How to Stop Windows 11 from Spying, Collecting Data in 2025

Windows 11, Microsoft’s latest operating system, comes with several new features and improvements designed to enhance user experience. However, like its predecessor windows 10, it has raised concerns about data privacy. By default, Windows 11 collects a significant amount of user data to optimize services and improve its performance. Microsoft claims, to collect user data to better understand how their customers use their products and improve the overall user experience. While some users find this acceptable, others are concerned about the implications for their privacy. If you’re among those concerned about Windows 11’s data collection practices, this article will help you minimize data sharing with Microsoft and take control of your digital privacy.

What Data Windows 11 Collects?

By default, Windows 11 collects two types of diagnostic data: Required Diagnostic Data, which includes essential information like device specifications, error reports, and basic system performance metrics. It helps Microsoft maintain the OS’s functionality. Optional Diagnostic Data, which includes more detailed insights, such as app usage, web browsing habits, and system configuration. You can turn off this Optional data to Stop Windows 11 from Spying and collecting Data and enhance privacy.

Customize Privacy Settings During Installation

If you brought a new device or setting up Windows 11 for the first time, you’ll be prompted to choose your privacy settings. Take time to review these options carefully and disable the following options to minimize data sharing with Microsoft and Stop Windows 11 from Spying, Collecting Data.

• Location Services: Turn this off if you don’t need apps to access your location.
• Advertising ID: Disable this to prevent personalized ads based on your activity.
• Speech Recognition: Opt out if you don’t use voice services like Cortana.
• Diagnostic Data Sharing: Select the “Required” option only.

You can always adjust privacy settings after installation. Here’s how:

Disable Diagnostic Data Collection

Diagnostic data collection allows Microsoft to gather insights about your device to improve performance and troubleshoot issues. However, sharing this data is optional and can be minimized to protect your privacy.

• Press Win + I to open Settings.
• Go to Privacy & Security > Diagnostics & Feedback.
• Expand Diagnostic Data and toggle off Send optional diagnostic data.
• In addition, Disable Tailored experiences to prevent personalized tips and ads based on diagnostic data.

Disable Advertising Data Tracking

Windows 11 uses your advertising ID to provide personalized ads based on your activity. If you value your privacy, turning this feature off is a quick way to reduce data tracking.

• Open Settings > Privacy & Security > General.
• Disable the option Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID.

We recommend Turn off all of the general preferences by using the toggle option.

Disable Windows 11 Activity Tracking

Activity tracking is designed to help you pick up where you left off across devices, but it also stores details of your usage. Disabling this feature will help keep your activity history private.

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Activity History.

• Toggle off Store my activity history on this device.
• Uncheck Send my activity history to Microsoft.
• Click Clear history to delete existing activity history.

Disable ‘Find My Device’ Feature

The ‘Find My Device’ feature is handy for locating lost hardware, but it also requires location tracking to be active. If you don’t use this feature, disabling it ensures better privacy.

• Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Find My Device.
• Set the Find My Device toggle to Off.

Windows 11 apps often request access to your camera, microphone, and files. To review and manage these permissions:

• Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > App permissions.
• Click on categories like Camera or Microphone and turn off permissions for apps you don’t trust.

Clear Microsoft Account Activity Tracking

Microsoft syncs various types of activity data with your account to enhance services across devices. If you don’t need this synchronization, clearing and disabling it can improve privacy.

• Go to account.microsoft.com/privacy.
• Sign in with your Microsoft account.
• Navigate to Activity history.
• Review and clear data for categories like Browsing history, Search history, Location activity, and App and service activity.

Stop Microsoft Edge Data Collection

Microsoft Edge collects browsing data to personalize your experience. Tweaking its settings will limit the amount of data shared with Microsoft.

• Launch Microsoft Edge.
• Click the three-dot menu (...) in the top-right corner and select Settings.
• Go to Privacy, Search, and Services.
• Set Tracking prevention to Strict.

• Disable Personalized ads and Personalized recommendations.
• Under Services, turn off options like Improve your web experience by allowing Microsoft to use your browsing activity…

Use Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor

Also, you can limit Microsoft data collection by tweaking settings in the Group Policy Editor (Pro version only) or Registry Editor:

• Group Policy Editor:
  1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds.
  3. Double-click Allow Telemetry, set it to Disabled, and apply the changes.
• Registry Editor:
  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection.
  3. Create or modify the AllowTelemetry DWORD and set its value to 0.

In addition, Several third-party tools are designed to enhance privacy on Windows 11, such as:

• O&O ShutUp10++: A free tool to tweak privacy settings and disable telemetry.
• WPD (Windows Privacy Dashboard): Offers a comprehensive suite of privacy controls.