Let Windows apps activate with voice while the system is locked: registry value LetAppsActivateWithVoiceAboveLockComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy

Policy ID: LetAppsActivateWithVoiceAboveLock
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › App Privacy

Registry

LetAppsActivateWithVoiceAboveLock

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Default for all apps:

Options
Item	Stored value
User is in control	0
Force Allow	1
Force Deny	2

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy]

; Options (use only one)
; User is in control
"LetAppsActivateWithVoiceAboveLock"=dword:00000000
; Force Allow
"LetAppsActivateWithVoiceAboveLock"=dword:00000001
; Force Deny
"LetAppsActivateWithVoiceAboveLock"=dword:00000002

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: User is in control
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy" /v "LetAppsActivateWithVoiceAboveLock" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
:: Force Allow
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy" /v "LetAppsActivateWithVoiceAboveLock" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Force Deny
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy" /v "LetAppsActivateWithVoiceAboveLock" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# User is in control
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy' -Name 'LetAppsActivateWithVoiceAboveLock' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null
# Force Allow
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy' -Name 'LetAppsActivateWithVoiceAboveLock' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Force Deny
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AppPrivacy' -Name 'LetAppsActivateWithVoiceAboveLock' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null