While the Settings app is definitely helpful to know which app is using a camera, mic, and location services and check the last accessed data, it doesn’t help you delete the last accessed timestamps for them. Therefore, for those who want that, these options will come in handy.
Delete Last accessed timestamp for Location, Camera, Microphone in Windows 11/10
If you want to delete the last accessed timestamp for location, camera, and microphone on Windows 11/10, you need to modify Windows Registry and delete the Registry keys and values that are associated with the last accessed history. The same can also be done by generating a separate BAT file for each option. While the first option is manual and lengthy, the latter option is fast and automatic. Though the BAT file also clears the Registry entries, you don’t have to go through the manual process. We have covered this in separate sections for your convenience. Before that, we advise you to take a Registry backup so that you can restore the Registry if Registry settings are messed up. After that, follow every single step very carefully. Now, let’s start with the location option first.
Delete Last accessed timestamp for Location using Registry in Windows 11/10
To erase or delete the last accessed timestamp for Windows 11/10 location service, follow these steps:
Open the Windows Registry (or Registry Editor). Type regedit or registry in the Search box and hit Enter to open this windowNow access the location Registry key for the current user. The path is:
Under the location key, select a Registry key with the name associated with the Microsoft Store app that accessed the location. For example, if the Weather app accessed the location, then look for the Microsoft.BingWeather_8wekyb3d8bbwe key and select itOn the right-hand section of that key, select the two DWORD values with the following names-LastUsedTimeStartLastUsedTimeStopRight-click on the selected valuesClick on the Delete optionA Confirm Value Delete box will pop up. Click on the Yes button for your confirmation. This will delete the last accessed history or timestamps for Microsoft Store appsTo delete the last accessed timestamps for the desktop apps, select and expand the NonPackaged Registry key present under the location key. You will see multiple Registry keys associated with each desktop application that has accessed the location on your Windows 11/10 computerSelect a Registry key associated with a desktop appRight-click on the selected keySelect the Delete optionIn the confirmation box, press the Yes button to delete that Registry keyOne by one, you need to delete all those Registry keysFinally, close the Registry Editor.
Now, access the App permissions section for Location in the Settings app. After that, expand the Let apps access your location section. You will notice that the last accessed timestamps for all Microsoft Store apps are erased. And, the Let desktop apps access your camera section will also be cleared.
Clear Last accessed timestamp for Location using a BAT file in Windows 11/10
You can also save all the manual work and clear the last accessed timestamp for location by creating a BAT file (*.bat). For doing this, copy the following content and paste it into Notepad: Now open the File menu of Notepad and click on the Save as option. In the Save as window, set Save as type to All files and then add file name along with *.bat extension (like abc.bat). See the screenshot below for reference.
Press the Save button. Now when you will execute the BAT file, it will automatically delete the last accessed timestamp for location.
Delete Last accessed timestamp for Camera in Windows 11/10 using Registry Editor
To delete the last accessed timestamp of desktop apps and Microsoft Store apps for the camera in your Windows 11/10 computer, follow these steps:
Open the Registry EditorGo to the webcam Registry key for the current user profile using the following path:
Expand the webcam keySelect a key that is associated with a Microsoft Store app (like Camera or some other third-party app) that accessed the camera/webcamOn the right-hand section of that key, select LastUsedTimeStop and LastUsedTimeStart DWORD values as visible in the screenshot aboveDelete those DWORD values. In the same way, you need to delete DWORD values of other Registry keys for removing the last accessed timestamp of all the Microsoft Store appsNow expand the NonPackaged key available under the webcam keySelect a Registry key that is associated with a desktop application that accessed the cameraDelete that keyIn the same way, delete the other Registry keys present under the NonPackaged keyClose the Windows Registry.
Read: Laptop Camera or Webcam is not working in Windows 11/10
Use a BAT file to delete the Last accessed timestamp for the Camera in Windows 11/10
Another way to delete the last accessed timestamp for the webcam or camera is by using a BAT file. You can skip all the manual work (as explained above) and execute that BAT file for the same. For this, add the following content in Notepad: Save the file with the *.bat extension to a folder of your choice on your Windows 11/10 system. Read: How to view and clear Activity History on Windows 11/10
Delete Last accessed timestamp for Microphone using Registry in Windows 11/10
The steps to delete the last accessed timestamp for Microphone are almost similar to the Camera and Location options that we have covered in this post above. Here are the steps:
Open the Registry Editor windowNow access the microphone Registry key by following this path:
Select a sub-key under the microphone Registry key that contains LastUsedTimeStart and LastUsedTimeStop DWORD values on the right-sectionSelect both of those DWORD valuesOpen the right-click menu for themClick on the Delete option in the right-click menuIn the confirmation box for deletion, hit the Yes button and it will remove the last accessed timestamp for the microphone for that particular Microsoft Store app. Do the same for other similar Registry keysNow expand the NonPackaged key stored under the microphone keyDelete the Registry entries present under the NonPackaged key.
Erase last accessed timestamp for Microphone using a BAT file in Windows 11/10
To delete or erase the last accessed timestamp for the microphone using a BAT file, you can use the following content: Copy and paste all the above content into Notepad and save it as a BAT file. When you will execute that BAT file, a Command Prompt box will open and close automatically and it will erase the last accessed timestamp for the microphone for both desktop applications and Microsoft Store apps and save the manual work for you. That’s it. Hope this is helpful. Also read: USB microphone not working on Windows
How do I change the Privacy settings on my microphone in Windows 11?
To change the Privacy settings on your microphone in Windows 11, you need to open the Windows Settings panel. Therefore, press Win+I to open the Windows Settings panel and switch to the Privacy & security tab on the left-hand side. Then, click on the Microphone option on the right-hand side. Here you can find all the option you might need.
How do I get rid of the microphone icon in Windows 11?
The mic or microphone icon is visible on the taskbar when some app is using the microphone. To get rid of the microphone icon on your Windows 11 PC, follow these steps: In the same way, you can also turn off the microphone for other apps.
How do I reset my microphone on Windows 11/10?
If the mic or microphone is not working on your Windows 11/10 PC, then you can use the following fixes: Read next: How to change Location settings in Windows 11/10.
