Essential Windows 11 Privacy Settings to Change Right Now

🔧Step-by-Step: Essential Privacy Changes

Step 1: Open Privacy & Security Settings

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Click "Privacy & security" in the left sidebar

This is your privacy control center. We'll work through the most important sections.

Step 2: Disable Advertising ID

Windows creates an advertising ID to track you across apps and show targeted ads:

1. Under Privacy & security, click "General"
2. Toggle OFF these options:
   • "Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID"
   • "Let websites show me locally relevant content by accessing my language list"
   • "Let Windows improve Start and search results by tracking app launches"
   • "Show me suggested content in the Settings app"

Step 3: Minimize Diagnostic Data

Windows sends diagnostic and usage data to Microsoft. You can't completely disable this, but you can minimize it:

1. Click "Diagnostics & feedback"
2. Under "Diagnostic data," select "Required diagnostic data" (the minimum option)
3. Toggle OFF:
   • "Send optional diagnostic data"
   • "Improve inking and typing"
   • "Tailored experiences"
   • "View diagnostic data" (you can review what's sent, but turning off optional data is more important)
4. Click "Delete" under "Delete diagnostic data" to clear previously collected information

Note: Windows 11 Home doesn't allow you to completely disable telemetry. Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions have more control through Group Policy.

Step 4: Turn Off Activity History

Windows tracks your activity across devices to sync your usage patterns:

1. Click "Activity history"
2. Uncheck "Store my activity history on this device"
3. Click "Clear" under "Clear activity history" to delete existing data

Step 5: Control Location Tracking

1. Click "Location" under App permissions
2. Toggle "Location services" to OFF if you don't use location-based features
3. If you keep it on for some apps (like Maps or Weather), click "Location services" and review which apps have access
4. Toggle off location for apps that don't need it
5. Clear location history by clicking "Clear" under "Location history"

Step 6: Manage Camera and Microphone Access

Apps shouldn't access your camera or microphone without your knowledge:

1. Click "Camera" under App permissions
2. Review the list of apps with camera access
3. Toggle off access for apps you don't trust or use
4. Consider turning "Let apps access your camera" to OFF, then enabling only specific apps
5. Repeat for "Microphone" settings

Pro tip: If you rarely use the camera, turn off camera access entirely. You'll get a prompt to enable it when needed.

Step 7: Disable Online Speech Recognition

Windows can send voice data to Microsoft for speech recognition:

1. Under Privacy & security, click "Speech"
2. Toggle OFF "Online speech recognition"

You can still use voice typing offline, but it won't send data to Microsoft.

Step 8: Turn Off Inking & Typing Personalization

1. Click "Diagnostics & feedback"
2. Toggle OFF "Improve inking and typing"

This stops Windows from collecting data about your handwriting and typing patterns.

Step 9: Review App Permissions

Go through each permission category and limit access:

• Contacts: Only allow communication apps
• Calendar: Email and productivity apps only
• Phone calls: Usually can be turned off unless you use Your Phone app
• Call history: Turn off
• Email: Only email clients
• Tasks: Only to-do and productivity apps
• Messaging: Only messaging apps you actively use
• Radios: Usually safe to leave on for Bluetooth functionality
• Other devices: Review which apps can communicate with external devices
• Background apps: Click this and disable background access for apps you don't need running constantly
• App diagnostics: Usually safe to turn off
• Documents, Pictures, Videos, File system: Review and limit access