Most people configure Windows once during setup and never look back. The problem: Microsoft enables telemetry, ad tracking, and background data collection by default—without asking for your explicit consent. The short video above covers the three fastest fixes. Here’s everything else.
What is Windows collecting—and why should you care?
Telemetry is an automated background process that sends data about your system to Microsoft’s servers—hardware specs, app behavior, usage patterns, error reports. Microsoft frames this as necessary for improving Windows stability. That’s partly true. But optional telemetry goes further: it can include which apps you open, how long you use them, and typing patterns.
The Advertising ID is a separate mechanism. Windows generates a unique identifier per user account and shares it with apps and third-party ad networks. Even if you never open the Microsoft Store, this ID is used to build a behavioral profile tied to your account.
What you should disable
1. Kill the Advertising ID and personalized offers
Settings → Privacy & Security → Recommendations & Offers
Turn off:
- Advertising ID: Stops apps from linking your behavior to a trackable profile.
- Personalized offers: This is what feeds Microsoft-curated tips and ads back into your Windows interface.
- Show recommendations in Settings: Removes promotional suggestions from the Settings app itself.
⚠️ If you don’t see “Recommendations & offers” in your build, check Privacy & Security → General—the same toggles may still be there depending on your Windows version.
2. Cut the telemetry
Settings → Privacy & Security → Diagnostics & Feedback
Turn off:
- Send optional diagnostic data: Reduces collection to the minimum required level
- Improve inking and typing recognition: Stops Microsoft from collecting samples of your typing and handwriting
Also, click Delete diagnostic data at the bottom to clear what’s already been sent.
3. Disable the background spy service
Win + R → services.msc
Find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry (DiagTrack) → double-click → set Startup type to Disabled → Apply.
This stops the service from running at boot entirely. It’s the part most guides skip.
4. Search tracking
Settings → Privacy & Security → Search permissions
Turn off Search highlights—this stops Windows from pulling trending topics and news into your search bar. Also, review the SafeSearch and Cloud content search options here and switch them off if you’d rather keep searches local.
5. Start Menu suggestions
Settings → Personalization → Start
Turning off Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more removes Microsoft-promoted apps from appearing in your Start menu.
The registry method—works on Windows 11 Home too
Windows 11 Home doesn’t include Group Policy Editor, so some settings can’t be enforced the “official” way. The registry gives you equivalent control.
- Win + R → type regedit → run as Administrator
- Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection
(Create the DataCollection folder manually if it doesn’t exist) - Right-click in the right pane → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value
- Create these three values:
- AllowTelemetry = 0
- DoNotShowFeedbackNotifications = 1
- AllowDeviceNameInTelemetry = 0
- Restart your PC
How to verify it worked: Go back to Settings → Privacy & Security → Diagnostics & Feedback. The diagnostic data toggle will appear grayed out and locked on “Required diagnostic data”—that”‘s confirmation your policy is active.
⚠️ Always back up your registry before making changes. Major Windows updates (especially feature updates) can reset registry policies—run through this checklist again after any major OS release.
Can you fully disable telemetry?
No—and it’s worth being straight about that. Even with everything above turned off, Windows 11 Home still sends what Microsoft calls “Required diagnostic data.” This baseline level cannot be disabled on consumer editions. On Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise, Group Policy gives you tighter control. The steps above get you as close to private as Windows 11 Home allows.
Complete checklist
- Privacy & security → Recommendations & offers → Advertising ID: OFF
- Privacy & security → Recommendations & offers → Personalized offers: OFF
- Privacy & security → Recommendations & offers → Show recommendations in Settings: OFF
- Privacy & security → Diagnostics & feedback → Send optional diagnostic data: OFF
- Privacy & security → Diagnostics & feedback → Improve inking & typing: OFF
- Privacy & security → Diagnostics & feedback → Delete diagnostic data: Done
- Privacy & security → Search permissions → Search highlights: OFF
- Personalization → Start → Show recommendations: OFF
- services.msc → Connected User Experiences and Telemetry → Startup: Disabled
- Registry: AllowTelemetry = 0 (Home users)