Configure protected folders: registry value ExploitGuard_ControlledFolderAccess_ProtectedFolders (Controlled Folder Access)ComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Controlled Folder Access

Policy ID: ExploitGuard_ControlledFolderAccess_ProtectedFolders
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1709
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › Microsoft Defender Antivirus › Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard › Controlled Folder Access

Registry

ExploitGuard_ControlledFolderAccess_ProtectedFolders

-Computer

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Controlled Folder Access Current key

(list values)

REG_SZComputer

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Controlled Folder Access\ProtectedFolders

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Enter the folders that should be guarded:
Value type: REG_SZ
Add to existing value: true
Explicit value name: true

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Controlled Folder Access\ProtectedFolders]
"<enter name>"="<enter value>"

CMD

reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Controlled Folder Access\ProtectedFolders" /v "<enter name>" /t REG_SZ /d "<enter value>" /f

PowerShell

New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Controlled Folder Access\ProtectedFolders' -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Controlled Folder Access\ProtectedFolders' -Name '<enter name>' -PropertyType String -Value '<enter value>' -Force | Out-Null