images without user consent. After running this script, apps can still access the files when explicitly permitted. This script enhances your privacy and security by preventing unauthorized app access. This script configures: Privacy settings user interface ("picturesLibrary")
Disable app access to "Videos" folder
This script prevents Windows apps from accessing the Videos folder. It restricts app access to video files without user consent. After running this script, apps can still access the files when explicitly permitted. This script enhances your privacy and security by preventing unauthorized app access. This script configures: Privacy settings user interface ("videosLibrary")
Disable app access to "Music" folder
This script prevents Windows apps from accessing the Music folder. It restricts app access to audio files without user consent. After running this script, apps can still access the files when explicitly permitted. This script enhances your privacy and security by preventing unauthorized app access. This script configures: Privacy settings user interface ("musicLibrary")
Disable app access to personal files
This script restricts app access to the broader file system. It restricts app access to files that the user has access to without user consent. After running this script, apps can still access the files when explicitly permitted. This script enhances your privacy and security by preventing unauthorized app access. This script configures: Privacy settings user interface ("broadFileSystemAccess")
Similar Guides
Wider Goal
Guides below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.
These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.
- Disable app access to personal information
- Disable OS data collection
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Disable OS data collection — to reduce data exposure leveraging important data privacy safeguard on Windows. What follows is, this guidance provides instructions t...
Same Goal
Other guides in Disable app access to personal informationSee settings that are in the same category as this guide.
Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.
See all 23 guides
About the Creators
These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:
undergroundwires- Certified security professional
- 7+ years experience securing banks
- Open-source developer since 2005
- EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
- Open-Source Contributors
- Hundreds across the globe
- Testers, reviewers, developers
- Companies, military agencies
- Community since 2017
Reviewed By
This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:Expert review by undergroundwires
- Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
- Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
Public review by large community
- Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
- Millions of end-users tested across different environments
History
We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.