Privacy shield for Windows apps

Apptics' privacy shield prevents the OS-level screenshots and screen capture of the app's content. It also prevents the sensitive app content from appearing in the OS screenshots (print screen, snipping tool), built-in screen capture APIs, and third-party capture tools that rely on Windows capture APIs.

When enabled, attempts to capture the protected window will result in blank (transparent/empty) or black content.

Our SDK supports both UWP and WinUI apps.

Requirements

For UWP apps

Windows 10
Windows SDK 10

For WinUI apps

Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041)
Windows SDK 1.0+

UWP integration

Import the AppticsUwpBase library(1.0.3.8 or above) and call the utility methods.

Enable Screen Capture Protection

CopiedAppticsUwpBase.Util.ScreenCaptureProtection.Enable();

Disable Screen Capture Protection

CopiedAppticsUwpBase.Util.ScreenCaptureProtection.Disable();

Best practices

Enable protection for sensitive screens only, e.g., login, payments, screens with PII.
Disable protection when not needed.
Apply protection after the window is fully initialized.
Always keep a fallback UI for unsupported OS versions.

WinUI integration

For WinUI 3 apps, the SDK requires a reference to the app window.

Enable screen capture protection

Copiedvar window = (Application.Current as App)?.m_window;
WinUISdkBase.Utill.ScreenCaptureProtection.Enable(window);

Disable screen capture protection

Copiedvar window = (Application.Current as App)?.m_window;
WinUISdkBase.Utill.ScreenCaptureProtection.Disable(window);

Limitations

This feature does not protect against:

Physical recording (camera, phone, external capture devices)
Remote desktop mirrors that bypass the Windows capture APIs.
Kernel-level or driver-level screen capture tools.
OEM screenshot utilities that do not respect Windows capture restriction.

Task switcher and Thumbnails

Protected windows may still appear:

Task switcher previews
Alt+Tab thumbnails