How to Use Controlled Folder Access on Windows 11 to Protect Your Data

Controlled Folder Access is one of the secure data protection tools on Windows 11 computers that is currently trusted by many people. Let TipsMake show you how to use Controlled Folder Access to securely protect personal data on computers and laptops!

I. What is Controlled Folder Access on Windows 11?

Controlled Folder Access on Windows 11 is a security feature built into Windows Security (formerly Windows Defender) that protects important files and folders from malware, especially ransomware. When this feature is enabled, only whitelisted applications can edit, change, or access files in protected folders.

How Controlled Folder Access Works :

1. Block unauthorized access : Allow only trusted applications (Microsoft-certified or user-specified) to access protected folders.
2. Prevent Ransomware : Ransomware often attempts to encrypt users' files. Controlled Folder Access prevents this by blocking access to untrusted applications.
3. User warning : If an unauthorized application tries to access the folder, Windows sends a warning message.

Advantages of Controlled Folder Access :

1. Protect important data from malware or ransomware.
2. Easy to customize: Users can add apps or folders as needed.
3. Built into Windows 11 for free, no third-party software required.

Disadvantages of Controlled Folder Access :

1. It can be inconvenient that unverified apps will be blocked from accessing folders, even if they are safe.
2. Requires users to manually add apps that are not in the trusted list.

II. How to use Controlled Folder Access on Windows 11 to protect data

1. How to enable Controlled Folder Access on Win 11

Controlled Folder Access is a feature provided on Windows 11 but in default mode it is in 'Off' state. Before you want to use Controlled Folder Access to protect data, you need to enable this feature on Windows 11.

Step 1 : Open the Start Menu and enter the keyword Windows Security to open the protection program on your Win 11 computer.

Step 2 : Then, select the Virus & Threat Protection tab .

Step 3 : In protection settings, select Ransomware protection and select Manage ransomware protection .

Step 4 : In the Controlled folder access settings , select On to enable folder and data protection on your Windows 11 computer.

Step 5 : Thus, you have completed activating Controlled folder access on your Win 11 computer.

2. How to use Controlled Folder Access to protect data

After successfully activating, we can completely use Controlled Folder Access to protect data. Here, we will have 03 main contents as follows:

1. Block History : Block access history.
2. Protected Folders : List of protected folders and files
3. Allow an App Through Controlled Folder Access : Allows the app to access the protected folder.

Step 1 : First, select Protected Folders to select the folder that needs data protection on Windows 11.

Step 2 : By default, Protected Folders will lock Documents and Pictures on Windows 11 computers. To add personal folders to the data protection lock list, select Add a protected folder and select the folder to protect.

In case you want to remove a folder from the protected list, select the folder and click Remove to remove it from the safe list.

Step 3 : Select Allow an app through Controlled folder access to grant permission to applications to use the protected folder.

Step 4 : To view the history of blocking access to protected folders on Windows 11, select Block History and view the list of blocking commands and timelines.

The block list will tell you exactly what is accessing the protected folder. From there, you can easily know and come up with a suitable protection plan.

In this article, TipsMake has shared with you how to use Controlled Folder Access on Windows 11 to protect data safely. Have a nice day!

Samuel Daniel

Update 05 March 2025