Next, click the Add an allowed app button. Click the back button and click the Allow an app through Controlled folder access link. But sometimes Microsoft will determine an app to be unfriendly. Most trusted and installed apps are allowed through. You can choose which apps are allowed to access protected folders. On the following page, click Add a protected folder and browse to the folder you want to be added to CFA from File Explorer.Īllow Apps Through Controlled Folder Access To do that, click on the Protected folders link. You can also add more folders to be protected manually. Windows system folders and memory areas on your computer are protected by default. Manually Add Folders to Controlled Folder Access The important one here that you want to turn on is Controlled folder access. On the next screen, you’ll have a few options for ransomware protection. Next, scroll down to the “Ransomware Protection” section and click the Manage ransomware protection link.

Hit the Windows key on your keyboard and type: windows security and select the app from the top result.įrom the “Security at a glance” page click on the Virus & threat protection button. To enable this extra protection against threats like ransomware, open Windows Security.

You can complement the protected folders with additional locations, and add the apps that you want to allow access to those folders.” Enable Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10 If an app attempts to make a change to these files, and the app is blacklisted by the feature, you’ll get a notification about the attempt. It also the apps you want to allow access to certain folders.Īccording to Microsoft exec Dona Sarkar: “Controlled folder access monitors the changes that apps make to files in certain protected folders. This feature also lets you manually add additional folders that you want to be protected.

Starting back with Windows 10 Build 16232, CFA monitors changes that apps try to make to files in protected folders.

Windows defender folder protection