The same goes for Windows 11. In Windows 11, Microsoft uses data to improve the operating system. However, not all data is mandatory. Windows 11 has many data collection settings that can be disabled without impacting the user experience. If you want to keep the data accessible to Microsoft to a minimum, here’s what to do:
How to View (Partial) Tracking Data in Windows 11
It is good to know what type of data is collected before opting out. Most data is not directly accessible, but diagnostic data is an exception. Basically, this is data that Microsoft uses to improve the Windows 11 experience. The confirmation method is as follows.
1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
2. Click “Feedback and diagnostics” under Windows permissions.
3. Tap “View diagnostic data” and then enable “Enable diagnostic data viewer”.
4. A link to the app opens in the Microsoft Store. Click “Get” to install it, then open it.
You can find a list of all the data Microsoft collects to improve your Windows 11 experience in the app. The ‘Diagnostic Data’ tab is selected by default, but you can also click on ‘Problem Report’ to see what problems were found. This won’t tell you everything, of course, but it’s useful for determining what kind of data is being sent to Microsoft.
How to Disable Diagnostic Data Collection in Windows 11
Not all diagnostic data can be disabled, but some can. This includes detailed reports on browsing history, app usage, and errors.
1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Feedback & Diagnostics.
2. Make sure “Send additional diagnostic data” is disabled. Be aware that opting out will prevent you from becoming a member of the Windows Insider Program.
3. Click “Improve manual typing and typing”, then make sure it is disabled.
4. Click on “Custom environment” and make sure it is disabled.
5. To delete all selections collected so far, click “Clear Diagnostic Data” and then press Delete.
How to Disable Ad Tracking in Windows 11
Windows 11 wants to use user data to display personalized advertisements and other information, but users do not have to consent to this. The deactivation method is as follows.
1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > General.
2. Disable “Allow apps to serve personalized ads using my advertising ID”.
3. Disable “Allow websites to access my language list and display related content locally”.
4. Disable “Allow Windows to track application starts and improve startup and search results”.
However, disabling this setting will not remove ads. Ads still appear, but regular ads, not ads based on user behavior.
How to Disable Activity History in Windows 11
Activity logging in Windows 11 includes data about how you use apps and services and the websites you browse. This feature lets you quickly resume recently performed tasks, but you can turn it off if you don’t want to.
1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
2. Select Save Activity under Windows Permissions.
3. Disable “Save my activity history on this device”.
How to Disable “Find My Device” in Windows 11
The “Find My Device” feature is useful for locating a lost computer, but location data is collected periodically. Here’s how to disable this feature.
1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Find My Device.
2. Disable “Find my device”.
However, this step is not necessary if the location setting is already disabled. Microsoft cannot track the location of the device unless the user grants access.
How to clear activity tracks from your Microsoft account
Your Microsoft account data may have been collected from multiple devices. Here’s how to delete all data.
1. Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in.
2. Click “Privacy” at the top of the window.
3. Under ‘Activity data management’, click on each section and select ‘Clear all app and service activity’.
4. Repeat the operation for the other sections where data was collected.
How to Disable Microsoft Edge Data Collection
The pre-installed Edge browser lets you block websites from using trackers, and you can choose from three settings.
1. In Edge, click on the 3 dots in the upper right corner, scroll down and select “Settings”.
2. Click “Privacy, Research & Services” in the left pane. You can also enter edge://settings/privacy in the address bar.
3. Make sure ‘Do Not Track’ is enabled.
4. Choose one of three options: Basic, Balanced, or Strict.
The best option for most users is balanced. Indeed, it blocks tracking from unknown sites, but does not affect basic functionality.
editor@itworld.co.kr
