Spy on Me No More: The Shocking Windows 11 Upgrade Every PC User Needs

Microsoft shifted its focus away from traditional desktop apps starting with Windows 8, and the company has since spent more than a decade releasing security and privacy features that apply only to modern Microsoft Store apps. But now, it's extending those settings to prevent regular apps from spying on your camera, location, and microphone without asking first. That's huge news because most people don't even bother with Microsoft Store apps.

Meanwhile, Windows 11 is getting an option that makes all windows launch in full-screen mode by default. It's a big quality-of-life upgrade for people who prefer that experience. The File Explorer context menu upgrades Microsoft promised are also now available in Insider builds, complete with a more comprehensive settings panel than I expected. Both average PC users and power users should benefit from this upgrade.

Read on for all the details about upcoming privacy controls, a Windows 8-like app launch experience, and some welcome File Explorer enhancements, all of which should make their way to stable releases over the coming months.

Windows Is Finally Extending Privacy Controls to Desktop Apps

Microsoft Store apps already prompt you for access to your camera, location, and microphone. But the same doesn't apply to desktop apps you download from the web. As Microsoft explains in an older support article : "Desktop apps access data differently than Microsoft Store apps. They don't use Windows privacy permission prompts."

This has been the case since Windows 8, but a recent experimental Insider build revealed that traditional desktop apps will soon get these permission controls. Previously, it seemed impossible that Microsoft could build a system that worked across the full range of desktop software on Windows, so this is technically impressive. This new capability works well in testing, too, though it still needs some polish. For example, when I launched Microsoft's Copilot app and clicked the button to begin a voice conversation, a microphone permission pop-up didn't appear for at least 10 seconds.

"Our goal is to make privacy permissions easier to understand and manage across the wide range of desktop apps people use every day," Microsoft's Windows team writes in the Insider patch notes. It's encouraging that the company is introducing features that take the wider desktop app ecosystem into account, and I hope this trend continues. For example, Windows 11 might one day let you control what files and folders individual desktop apps can access. Windows 11 already has folder privacy controls, but only for Store apps.

Prefer Full-Screen Apps? You'll Love This New Option

A new accessibility option in Windows 11 lets you open all desktop applications in full-screen mode by default. If you prefer full-screen apps, this will be a great convenience. It reminds me a bit of how Windows 8 embraced full-screen mode as the ideal way to run software on a PC, but unlike Windows 8, Windows 11 gives you a choice.

This setting is now available in  a recent Insider build in the beta channel . Simply head to Settings > Accessibility > Visual effectsand select Open Apps Maximizedto enable it. You can still make them windowed after they launch, if you like. The feature works well in testing and is particularly useful for laptops with smaller displays. I'd especially love this option if I used a Windows 11 tablet regularly.

Windows 11's New Context Menu Controls Are Excellent

Windows 11's new File Explorer context menu controls are now available in Insider builds, giving you more granular options to toggle and rearrange options than ever before. Microsoft now also hides the legacy context menu option by default, though you can still enable it if you need it. Applications you install can still add context menu items, but they appear under an App Extensions submenu to prevent clutter. You can still choose to show them in the main menu if you want. This is all a win for customizability and simplicity.

The new context menu controls work as expected in testing. Microsoft representatives told me that power users were a focus  for the Windows team at Build, and this is concrete proof that the company is delivering on that initiative.

Ask Our Expert: What Windows Productivity Tricks Do Most People Miss?

Do you have a question about Windows? I'm here to share my knowledge! You can submit your question here , and I may answer it in an upcoming Windows Guide newsletter. If you're not subscribed to the newsletter, head here to sign up , and check your inbox each week for the latest Windows updates from me. Now, on to this week's question!

Alice T asks: "What are some Windows features or settings that most people overlook but can make a noticeable difference in productivity?"

Hi Alice, thanks for writing in! Windows is absolutely packed with productivity-boosting tools. Many of them are well-known, but others have flown well under the radar.

Focus Sessions is my favorite hidden productivity tool. It's a Pomodoro-style timer that's a part of Windows 11's Clock app. Essentially, you can set a custom timer, work focused for that duration, and then take a break when the timer runs out. Windows also turns off notifications while you're in focus mode and integrates with Spotify so you can quickly activate your favorite productivity-boosting playlist.

Copilot's Vision feature is worth a mention, too. If you start a voice chat in Copilot, you can tap the Share Screenbutton to share either a single window or your entire desktop screen with Copilot. Then, you can talk to it about what you see in real time. Competing AI chatbots don't offer this functionality on Windows.

Custom keyboard shortcuts can also be time-savers. You can make custom shortcuts with Microsoft PowerToys , but Windows also lets you assign keyboard shortcuts to launch your favorite apps. For example, you could make Windows open Chrome when you press Ctrl-Alt-C. First, locate an app's shortcut on your desktop. Right-click it, select Properties, and look under the Shortcut tab. Click the Shortcut keyfield, type a shortcut, and then click OK. This trick has been around for decades, but it still works well today.

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