Microsoft's Application Guard for Edge is a great tool to shield your browsing from malicious interference. For extra protection, both the camera and microphone are deactivated by default in this environment; however, there may be times when you need these features enabled to utilize certain web applications.

If that’s the case, follow this guide which will show you how to enable the camera and microphone in Application Guard for Edge on Windows 11. ​​​​​​

1. How to Enable the Camera and Microphone via Windows Settings

To enable the camera and microphone in Application Guard for Edge, follow the steps below:

  1. Click on Start, type Settings and press Enter.
  2. On the left side of the screen, select Privacy & security.
  3. Click the Windows Security option on the right.
  4. Then, on the next screen, select App & browser control.
  5. In the new window that opens, click Change Application Guard settings under Isolated browsing.
  6. Look for the Camera and microphone option, and then toggle it on.
    Enable Camera and Microphone in Application Guard Using Windows Settings
  7. If the UAC prompt appears, click Yes to continue.

After you perform the above action, restart your computer for the changes to take effect. Upon restarting, all your camera and microphone settings should now be applied to the Application Guard for Edge.

In case you need to turn off the feature again, just follow the same steps and toggle the Camera and microphone option to Off. That’s all there is to it.

2. How to Enable the Camera and Microphone Using Registry Editor

If you are more comfortable using the registry editor, you can enable your camera and microphone for Application Guard for Edge. All you need to do is open up the registry folder, make a few easy modifications, and restart your computer so that they can take effect.

However, before you make any changes, it's essential that you create a backup of the registry file just in case something goes wrong.

To enable your mic & camera with the help of this tool, follow these steps:

  1. Search for regedit in the Windows search bar and click on the result to open the registry editor. To find out more, see how to open the registry.
  2. When the UAC prompt appears, click Yes to confirm.
  3. In the Registry Editor window, go to the following location: 
    Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Hvsi

    Copy and paste the given location into the address bar at the top of the registry window and press Enter to quickly jump to the folder.

  4. If you don't see the Hvsi key there, you need to create it first. In order to do this, right-click on the Microsoft folder and select New > Key.
  5. Name the file Hvsi, then hit Enter to save it.
    Creating a new DWORD (32-bit) Value
  6. Right-click on Hvsi, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, then name it EnableCameraMicrophoneRedirection.
  7. Now double-click on the newly created DWORD key, and you will see a pop-up window appear.
  8. Be sure the Hexadecimal base is selected, and set the Value data to 1.
    Enable Camera and Microphone in Application Guard Using Registry Editor
  9. Then click OK to save the changes.

Once you've done editing the registry, restart your computer to apply the changes. After restarting, Edge's Application Guard will be able to access your camera and microphone hardware for websites that require it.

If you want to revert the changes, simply set the EnableCameraMicrophoneRedirection key’s value back to 0 and restart your computer.

Your Camera and Mic Is Now Supported in Edge Application Guard

Application Guard for Edge is a tool that serves as an extra layer of protection from malicious websites and other threats. By default, your camera and microphone are disabled to ensure maximum security. In this guide, we've explained two quick ways in which you can easily activate these features - via Windows Settings or Registry Editor.