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To share less optional information through Windows 11, turn off Personalized offers and the advertising ID, review optional diagnostic data, and limit app access to capabilities such as location and microphone. These controls reduce specific kinds of personalization or access; they do not stop all data collection, remove every ad, or cover every desktop app.
Here’s where to find each setting, what it affects, and what to check separately. Labels and availability can vary by Windows update, and an organization may manage some settings.
Turn off Windows personalized offers
In recent Windows 11 versions, open Settings > Privacy & security > Personalized offers and turn off Get personalized tips, ads, and recommendations based on my Windows activity. Microsoft says these offers can draw on Windows diagnostic data, Microsoft account information, and data from other Microsoft products and services. Microsoft’s Recommendations & offers guidance describes the control and its scope.
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If your PC still uses the older label Tailored experiences, look under Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback. Microsoft is replacing that label with Personalized offers in newer versions. Microsoft explains the diagnostic and feedback settings.
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Disable the Windows advertising ID, with the right expectations
Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Recommendations & offers and turn off Let apps show my personalized ads by using my advertising ID. Windows creates an advertising ID for each device user; apps and ad networks that support it can use that identifier to personalize ads across apps.
This setting limits use of that Windows identifier, not other advertising methods such as cookies. It does not reduce the number of ads you see, and it does not switch off every form of interest-based advertising. Microsoft says that turning the ID back on resets it. See Microsoft’s explanation of the advertising ID.
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Choose whether to share optional diagnostic data
Open Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback. Review the diagnostic-data selection and turn off optional data or feedback settings you do not want to share, where those controls are available.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute- Required diagnostic data supports keeping Windows updated, secure, and working, as well as troubleshooting and improving reliability, compatibility, accessibility, performance, privacy, and energy efficiency.
- Optional diagnostic data adds information such as app activity and further details about device health and performance to help improve Windows and related products.
There is no setting here to send zero Windows diagnostics: do not treat turning off optional data as disabling all diagnostics. If the page says your organization manages the settings, contact its IT administrator about what can be changed. Microsoft’s Diagnostics & feedback documentation also notes that Diagnostic Data Viewer shows data available while the viewer is running, not historical diagnostic data.
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Limit app access to capabilities you do not use
In Settings > Privacy & security, open individual permission pages such as Location, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, and Calendar. Review the apps listed on each page and disable access for those that do not need it. Avoid switching off a capability wholesale if you rely on it for calls, navigation, or another feature.
These Windows controls mostly apply to Microsoft Store apps. Some traditional desktop programs may not appear in the lists or follow the same permission controls. For those, check each program’s own settings and privacy information. See Microsoft’s overview of app privacy settings.
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Decide whether Windows should keep Activity history on the device
Open Settings > Privacy & security > Activity history. The current Store my activity history on this device switch controls local storage. Turning it off affects on-device features that rely on that history, such as Timeline. You can also clear history on the device.
The older option to send Activity history to Microsoft was deprecated for Windows 11 versions 23H2 and 22H2 in the January 23, 2024 update; an earlier version may still show it. Microsoft documents clearing older cloud-synced history in specified circumstances. Edge browsing history is a separate browser setting, not controlled by this Windows switch. Read Microsoft’s Activity history guidance.
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Review Location access and its exceptions
Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Location to disable location services for the device or manage access app by app. Location can support features such as automatic time-zone setting and Find my device. Windows may determine location from GPS, nearby Wi-Fi access points, cell towers, or an IP address.
Microsoft says that when location services are enabled and you are signed in with a Microsoft account, your last-known location may also be saved to the cloud; you can view or clear it through the account privacy dashboard. Microsoft removed local location-history storage and its related settings in March 2025. Some desktop apps may not appear in the location permission list, third-party technologies can estimate location even when Windows location is off, and emergency-call location is an exception. Disabling wireless radios can further limit location determination, but also affects connectivity and other device functions, so it is not a routine privacy switch. Details are in Microsoft’s Windows location service documentation.
Check Microsoft account controls separately
Windows privacy settings do not govern every service linked to a Microsoft account. If you want to review account-level activity or advertising settings, use the Microsoft privacy dashboard. Edge browsing data may appear there depending on history sync and personalized advertising or experience settings. The dashboard provides separate controls; changing one does not block all Microsoft data processing. Microsoft explains the dashboard at View your data on the privacy dashboard.
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Quick Recap
What each setting changes—and what it does not
| Control | Main scope | Trade-off or limit |
|---|---|---|
| Personalized offers | Windows tips, ads, and recommendations personalized using Windows activity and associated data | Reduces this personalization; it does not turn off every ad or all data processing. |
| Advertising ID | Apps that use the Windows advertising identifier | Limits use of that identifier; other ad methods remain, and the number of ads may not change. |
| Optional diagnostics | Additional diagnostic information sent to Microsoft | Some improvement and diagnostic detail is not shared; Required diagnostic data remains. |
| App permissions | Listed app access to a particular capability | Restricts access for covered apps; desktop programs may use separate controls. |
| Activity history | Local storage of Windows activity history | Features such as Timeline may have less history; Edge browsing history is separate. |
| Location | Windows location services and listed apps | Location-based features may not work; some desktop apps and other location-estimation methods are outside the list. |
| Microsoft privacy dashboard | Selected Microsoft account activity and ad controls | Account-level review is separate from Windows settings and does not stop all processing. |
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