Windows collects a surprising amount of information about how you use your computer. Some of that data genuinely helps keep your PC secure, but much of it exists for product improvement and advertising. Microsoft gives you more control over this than most people realize. These are the Windows privacy settings worth changing, and the ones you should leave alone.
What Windows actually collects
Windows sends diagnostic data back to Microsoft so it can find bugs, improve reliability, and keep the operating system secure. That is the honest reason, and parts of it are genuinely useful. The same pipeline also feeds product improvements and, in some cases, advertising. You can reduce the flow without breaking your system.
Microsoft's Windows privacy settings documentation walks through each of these controls. The settings below live under Settings, Privacy and security on current versions of Windows.
Set your diagnostic data level
Windows has a few diagnostic data levels, from Required diagnostic data (the minimum) up to Optional diagnostic data (the most). To change it:
- Open Settings and go to Privacy and security, Diagnostics and feedback.
- Under Diagnostic data, choose Required diagnostic data if you want to share less.
- Switch off Improve inking and typing and Tailored experiences while you are there.
The required level still shares basic health information with Microsoft, which is what keeps security features like Windows Defender and update protection working.
Turn off tailored experiences and the advertising ID
Windows uses an advertising ID, a unique identifier that lets apps and Microsoft serve you personalized ads. Turning it off is simple and does not affect how Windows works. In Settings, Privacy and security, General, switch off the toggle for letting apps use your advertising ID.
From the same place you can disable Tailored experiences, which uses your diagnostic data to show relevant tips and suggestions. Both changes reduce personalized advertising without losing any core functionality.
Limit activity history
Activity history stores what you have been working on across your devices and feeds the Timeline feature. If you do not use it, it is a list of your activity that is worth turning off. Go to Settings, Privacy and security, Activity history, switch off the option that lets Windows collect your activity, and clear the existing history with the Clear activity history button.
Review app permissions: location, camera, and microphone
Apps ask for permission to use your location, camera, and microphone for a reason, but they often keep that access after you stop using them. In Settings, Privacy and security, work through each section:
- Location: switch off access for apps that do not need it, and use Location history to remove where you have been.
- Camera and Microphone: review the list of apps with access and switch off the ones you do not use.
You can review these toggles device by device, and Windows lets you allow apps but block background access. For similar controls on your phone, see our webcam and microphone permissions guide.
Decide how voice activation works
Windows can listen for wake words so you can use voice assistants hands-free, and it sends voice activity data to Microsoft when you use them. If you do not use voice commands, turn it off. In Settings, Privacy and security, Voice activation, switch off voice activation entirely, or restrict it so only specific apps can use it.
Microsoft account vs. a local account
Signing in with a Microsoft account syncs your settings, files, and preferences across devices, but it also ties more of your activity to a single profile. A local account keeps that data on your PC only, and does not sync it to Microsoft servers. You can switch between the two in Settings, Accounts, Your info. The tradeoff is convenience: no sync means you manage your own backups and settings.
Why settings sometimes come back after updates
Windows updates occasionally reset or re-enable settings you have changed. This is usually because a feature is turned on by default in a new version, not because Microsoft is deliberately overriding you. It is worth rechecking your privacy settings after a feature update, and Microsoft's Windows support pages document current behavior when new releases change privacy defaults.
What you should not turn off
Some privacy advice goes too far and tells you to disable Windows Defender or turn off automatic updates. That is a mistake. Windows Defender is built-in protection against malware, and turning it off leaves you exposed to real threats. Keep automatic updates on so you receive security fixes, and keep Required diagnostic data enabled, because basic health and security data helps Microsoft keep the platform secure. The FTC's consumer advice is a good, plain-English check on what is worth doing and what is not.
The honest bottom line
Adjusting these settings reduces how much Windows shares, but it does not eliminate data sharing entirely. Windows still needs some information to update securely and keep the operating system stable. The goal is a reasonable balance: limit advertising and unnecessary collection, keep security-critical features on, and recheck your choices after major updates. For the same treatment on the other services you use every day, start with our browser privacy guide and the Google account privacy checkup.
FAQ
Will changing Windows privacy settings slow down my PC? No. These settings control what information is shared and how apps behave. They do not meaningfully affect performance.
Does turning off the advertising ID stop all ads? No. You will see fewer personalized ads, but you will still see ads. The advertising ID is one identifier, not an ad blocker.
Do I need to recheck settings after every update? You should check after major feature updates, because new versions can introduce new defaults. Minor monthly updates rarely change them.
Is it safe to use a local account instead of a Microsoft account? Yes. You lose syncing and some convenience, but your data stays on your device. You can switch back later.
Sources and further reading
---Written by Hassan Arshad, founder of UsefulOrbit. Last updated August 31, 2026.