How to Add "Allow App through Controlled Folder Access" context menu in Windows 10


Starting with Windows 10 build 16232, Controlled folder access is introduced in Windows Defender Antivirus.

When Controlled folder access is turned on, it helps you protect valuable data from malicious apps and threats, such as ransomware. It is part of Windows Defender Exploit Guard.

You can specify if certain apps should always be considered safe and given write access to files in protected folders. Allowing apps can be useful if you're finding a particular app that you know and trust is being blocked by the Controlled folder access feature.

By default, Windows adds apps that it considers friendly to the allowed list - apps added automatically by Windows are not recorded in the list shown in Windows Security. You shouldn't need to add most apps. Only add apps if they are being blocked and you can verify their trustworthiness.

When you add an app, you have to specify the app's location. Only the app in that location will be permitted access to the protected folders - if the app (with the same name) is located in a different location, then it will not be added to the allow list and may be blocked by Controlled folder access.

For more details about Controlled folder access, see:

• Protect important folders with controlled folder access | Microsoft Docs
• Allow specific apps to make changes to controlled folders | Microsoft Docs

This tutorial will show you how to add and remove an Allow app through Controlled folder access context menu for all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to add, remove, or use the "Allow app through Controlled folder access" context menu.

The "Allow app through Controlled folder access" context menu will be available when you right click or shift + right click on a .exe or .com file. When you use this context menu, it will add the app (.exe or .com file) to the list of Controlled folder access allowed apps. This will make it easy for you to add an allowed app you want on demand without having to do so through Windows Security.

You will need to restart the computer after adding anything to Controlled Folder Access to apply.

EXAMPLE: "Allow app through Controlled folder access" context menu




Here's How:

1 Do step 2 (add-right click), step 3 (add-Shift+right click) , or step 4 (remove) below for what you would like to do.

2 To Add Right Click "Allow app through Controlled folder access" Context Menu

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Add_Allow_app_through_Controlled_folder_access_context_menu.reg

Download

3 To Add Shift + Right Click "Allow app through Controlled folder access" Context Menu

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Add_Shift+Allow_app_through_Controlled_folder_access_context_menu.reg

Download

4 To Remove "Allow app through Controlled folder access" Context Menu

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Remove_Allow_app_through_Controlled_folder_access_context_menu.reg

Download

5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink

Related Tutorials

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• How to Enable or Disable Windows Defender Exploit Guard Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10
• How to Add Turn On or Off Controlled Folder Access context menu Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Protected Folders for Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Allowed Apps through Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10

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