How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (2024)

How-To

How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (1)

By Brian Burgess

Updated

How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (2)

Microsoft uses telemetry data from your PC to help improve Windows. If you’re concerned about privacy, you can disable telemetry on Windows 11.

Data collection is big business—it’s also a big privacy concern for users. Windows 11 collects a healthy (or unhealthy) amount of telemetry data collection on your system usage, app use, visited websites, etc. Microsoft also collects your Windows 11 usage statistics through its built-in telemetry system.

While the data isn’t connected directly to the user, you may want to disable it if you’re concerned about privacy. Luckily, you can turn the data collection feature off on Windows 11.

What is Windows Telemetry?

Telemetry is an automated process that involves data collection from a remote source (your PC) and transmitting it back to Microsoft. The company uses the collected data to monitor and improve the operating system. In addition, the company uses the data to enhance security and improve the overall user experience.

While sending usage statistics to Microsoft sounds good, it leaves the door open to share the anonymized data with third parties. If you’re concerned about Windows automatically sending telemetry and other diagnostic data to Microsoft, use the following steps to turn it off.

Disable Telemetry Collection on Windows 11

You can disable the amount of telemetry collection by Windows 11 via the Settings menu.

Use the following steps to turn off telemetry on Windows 11:

  1. Open the Start menu and click the Settingsicon.How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (3)
  2. Next, click Privacy & security and then Diagnostics & feedback from the list on the right.How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (4)
  3. Expand the Diagnostic data option and toggle off the Send optional diagnostic data option.How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (5)
  4. Turning off Diagnostics & feedback limits data collection by Microsoft, but it doesn’t disable everything. Scroll down the list, expand the Tailored experiences section,and toggle it off.How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (6)

It’s also important to note that you’ll no longer receive updates if you’re in the Windows Insider Program until you turn it back on. Being in the Insider program means sending telemetry and other diagnostic information to Microsoft.

How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (7)

How to Disable Telemetry Through Group Policy

If you’re running Windows 11 Enterprise, Education, or Server Editions, you can disable telemetry by using Group Policy.

To turn off telemetry collection via Group Policy, do the following:

  1. Press Windows key + R on your keyboard to bring up the Run dialog.
  2. In Run, type gpedit.mscand click OK.How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (8)
  3. When the Group Policy Editor opens, navigate to the following path.
  4. Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds
  5. Double-click on Allow Diagnostic Data.How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (9)
  6. Set the policy to Enabled, and select the level of data collection from the dropdown under the Options section. Click OK.How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (10)
  7. Exit out of the Group Policy Editor—telemetry data will no longer be collected in accordance with your selection.

How to Disable Other Diagnostic Data on Windows 11

Usage statistics aren’t everything Windows 11 collects. For example, you may want to turn off a few other diagnostic data collections in Windows 11.

To disable other diagnostic data on Windows 11:

  1. Open Start > Settings and click on Privacy & security.
  2. Under the Windows permissions section, click on Speech and toggle off Online speech recognition.How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (11)
  3. Next, in the Privacy & security section, click Inking & typing personalization and toggle it off.How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (12)
  4. Click on Activity History and click the Clear history button to clear your data, and then toggle it off.How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (13)
  5. Finally, navigate to Settings > Privacy & security > General.How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (14)
  6. Toggle off all four settings at the top. These settings turn off personalized ads, website tracking, Windows and search tracking, and customized content in the Settings app.How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (15)

Staying Secure with Windows 11

If you follow the steps above, you can limit or disable telemetry on Windows 11.

The data sent to Microsoft from telemetry data is anonymized and the company uses it to improve Windows. However, if you’re not comfortable with the amount of telemetry sent from Windows 11, you can turn it off. For additional privacy, you can turn off other diagnostic data settings, such as speech recognition.

Check out how to use Windows Security on Windows 11 for optimal protection to improve your system security. If you’re seeing false positives (and you’re absolutely sure the file is safe), you can always temporarily turn off Windows Security.

Was this article helpful?

Awesome, share it:

ShareTweetRedditLinkedInEmail

Thanks!

Thanks for getting in touch with us.

Not enough detailsOutdated informationHard to understandOther

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Someone

    January 24, 2023 at 2:37 pm

    You got it wrong in the group policy part. Setting it to “disabled” allows sending data to MS. Also, turning it off completley is only available in enterprise enviornments… read the description on your own screenshot xD

    Reply

    • Steve Krause

      January 27, 2023 at 1:05 pm

      Heya – thanks for highlighting that.

      Article updated!

      Steve

      Reply

  2. senileOtaku

    June 21, 2023 at 12:16 pm

    HA HA! You actually think the settings MS allows you to access in MSWindows will actually STOP them from getting telemetry???? Yeah, Microsoft lies as much as your standard Congresscritter.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (16)

Related Items:Microsoft, Windows, Windows 11

How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11 (2024)

FAQs

How to Disable Telemetry on Windows 11? ›

But if you don't want Windows 11 to track your location, you can tell it to stop. Launch the Settings app and go to Privacy & security > Location. In the right pane next to Location services, move the slider from On to Off. Doing that turns off all location tracking for every user on the PC.

