Windows 11 privacy settings worth changing right away include diagnostic data, the advertising ID, tailored experiences, activity history, online speech recognition, and location access. Most of these live under Settings, then Privacy and security, and take under a minute each to adjust.
Key Takeaways
- Windows 11 collects diagnostic data, an advertising ID, and activity data by default.
- Most privacy settings live in one place, under Settings, then Privacy and security.
- Turning these off does not break core Windows functionality for most users.
- Activity history has changed in recent Windows 11 versions, so the setting may look different depending on your build.
- The Microsoft Privacy Dashboard lets you review and delete data already collected.
I set up a new Windows 11 machine last month and went through every privacy toggle before installing a single app. It took about ten minutes, and the default settings shared far more than I expected, from an advertising ID to full diagnostic reporting. Reviewing your Windows 11 privacy settings once is worth more than most people realize.
Windows 11 shares data by default in several places, including diagnostic reports, an advertising ID, and activity tracking. Adjusting these Windows 11 privacy settings takes a few minutes through Settings, then Privacy and security, and does not require any extra software.
Why Windows 11 Privacy Settings Matter
Windows 11 collects data to personalize recommendations, improve reliability, and support features like Start menu suggestions. Some of this data collection is required, but a large share of it is optional and fully within your control.
Reviewing these settings once after setup, and again after major updates, keeps your defaults from quietly drifting back open.
How to Open Windows 11 Privacy Settings
Most of the settings in this guide live in one place. Go to Settings, then Privacy and security, where each category appears as its own section.
Some settings, like Shared Experiences, sit under Apps instead. Where that applies, this guide notes the different path.
Turn Off the Advertising ID in Windows 11 Privacy Settings
What Diagnostic Data Windows 11 Collects
Optional diagnostic data includes details like the websites you browse, how you use apps, and enhanced error reports. Required diagnostic data covers only what Microsoft needs for basic security and reliability.
How to Change Your Diagnostic Data Setting
Go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Diagnostics and feedback. Select Required diagnostic data only, and turn off Send optional diagnostic data if it appears separately on your version.
Turn Off the Windows 11 Advertising ID
The advertising ID is a unique identifier tied to your account that lets apps show more targeted ads. Go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then General, and turn off Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID.
Turning this off reduces how targeted the ads you see become. You will likely still see ads, just less tailored to your specific activity.
Turn Off Tailored Experiences and Personalized Ads
Tailored experiences use your diagnostic data to suggest tips, ads, and recommendations inside Windows itself. On the same Diagnostics and feedback page, turn off Tailored experiences if the toggle appears for your account type.
This setting stops Microsoft from using your diagnostic data for personalization beyond the core product experience.
Review Windows 11 Activity History Settings
Activity history logs the apps you open, files you access, and sites you visit in Microsoft Edge. According to Microsoft Support, sending activity history to the cloud was deprecated starting with a January 2024 update to Windows 11.
On most current versions, go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Activity history, and turn off Store my activity history on this device. On newer builds, including recent 25H2 updates, this settings page may no longer appear at all, since Microsoft has been phasing the feature out.
Turn Off Online Speech Recognition
Online speech recognition sends voice data to Microsoft when apps use dictation or speech features. Go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Speech, and turn off Online speech recognition.
This does not disable the separate, offline Windows Speech Recognition feature. Most users who rarely use voice dictation can safely turn this off.
Control Windows 11 Location Privacy Settings
Turn Off Location Services Entirely
Go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Location, and turn off Location services. This blocks location access for every app at once, including built in features like Weather and Maps.
Restrict Location Access by App
If you still want some apps to use location, scroll down the same page and turn access off individually instead. This keeps location working for apps like navigation while blocking it everywhere else.
Review Camera and Microphone Permissions in Windows 11
Go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Camera or Microphone, and review which apps have access. Turn off access for anything that does not genuinely need it to function.
