Occasionally, an app that is safe to use will be identified as harmful and blocked from accessing protected folders with Microsoft Defender Antivirus. When that happens, you can add the app to the list of safe or allowed apps to prevent it from being blocked next time. Adding apps to access protected folders can help protect your data since only known apps can go through Microsoft Defender Antivirus-controlled folder access. Ransomware apps will also be blocked by default preventing your data from being encrypted and locked by bad actors in Windows 11. Below is how to configure app access to your protected folders so that unauthorized or unsafe apps do not change files in those folders.
How to allow apps through controlled folder access in Windows 11
As mentioned above, Controlled folder access helps protect your valuable data from malicious apps and threats, such as ransomware. You can add apps that are being blocked to protected folders in Windows 11. Below is how to configure apps for access. Allow apps through the controlled access folder: In the search box on the taskbar, type Windows Security and then select Windows Security in the list of results. In Windows Security, select Virus & threat protection. On the Virus & threat protection settings page, under Ransomware protection, select Manage ransomware settings. Change the Controlled folder access setting to On or Off. Under, Controlled folder access, click on the link that reads: Allow an app through Controlled folder access as highlighted below: Click on Add a protected folder button, navigate to and select the program executable you want to add and click on Open. To remove a folder from the list, select it and click Remove.
How to enable or disable cloud-delivered protection in Group Policy
In Windows 11, open Local Group Policy Editor by clicking on the Start menu and searching for Edit group policy as highlighted below. Under Best match, select Edit group policy to launch Local Group Policy Editor. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, expand the tree: In the Controlled Folder Access details pane on the right, local and double-click Configure allowed applications. Set Configure allowed applications setting option to Enabled. In the options section, you must specify one of the following Select Show, and specify each folder that you want to protect. Specify each folder you want to protect on each line. An example is listed below. Enter the path of the folder under the Value name and the Value data should be 0. Select OK. Close Local Group Policy Editor. That should do it! Conclusion: This post showed you how to allow apps through Microsoft Defender-controlled folder access in Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
