4 Ways to Turn off Windows 11 Telemetry Collection

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Method 1: Disable Diagnostic Data Collection on Windows 11

Microsoft collects data regarding system usage and functions. This can be anything from previous crash reports to the apps you’ve previously accessed. If you no longer want this information to be sent across, you can turn off diagnostic data collection from the Settings menu. Here’s how.

Step 1:Use the Windows + I key to openSettings. Go toPrivacy & securityand click onDiagnostics & feedback.

Step 2:Click onDiagnostic datato expand the menu options.

Step 3:Turn off theSend optional diagnostic datatoggle.

Step 4:Then, click onTailored experiencesto see more options.

Step 5:Turn thetoggleoff. This will stop Microsoft from using your diagnostic data for other services.

Step 6:Ensure that theView diagnostic datatoggle is off.

Step 7:Click onDelete diagnostic data.

Step 8:Click onDelete. This will trigger a deletion request to Microsoft.

The data will be deleted in the next few days. However, the other part of your data might still be available in your Microsoft account. Here’s how to delete that.

Clear Microsoft Account Tracking History

If you’re signed in to your Microsoft account on your device, chances are that some of your data might also be stored on your Microsoft account. You will need to delete this by going into your Microsoft account’s privacy settings. Sign in to your Microsoft account and follow the below steps to do it.

Step 1:Open yourMicrosoft Account’s Privacy pageon any web browser and click onApp and service activity.

Step 2:Click onClear all app and service activity.

Step 3:Click onClearto confirm deletion.

Step 4:To turn on automatic data deletion, select thedurationand click onTurn on.

This will ensure Microsoft periodically deletes all the collected data. You can also go into all the other data parameters and clear them one by one.

Method 2: Turn off Windows 11 Advertising Trackers

As mentioned above, Microsoft shares some data with certain third parties to show you relevant and personalized ads. You can disable this by turning off advertising trackers on Windows 11. Here’s how.

Step 1:OpenSettingsand click onPrivacy & security. Under the Windows permissions section, click onGeneral.

Step 2:Turn off all the relevanttogglesto disable Windows 11 advertising trackers.

Also Read:How to see what Group Policies are applied to your Windows 11 device

Method 3: Stop Activity Tracking on Windows 11

Activity tracking on Windows 11 keeps track of all the apps you’ve visited, files you’ve accessed, etc. While this data is usually stored locally, a copy of this might also be stored on your Microsoft account if you’re signed in. Here’s how you can delete the local copy of it from your device.

Step 1:OpenSettingsand click onPrivacy & security. Click onActivity history.

Step 2:Turn off theStore my activity history on this devicetoggle.

Step 3:Go to Clear activity history for this account and click onClear history.

Step 4:Click onClearto confirm.

Method 4: Turn off Windows 11 Find My Device Feature

While it’s a long shot, Windows can still keep track of your location if you have the Find My Device feature enabled. You can make sure this doesn’t happen by turning it off. Enable Location services and follow the below steps to do it.

Step 1:OpenSettingsand click onPrivacy & security. Click onFind my device.

Step 2:Turn theFind my devicetoggle off.

This will disable the Windows 11 Find My Device feature. Check out our article to know more about theMicrosoft Find My Device feature.

FAQs

To turn off activity tracking in Microsoft Edge, open the browser settings. Go to Privacy, search and services and enable Strict mode for tracking protection. You can also scroll through the page and turn off other settings related to data collection.

Yes, you can disable ads in Windows 11. Open Settings and go to the System tab > click on Notifications > Additional settings > uncheck all the available options. This will disable notification ads.

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Last updated on 29 July, 2024

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