4 Ways to Turn off Windows 11 Telemetry Collection

Quick Tips

• Open Settings > Privacy & security > General > turn off all the relevant toggles.
• Go to Privacy & security Settings > Activity history > turn toggle off > Clear history > Clear.
• Open Settings > Privacy & security > Find my device > turn the Find my device toggle off.

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 open Settings. Go to Privacy & security and click on Diagnostics & feedback.

Step 2: Click on Diagnostic data to expand the menu options.

Step 3: Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data toggle.

Step 4: Then, click on Tailored experiences to see more options.

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

Step 6: Ensure that the View diagnostic data toggle is off.

Step 7: Click on Delete diagnostic data.

Step 8: Click on Delete. 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 your Microsoft Account’s Privacy page on any web browser and click on App and service activity.

Step 2: Click on Clear all app and service activity.

Step 3: Click on Clear to confirm deletion.

Step 4: To turn on automatic data deletion, select the duration and click on Turn 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: Open Settings and click on Privacy & security. Under the Windows permissions section, click on General.

Step 2: Turn off all the relevant toggles to 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: Open Settings and click on Privacy & security. Click on Activity history.

Step 2: Turn off the Store my activity history on this device toggle.

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

Step 4: Click on Clear to 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: Open Settings and click on Privacy & security. Click on Find my device.

Step 2: Turn the Find my device toggle off.

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

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