Privacy feature Windows 11 beta stops monitoring active PC users

Microsoft is testing a feature in a beta version of Windows 11 that prevents apps from monitoring whether a user is actively working on his or her computer. The function allows programs to withdraw access to all kinds of PC sensors.

The privacy feature is currently being tested in a beta version of Windows 11, KB5025299, and was named in the English version of the operating system presence sensing along. This feature includes an option to deny all apps on a computer access to data from PC sensors, preventing these apps from knowing whether a user is actively using the PC.

The measure can also be introduced for certain apps. Also shown at the bottom of the settings menu is a list of apps that have requested data from PC sensors over the past seven days and recorded when a user was actively working on their computer. It is not clear whether Microsoft also wants to implement this privacy feature in a stable version of Windows 11.

Privacy feature presence sensing in Windows 11