How to Enable Generative AI Access in Windows 11

This article explains how to turn on or off app access to Generative AI in Windows 11.

What is App Access to Generative AI?

App access to generative AI in Windows means that programs can use AI to help with tasks. This includes things like generating images, creating content, or making predictions.

Starting with Windows 11 build 26236 (Canary), Microsoft added a new Generative AI section to the Privacy & security settings. This lets you control which apps can use AI features.

Why Would You Want to Control This?

You may want to turn this on or off based on your needs. Some users want AI features enabled. Others prefer to disable them for privacy or performance reasons.

Method 1: Use the Settings App

Why use this method: It’s the easiest way for most people. You can turn AI access on or off for specific apps.

What happens: Once enabled, apps can use generative AI features.

1. Open the Settings app. Click the Start menu and select Settings. Or press Windows key + I.
2. Click Privacy & security on the left side.
3. Find and click the Generative AI tile on the right to expand it.

4. Click the “Generative AI access” tile. Toggle the switch to turn it On or Off for all users.

5. Click “Let app use generative AI” to choose which apps can use AI. You can turn individual apps on or off here.

6. Close the Settings app when finished.

Method 2: Use the Local Group Policy Editor

Why use this method: This method works for all users on your computer at once.

What happens: You can force allow or force deny AI access across your entire system.

⚠️ Admin privileges required

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor. Search for “Edit group policy” on the Start menu.
2. Navigate to these folders: Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → App Privacy
3. In the right pane, find and double-click “Let Windows apps make use of generative AI features of Windows”.

4. Choose one of these options:

• Not Configured (default) – Users decide if apps can use AI.
• Enabled – Choose one of these:
  • Force Allow – Apps can use AI. Users cannot change this.
  • Force Deny – Apps cannot use AI. Users cannot change this.
• Disabled – Users decide if apps can use AI.

5. Click OK to save. You may need to restart your computer.

Method 3: Use the Windows Registry Editor

Why use this method: This gives you direct control over AI settings in Windows.

What happens: You can set whether apps have access to AI features by changing registry values.

⚠️ Admin privileges required

For the Current User Only:

1. Open the Registry Editor as administrator. Search for “regedit” on the Start menu.
2. Navigate to this location: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\generativeAI
3. In the right pane, double-click the “Value” string to open it.
4. Type Allow to turn on AI access. Type Deny to turn it off.
5. If you don’t see “Value”, right-click in the blank area and create a new String Value. Name it “Value” and enter Allow or Deny.

For All Users:

1. In the Registry Editor, navigate to this location: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy
2. In the right pane, double-click “LetAppsAccessGenerativeAI” (DWORD 32-bit Value).
3. Type 1 to enable AI access. Type 2 to disable it.
4. If you don’t see “LetAppsAccessGenerativeAI”, right-click in the blank area and create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it “LetAppsAccessGenerativeAI” and enter 1 or 2.

5. Save your changes and restart your computer.

Summary

Windows 11 lets you control whether apps can use generative AI features. You have three ways to do this:

• Settings App: The easiest method. Control AI access for individual apps.
• Local Group Policy Editor: Control AI access for all users at once. Requires admin access.
• Registry Editor: Direct control over AI settings. Requires admin access.

Choose the method that works best for you. All three methods let you turn AI features on or off based on your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions