Turn Off Tracking Secria

How to turn off telemetry and ads in Windows 11

You can't switch diagnostic data off completely: Windows always sends Required diagnostic data. You can stop the optional data, ad personalization and most suggestions.1, 2

Checked 28 October 2026 against the sources. Microsoft's pages don't name a Windows version.

Turn it off

Four places in Settings, all from Microsoft Support.

Diagnostic data

Diagnostics & feedbackSend optional diagnostic data

Checked against Diagnostics, feedback, and privacy in Windows.1

  1. Open Start › Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback.1On Windows 10: Start › Settings › Privacy › Diagnostics & feedback.1
  2. Under Diagnostic data, choose not to send optional diagnostic data.1Microsoft says your device will be just as secure and operate normally either way.1
  3. Turn off Improve inking and typing, and Tailored experiences if you see it.Newer versions replace Tailored experiences with Personalized offers, below.1
  4. Under Delete diagnostic data, select Delete.1

Delete doesn't stop data being sent, and doesn't delete data tied to your Microsoft account: that's on the Microsoft privacy dashboard.1 If the options are greyed out with Some settings are hidden or managed by your organization, your workplace controls them.1

Personalized offers

Privacy & securityPersonalized offers

Checked against Privacy settings for Recommendations & offers in Windows 11.2

  1. Open Start › Settings › Privacy & security › Personalized offers.2
  2. Turn off Get personalized tips, ads, and recommendations based on my Windows activity.2

When on, Microsoft may combine Windows diagnostic data with your account info and data from Bing, Microsoft 365, Xbox and MSN, and with Edge web activity if you allowed it.2

Advertising ID

Recommendations & offersLet apps show my personalized ads by using my advertising ID

Checked against Microsoft Support.2, 3

  1. Open Start › Settings › Privacy & security › Recommendations & offers.2Without the latest Windows Update you may see a page called General instead.3
  2. Turn off Let apps show my personalized ads by using my advertising ID.Microsoft says you won't see fewer ads, and that turning it back on resets the ID.2
  3. Turn off Let Windows improve Start and search results by tracking app launches and Show me suggested content in the Settings app.2
  4. If you don't need it, turn off Let websites show me locally relevant content by accessing my language list.2

Lock screen and Start

Lock screenGet Fun Facts, Tips, Tricks, and More

Checked against Microsoft's lock screen and Start menu pages.4, 5

  1. Open Start › Settings › Personalization › Lock screen.4
  2. Under Personalize your lock screen, choose Picture or Slideshow instead of Windows spotlight.Spotlight shows rotating images from Microsoft with tips, tricks and notifications.4
  3. Turn off Get Fun Facts, Tips, Tricks, and More on Your Lock Screen.4

In Start, you can unpin items or turn off the Recommended providers in Settings. Turn them all off and the section collapses.5

Required and optional data

Microsoft's two levels.1

Required

Information about your device, its settings and capabilities, and whether it's working properly: the minimum Microsoft says it needs to keep the device reliable, secure and working normally.1

Always sent.

Optional

More device detail, and possibly the websites you browse, device activity and enhanced error reporting. It can include the memory state at a crash, which may unintentionally include parts of a file you had open.1

You can choose not to send it.

Questions people ask

Can I turn off telemetry completely in Windows 11?

Not from Settings. Required diagnostic data is always included; the setting only decides whether optional data is sent as well.1

Does turning off the advertising ID stop ads in Windows?

No. Microsoft says it won't reduce the number of ads, but they may be less relevant. It also doesn't cover cookie-based ads on websites.2

Can I see what Windows sends?

Microsoft points to its Diagnostic Data Viewer, which shows which data is collected and whether your device is part of a sample.1

Sources 5
  1. Diagnostics, feedback, and privacy in Windows, Microsoft Support, undated. Read 28 October 2026.
  2. Privacy settings for Recommendations & offers in Windows 11, Microsoft Support, undated. Read 28 October 2026.
  3. General privacy settings in Windows, Microsoft Support, undated. Read 28 October 2026.
  4. Customize the lock screen in Windows, Microsoft Support, undated. Read 28 October 2026.
  5. Customize the Windows Start menu, Microsoft Support, undated. Read 28 October 2026.

Every step comes from Microsoft's own help pages. How we check