How can I turn off telemetry? ›

Steps to Disable Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry in Windows 10
  1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard. Type “services. ...
  2. Scroll down and locate “Connected User Experiences and Telemetry”. ...
  3. In the Properties window, go to the General tab and change the Startup type to “Disabled”.

How do I stop Windows 11 from tracking me? ›

But if you don't want Windows 11 to track your location, you can tell it to stop. Launch the Settings app and go to Privacy & security > Location. In the right pane next to Location services, move the slider from On to Off. Doing that turns off all location tracking for every user on the PC.

How can I permanently turn off Microsoft Compatibility telemetry? ›

Replies (3) 

On the Application Experience folder, look for Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser. Right-click on it, select Disable, and then confirm to complete the process.

What does Windows 11 telemetry collect? ›

Microsoft systematically collects usage data from every user of Windows 11 or Windows 10. It is standard operating procedure. Microsoft uses this data on which apps you use, which settings you have chosen and what websites you have visited to better understand how their customers use their operating system.

Should I disable telemetry services? ›

Is It Safe to Disable Telemetry? Yes, there are no inherent risks to disabling telemetry. Microsoft uses telemetry to collect data from users with a goal to improve user experience with future updates. The telemetry system has so far been accepted as a legitimate way of enhancing the Windows experience.

How do I change my telemetry settings? ›

Manage telemetry settings using SM console
  1. In the SM console > toolbar, select Help.
  2. In the Help menu, select Send diagnostic and usage data to Microsoft.
  3. Select the diagnostic and usage data sharing preference from the options displayed, and select OK.
Nov 28, 2023

Should I disable Windows 11 telemetry? ›

Disabling telemetry does not involve any risks. As a result, disabling telemetry means that Microsoft will not be able to detect and rectify problems thus leading to an improved user experience as well personalized services.

How do I turn off all tracking on Windows? ›

Let's begin..
  1. [1] Disable Speech, Inking, Typing & Activity history. ...
  2. In the left sidebar, click on “Activity history.” Disable “Let Windows collect my activities from this PC.” ...
  3. Configure Telemetry Level, Double-click on “Allow Telemetry.” Select “Disabled” to turn off telemetry.
Dec 25, 2023

How do I stop programs running in the background in Windows 11 home? ›

Select Start , then select Settings > Apps > Apps & features. Scroll to the desired app, select More options on the right edge of the window, then select Advanced options. In the Background apps permissions section, under Let this app run in the background, select Never.

How do I disable telemetry in regedit? ›

Open up the Registry Editor by launching regedit as an administrator. Go through HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection, select Allow Telemetry, change its value to 0, then apply.

How to disable Microsoft Compatibility telemetry in PowerShell? ›

To disable telemetry, set the PNPPOWERSHELL_DISABLETELEMETRY environment variable to true , i.e. by using $env:PNPPOWERSHELL_DISABLETELEMETRY=$true . Remove the entry again or set it to false to enable telemetry to be sent again.

Why is service host Windows Update using so much CPU? ›

Windows update uses delivery optimization to speed up processes. But this delivery optimization can be stuck in operation and cause the High CPU Usage by Service Host. In that case, turning off delivery optimization may solve the problem.

Is disabling Windows telemetry bad? ›

Should I disable Windows telemetry? As previously mentioned, there is no risks to operating system if you choose to disable it. By disabling the service, Microsoft won't be able to collect data related to the using the performance of Windows. Sometimes, the process might cause high CPU usage and high disk usage.

Should I disable connected user experiences and telemetry? ›

If you still have concerns about the data collection process, you can choose to disable the Service Host: Connected User Experiences and Telemetry process. However, keep in mind that doing so may limit your ability to receive certain updates and improvements from Microsoft.

What is the main purpose of telemetry? ›

Telemetry automatically collects, transmits and measures data from remote sources, using sensors and other devices to collect data. It uses communication systems to transmit the data back to a central location. Subsequently, the data is analyzed to monitor and control the remote system.

How do I know if telemetry is enabled? ›

Locate the Allow Telemetry GPO setting under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds. In the Allow Telemetry dialog, make sure that Enabled is checked.

What does enable telemetry mean? ›

In software development, telemetry systems are used with an end user's permission to remotely monitor the security, health and performance of applications. The information developers get from these systems provides insights into how their applications are performing without the need of feedback from users.

How do I turn off telemetry in coder? ›

You can turn telemetry on or off using either the CODER_TELEMETRY=[true|false] environment variable or the --telemetry=[true|false] command-line flag.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Manual Maggio

Last Updated:

Views: 6320

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Manual Maggio

Birthday: 1998-01-20

Address: 359 Kelvin Stream, Lake Eldonview, MT 33517-1242

Phone: +577037762465

Job: Product Hospitality Supervisor

Hobby: Gardening, Web surfing, Video gaming, Amateur radio, Flag Football, Reading, Table tennis

Introduction: My name is Manual Maggio, I am a thankful, tender, adventurous, delightful, fantastic, proud, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.