App access to phone

Settings›Privacy›App permissions›App access to phone

Recommendation

Disable if not needed

On a desktop PC without phone integration, the permission should be closed: the visible BoosterX recommendation is addressed to all desktops.

Restore access if you make calls through Phone Link.

Main effect

Blocking access to phone

FPS and memory

See the research

What changes

The toggle forbids supported Store/UWP apps from using the phone — for example, making calls. The same decision at the global level is the phone calls section toggle on the “Settings” → “Privacy” page (in Windows 11 — “Privacy & security”). The main consumer is Phone Link, which dials a number through the linked phone. After the block, the phone functions of Windows apps are closed; the network, adapters and regular VoIP programs are not disabled.

Exceptions and differences

Calls in the browser and classic Win32 programs do not fall under this permission. The phone works in conjunction with call history and messages: their permissions are independent and affect Phone Link separately. The set of “Settings” pages differs between Windows 10 and Windows 11 — check whether the section exists on your system.

How to verify the result

Make a call from Phone Link by selecting a contact: dialing through the linked phone does not go through while the permission is closed. After restoring it, the call works again.

How to change and revert

Open “Optimization” → “Privacy” → “App permissions” → “App access to phone”, move the toggle to the “On” position: BoosterX will apply the block on access to phone. Click “Apply”. If “Instant apply” is enabled, a separate button is not required. To revert, move the toggle to the “Off” position and apply the change again: BoosterX will return the standard Windows state with access to phone allowed, after which restart Phone Link.

Confirmation

• Research on privacy policies and background apps.
• Related permissions: call history, messages.
• Microsoft: Manage connections from Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating system components to Microsoft services, checked 2026-09-19.

Last check: 2026-09-20.