Fewer active permissions mean fewer ways a compromised or poorly built app can access sensitive hardware. This same section lists both installed apps and background access separately.
Review App Permissions in Windows 11 Privacy Settings
Beyond camera and microphone, Windows 11 controls several other permission types individually. Go to Settings, then Apps, then Installed apps, select an app, then Advanced options to review its full permission list.
Restricting background access for apps you rarely use also reduces unnecessary data collection running quietly in the background. Our guide on how to protect Windows 11 from hackers covers this same idea from a security angle, since fewer permissions also mean a smaller attack surface.
Turn Off Shared Experiences Across Devices
Shared Experiences syncs app activity across every device signed into the same Microsoft account. Go to Settings, then Apps, then Advanced app settings, and turn off Share across devices if you prefer to keep activity separate per device.
This setting is convenient for moving between devices, but it does mean your activity is shared across all of them by design.
Limit Search and Bing Integration in Windows 11
Windows Search can include web results from Bing alongside local files by default. Go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Search permissions, and review the options under SafeSearch and cloud content search.
Turning off cloud content search limits Start menu searches to files stored locally on your device.
Use the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard for Full Control
The settings above control what Windows collects going forward, but the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard shows what has already been stored. Sign in at your Microsoft account’s privacy dashboard to view and delete browsing history, search history, location activity, and voice data.
| Data Type | Where It Is Managed |
| Diagnostic data | Settings, then Privacy and security, then Diagnostics and feedback |
| Advertising ID | Settings, then Privacy and security, then General |
| Activity history | Settings, then Privacy and security, then Activity history |
| Voice and search history | Microsoft Privacy Dashboard |
| Location history | Microsoft Privacy Dashboard |
What Turning Off These Settings Won’t Do
Turning off these settings does not remove Windows updates, disable Microsoft Defender, or break core apps. Required diagnostic data still flows even after these changes, since Microsoft uses it for basic security and stability.
These settings limit optional data collection and personalization, not the features that keep your PC secure. For antivirus and firewall protection, see our pillar guide on how to secure Windows 11.
FAQs
How do I change my privacy settings in Windows 11?
Go to Settings, then Privacy and security, where most options appear grouped by category. A few settings, like Shared Experiences, sit under Apps instead.
Does Windows 11 spy on you by default?
Windows 11 collects more data by default than many users expect, including diagnostic reports and an advertising ID. Most of this is optional and can be turned off without affecting core functionality.
Is it safe to turn off diagnostic data in Windows 11?
Yes, turning off optional diagnostic data does not affect security or stability. Required diagnostic data still continues to flow, since Microsoft uses it for essential updates and protection.
What happened to Activity History in Windows 11 in 2026?
Microsoft deprecated sending activity history to the cloud starting with a January 2024 update. On newer builds released through 2026, the dedicated settings page may not appear at all on some systems.
Does turning off location services break any Windows 11 features?
Apps that rely on location, like Weather or Maps, will lose that specific functionality. Core Windows features and security tools continue working normally either way.
How do I see what data Microsoft has already collected?
Sign in to the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard through your Microsoft account to view stored browsing, search, location, and voice data. You can delete this data directly from the same dashboard.
Do privacy settings in Windows 11 affect Microsoft Defender?
No, privacy settings and Microsoft Defender are managed separately. Turning off optional data sharing does not weaken your antivirus or firewall protection.
Conclusion
Windows 11 privacy settings are worth a quick review right after setup, and again after major updates reset a few defaults. None of the changes above disable security features or break core functionality. Ten minutes in Settings gives you meaningfully more control over what Microsoft collects from your PC.
For background on how this type of data collection works more broadly, see the Wikipedia entry on telemetry. Microsoft’s own documentation on privacy settings for recommendations and offers in Windows 11 covers the advertising ID in more technical detail. You can also review Microsoft’s support page on viewing your data on the privacy dashboard to see everything already stored under your account.
