How to Disable Telemetry and Tracking in Windows 11

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Ankit Kumar
Windows 11PrivacySecurity

What Windows 11 Actually Collects

Windows 11 sends Microsoft diagnostic data (telemetry), uses an advertising ID to personalise ads, and logs activity history, app launches, and search terms. You cannot reduce required diagnostics to zero on Home or Pro, but everything optional can be switched off, and the difference is substantial.

Two categories are worth separating:

  • Required diagnostic data — device details, settings, crash reports. Microsoft uses it to decide which updates are safe for your hardware. Cannot be disabled on Home or Pro.
  • Optional diagnostic data — which apps you use and for how long, browsing in Edge, inking and typing samples. All of this can be turned off, and turning it off costs you nothing you will notice.

Cleaning up the OS in general? Pair this with how to debloat Windows 11.

Step 1: Minimise Diagnostic Data

  1. Settings → Privacy & security → Diagnostics & feedback.
  2. Turn off Send optional diagnostic data.
  3. Expand Tailored experiences and turn it off—this is what lets Microsoft use diagnostic data for personalised tips and ads.
  4. Expand Improve inking and typing and turn it off. This stops samples of what you type being sent for handwriting and typing models.
  5. Set Feedback frequency to Never.
  6. Under Delete diagnostic data, click Delete.

Step 2: Turn Off the Advertising ID

  1. Settings → Privacy & security → General.
  2. Turn off all four:
    • Let apps show me personalized ads using my advertising ID
    • Let websites show me locally relevant content by accessing my language list
    • Let Windows improve Start and search results by tracking app launches
    • Show me suggested content in the Settings app

Step 3: Stop Activity History

  1. Settings → Privacy & security → Activity history.
  2. Untick Store my activity history on this device.
  3. Click Clear history to wipe what has already been recorded.
  4. If you use a Microsoft account, also clear the cloud-side copy at account.microsoft.com/privacy → Activity history.

Step 4: Lock Down App Permissions

This is where the meaningful privacy gain is—far more than telemetry sliders.

  1. Settings → Privacy & security → scroll to App permissions.
  2. Work through Location, Camera, Microphone, Account info, Contacts, Calendar, and File system.
  3. In each, turn the master switch off if you never use it, or leave it on and disable individual apps that have no business needing it.
  4. Under Location, click Clear next to location history.
  5. Check App diagnostics—it lets one app read information about others, and very few need it.

Step 5: Trim Search and Cloud Sync

  1. Settings → Privacy & security → Search permissions.
  2. Turn off Microsoft account and Work or School account under Cloud content search—this stops your local Start-menu searches being sent to Bing.
  3. Turn off Show search highlights.
  4. Under History, turn off Search history on this device and click Clear device search history.
  5. If you do not use OneDrive, sign out of it to stop background sync—related: fix OneDrive sync issues.

Step 6: Group Policy (Pro and Enterprise)

On Windows 11 Pro you can set a lower telemetry level than the Settings app offers.

  1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, press Enter.
  2. Go to Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Data Collection and Preview Builds.
  3. Open Allow Diagnostic Data, set it to Enabled, and choose the lowest level available. On Pro this is Send required diagnostic data; the Diagnostic data off option only fully applies on Enterprise and Education.
  4. In the same folder, enable Do not show feedback notifications.

Step 7: Check the Cloud Side

Local settings do not touch what Microsoft already holds. Visit account.microsoft.com/privacy while signed in and clear:

  • Browsing history
  • Search history
  • Location activity
  • App and service activity
  • Voice activity

Also review Settings → Accounts → Windows backup → Remember my preferences, which syncs settings across devices through your account.

What This Does and Does Not Achieve

It does: stop optional usage telemetry, remove ad personalisation, stop your Start-menu searches reaching Bing, and shut off app access to your camera, mic, and location.

It does not: make Windows anonymous. Required diagnostics continue, a Microsoft account still ties the device to you, and your ISP and the sites you visit see what they always did. If network-level privacy is the goal, that is a different job—see how to set up a VPN on Windows 11.

What Not to Do

  • Don't disable Windows Update or Microsoft Defender in the name of privacy. You would trade telemetry for a genuine security hole. Keep them working: Windows Defender not working.
  • Don't run "privacy tool" scripts that disable dozens of services. They routinely break the Microsoft Store, Windows Update, and Xbox sign-in, and the damage is hard to reverse.
  • Don't block Microsoft telemetry endpoints in the hosts file. Windows ignores much of it, and it breaks activation and update checks.

Next Steps

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