How to Control Windows Update Settings to Avoid Forced Restarts Quick LinksDisable Location Services Turn Off Ad Tracking Disable Activity History Turn Off Cloud Content Search and Search History Prevent Windows From Sending Diagnostic Data Disable Online Speech Recognition Disable Shared Experiences Review Which Apps Have Camera and Microphone Permissions Use Microsoft Privacy Dashboard
Your Windows computer collects all kinds of data about you. Although this is intended to enhance your experience, it can also raise privacy concerns. That's why it's important to take control of your data and protect your privacy by adjusting these key Windows settings:
✕ Remove Ads 1 Disable Location Services
Apps on your Windows 10 or 11 PC can track your location. While this can be useful for certain purposes, such as maps or weather apps, other apps may also access this information for tracking purposes.
If you're uncomfortable with sharing your whereabouts, it's easy to disable location services on Windows. To do this, open the Settings app and head to Privacy & security > App permissions > Location. Then, turn off the Location services toggle. Alternatively, you can leave this toggle on and allow or block location access for specific apps as necessary.
2 Turn Off Ad Tracking
Windows assigns every user an Advertiser ID -- a unique code to track the person's online activities. Microsoft then uses this data to show personalized ads across apps and services. If you don't wish to encounter such ads and want to protect your privacy, you can easily turn off ad tracking in Windows.
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For that, all you have to do is head to Settings > Privacy & security > Windows permissions > General and disable the Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID toggle.
Turning off ad tracking is a simple and effective way to regain control over your personal data and limit how much Microsoft knows about your online habits. While you'll still see ads, they will no longer be personalized.
3 Disable Activity History
Windows' Activity History feature tracks your actions, such as the apps you've used, files you've opened, and websites you've visited. If you don't like the idea of having your activities recorded, you can turn this feature off.
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To do this, head to the Privacy & security menu in the Settings app and click on Activity History. Then, you can turn off the Store my activity history on this device toggle to disable the feature. Additionally, you can use the Clear history button to delete existing data collected by Windows.
4 Turn Off Cloud Content Search and Search History
By default, Windows' search functionality doesn't just look through your local files -- it also pulls in content from the web, including OneDrive, Outlook, and other Microsoft services you use. On top of that, Windows keeps a record of all your search queries, all in the name of improving your search experience.
Fortunately, it's possible to stop Windows from pulling results from the cloud and storing your search history. To do this, head to Privacy & security > Search permissions and disable the toggles under Cloud content search and History. Then, click the Clear device search history button to clear existing search data.
✕ Remove Ads 5 Prevent Windows From Sending Diagnostic Data
To help ensure Windows runs smoothly and provides an error-free experience, Microsoft collects all kinds of diagnostic data from your computer. This data can include details about your app usage, feature interactions, and errors you encounter. While this helps Microsoft improve its operating system, it can feel intrusive if you prioritize privacy.
While you can't stop Windows from collecting and sending all the data, you can opt out of sharing optional diagnostic data with Microsoft by adjusting your settings. To do so, head to Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & Feedback > Diagnostic Data and turn off Send optional diagnostic data toggle.
As mentioned in the Settings app, disabling this option will not affect your device's security or performance -- Windows will continue to run normally.
✕ Remove Ads 6 Disable Online Speech Recognition
Several apps on your PC rely on Microsoft's online speech recognition technology to process your voice commands and transcribe speech. However, if you don't use apps that require voice recognition, disabling this feature can provide peace of mind, ensuring your voice data isn't collected without your knowledge.
To do this, simply head to Settings > Privacy & security > Speech and turn off the Online speech recognition toggle. Note that disabling this setting will not affect your ability to use voice typing on Windows.
✕ Remove Ads 7 Disable Shared Experiences
One of the benefits of using a Microsoft account on your Windows PC is that you can sync your activities across all your devices using the same account. However, this can also risk your privacy by making your data more accessible across platforms.
If you don't want this, you can disable the shared experiences feature on Windows. To do this, head to Settings > Apps > Advanced app settings > Share across devices and select the Off button.
8 Review Which Apps Have Camera and Microphone Permissions
Your camera and microphone are among the most sensitive devices on your PC, as they can capture private moments or conversations. Since many apps request access to these features for legitimate purposes -- such as video calls, voice recording, or conferencing -- disabling camera and microphone access entirely may not always be practical.
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To address this, it's important to review which apps have access to your camera and microphone on Windows. This allows you to identify any suspicious apps or programs that might invade your privacy and take the necessary steps to disable their access or remove them altogether.
9 Use Microsoft Privacy Dashboard
Adjusting the privacy settings mentioned above in Windows should help protect your personal information going forward, but if you're concerned about the data Microsoft has already collected, you can use the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard. This is a centralized tool that lets you view, manage, and delete data associated with your Microsoft account across devices and services.
Here's how you can access and use Microsoft Privacy Dashboard:
✕ Remove Ads Open your preferred web browser and head to Microsoft's Privacy Dashboard page. Click the Sign in button and log in with your Microsoft account. Go to the Privacy section and click the Privacy Dashboard button.
In the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard, you'll find various options such as location activity, browsing history, search history, and more. You can go through each category to review and remove the data that has been collected. Regularly managing your data through the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard is a great way to take an active role in protecting your privacy.
By taking the time to adjust these privacy settings on your Windows PC, you can significantly reduce the amount of personal data collected and shared without you realizing. Whether it's disabling location services, turning off ad tracking, or reviewing app permissions, each step makes a difference and protects your information from unwanted exposure.
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So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and update your privacy settings today!