App access to the Videos folder
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Recommendation
SituationalIf you watch videos with a third-party player, the library for Store apps can be closed — this is also BoosterX’s visible advice.
Classic players and editors are not covered by the restriction.
- Main effect
- Blocking access to «Videos»
- FPS and memory
- See the research
What changes
Section titled “What changes”The toggle closes access to the «Videos» library — the user folder and its subdirectories — for supported Store/UWP apps. The same decision at the global level is the «Videos» toggle on the «Settings» → «Privacy» page (in Windows 11 — «Privacy & security»). For example, «Photos» imports and catalogs videos, and «Media Player» from Microsoft Store builds a collection of films — precisely through this permission. After the restriction, importing, cataloging and editing videos in Store apps may break; the files themselves are not deleted.
Exceptions and differences
Section titled “Exceptions and differences”Classic players and editors read files directly and are not covered by the restriction. Related library permissions — «Documents», «Pictures» and broad access to the file system: they can be closed 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
Section titled “How to verify the result”Open «Media Player» or «Photos»: the video collection is empty, and import from the «Videos» folder finds no files. After the permission is returned, the library fills up again.
How to change and revert
Section titled “How to change and revert”Open «Optimization» → «Privacy» → «App permissions» → «App access to the «Videos» folder», move the toggle to the «On» position: BoosterX will apply the restriction of access to the «Videos» library. 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 Windows to its default state with access to the «Videos» library allowed.
Confirmation
Section titled “Confirmation”- Research on privacy policies and background apps.
- Microsoft: App capability declarations, checked 2026-09-19.
Last check: 2026-09-20.