How to Disable Telemetry in Windows 10: What It Does and How to Reduce It

Tech & Gaming
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Windows 10 and 11 collect diagnostic and usage data and send it to Microsoft. You can’t completely eliminate this on the Home edition, but you can significantly reduce it. Here’s what’s available and how to configure it.

What Windows telemetry collects

At the Basic/Required level, Windows collects:

  • Device and hardware information
  • Application reliability data (crash reports)
  • Windows Update performance data

At the Full/Optional level, it additionally collects:

  • Browsing history (in Edge)
  • App usage patterns
  • Typed text samples for improving autocomplete
  • Error details with more context

Microsoft uses this data for improving Windows, diagnosing widespread issues, and targeting features. On Home editions, the minimum level is “Required” – you can’t fully opt out.

Method 1: Settings (simplest)

Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback:

  • Set “Diagnostic data” to Required diagnostic data (minimum level)
  • Turn off “Improve inking and typing” – this sends typed text samples
  • Turn off “Tailored experiences” – uses diagnostic data for personalized tips/ads
  • Turn off “View diagnostic data” is just a viewer; leaving it on or off doesn’t affect collection

Method 2: Group Policy (Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise)

Press Win+R > gpedit.msc > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds > “Allow Diagnostic Data” > set to Enabled, then choose level 1 (Required) from the dropdown.

This is more persistent than the Settings toggle and survives some Windows updates that reset the Settings-level preference.

Method 3: Registry

For Home edition users without Group Policy:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection
Create DWORD AllowTelemetry and set value to 1 (Required level).

Method 4: Disable the DiagTrack service

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service (DiagTrack) handles telemetry transmission. Disabling it stops data being sent even if collection is configured:

services.msc > “Connected User Experiences and Telemetry” > right-click > Properties > Startup type: Disabled > Stop.

Note: Microsoft has re-enabled this service via Windows Update in the past. Check periodically if this is important to you.

What you can’t disable

Activity history (Timeline) syncing with Microsoft account, Cortana data if you use it, and some advertising ID functions are separate settings worth reviewing in Settings > Privacy.

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disabling DiagTrack via services.msc is the most complete approach. even after setting telemetry to required level in settings, the service still runs and can transmit. stopping the service cuts the transmission entirely. the caveat about microsoft re-enabling it via updates is real – i’ve had to redo this after major windows updates.

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the “improve inking and typing” setting collecting typed text samples is the one that surprises people most. it sounds like a feature for tablet/stylus users but it applies to keyboard typing too. turning it off is worth doing regardless of your stance on telemetry generally.

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Group Policy being more persistent than Settings toggle is important to know. Windows Update resets certain privacy settings to Microsoft’s defaults during major version upgrades. The Group Policy approach survives this more reliably than the Settings panel preference, which is why it’s worth doing even on Pro licenses.

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The honest limitation – Home edition can’t fully opt out – is worth stating clearly. A lot of guides imply complete telemetry elimination is possible when it isn’t on Home. Required level telemetry continues regardless. If full elimination matters, Pro or Enterprise licenses, or a Linux alternative, are the paths that actually achieve it.

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Tools like O&O ShutUp10 automate a lot of these privacy settings including telemetry in a GUI, which is easier than manually going through each setting. Worth knowing about for people who want a comprehensive privacy configuration without individually locating each setting.