Is Windows PC Sharing Too Much Information? Simple Guide to Protect Personal Data for Better Privacy.

Your computer is a personal space. It holds your documents, your photos, and your private information. Like any personal space, you want to feel secure in it. Windows is the operating system that runs your computer, but by default, it shares information about how you use it. This is not a secret. Microsoft collects this information to help your computer run better, fix problems, and sometimes, to show you advertisements.

The good news is that you have control. You can decide how much information your computer shares. You do not need to be a technical expert to make these changes. This guide will walk you through the most important settings to check. We will explain what they do in simple terms and show you exactly how to adjust them. By the end, you will have a better understanding of your computer’s privacy and feel more in control of your digital life. These steps apply to both Windows 11 and Windows 10, so you can follow along no matter which version you use.

Taking Control of Diagnostic Data (Telemetry)

Think of diagnostic data, or telemetry, as a report card that your computer sends to Microsoft. This report card contains information about how your computer is performing. It notes if any programs have crashed, if there are hardware problems, and other technical details.

Microsoft uses this information to keep Windows running smoothly. When millions of computers send back these reports, Microsoft can spot widespread problems and create updates to fix them. For example, if a new update causes a specific application to crash, the diagnostic data helps Microsoft’s engineers identify and solve the issue for everyone. There is a “Required” level of data that is essential for security and stability updates. You cannot turn this off.

The concern lies with the “Optional” diagnostic data. This goes beyond basic error reporting. It can include information about which websites you visit using the Microsoft Edge browser, which apps you use and for how long, and even details about the features you use within those apps. While Microsoft states this data is anonymized, it creates a very detailed picture of your computer usage. You have the choice to stop sending this optional data.

There are two other types of optional data in this category:

• Inking & Typing: This sends data about your handwriting and typing patterns to Microsoft to improve its recognition and suggestion features. If you use a stylus or the on-screen keyboard, this data helps the system better understand your input.
• Tailored Experiences: This allows Microsoft to use your diagnostic data to give you personalized tips, advertisements, and recommendations within the Windows operating system. For example, if the data shows you use a certain app frequently, Windows might offer you a tip related to it.

For Windows 11:

1. Click the Start button and open Settings (the gear icon).
2. In the left-hand menu, select Privacy & security.
3. Under the “Windows permissions” section, click on Diagnostics & feedback.
4. You will see a toggle switch for Send optional diagnostic data. Turn this switch Off.
5. Next, expand the Inking & typing personalization section and turn that switch Off.
6. Finally, expand the Tailored experiences section and turn that switch Off.

For Windows 10:

1. Click the Start button and open Settings.
2. Select Privacy.
3. In the left-hand menu, click on Diagnostics & feedback.
4. Under “Diagnostic data,” select the option for Required diagnostic data. This will stop sending optional data.
5. Scroll down and turn off the toggle for Improve inking and typing.
6. Turn off the toggle for Tailored experiences.

Disabling Your Personal Advertising ID

Your Advertising ID is a unique identifier assigned to you on your Windows device. Think of it like a tracking number for advertisers. It allows different apps and services to recognize your device without knowing your name or email.

When you use an app or browse a website that uses Microsoft’s advertising network, it can see this ID. This allows advertisers to build a profile based on your activities. For example, if you use a weather app to check the forecast for a beach town and a shopping app to look at swimsuits, advertisers can connect these activities through your Advertising ID. They then conclude you might be interested in a beach vacation and show you ads for hotels or flights. This happens across many different apps and services, making the ads you see feel very specific to you.

The Advertising ID enables advertisers to track your behavior across your entire device. It compiles your interests, habits, and even your location data into a profile used for targeted advertising. While this is meant to make ads more “relevant,” it means your activities are being constantly monitored and documented by third-party companies. Disabling it prevents this cross-app tracking.

For Windows 11:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Privacy & security.
3. Click on General.
4. Turn the toggle switch Off for Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID.
5. While you are on this screen, it is a good idea to also turn off the other three options:
   • 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.

For Windows 10:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Privacy.
3. Select the General tab from the left-hand menu.
4. Turn the toggle switch Off for Let apps use advertising ID to make ads more interesting to you based on your app activity.
5. Just like in Windows 11, you can also turn off the other related tracking options on this page.

Managing What Your Apps Can See and Do

When you install applications, many of them will ask for permission to access different parts of your computer. This includes sensitive hardware like your camera and microphone, as well as personal information like your location, contacts, and calendar.

Not every application needs the permissions it asks for. A simple photo editor does not need access to your microphone. A calculator app has no reason to know your location. When apps have access they do not need, it creates a privacy risk. A poorly secured app could leak your information, or a malicious app could use these permissions to spy on you. Regularly reviewing and managing these permissions is a critical step in securing your privacy.

How to Manage App Permissions

You can control this for each type of permission. The steps are similar for both Windows 11 and 10.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Privacy & security (in Windows 11) or Privacy (in Windows 10).
3. Scroll down to the App permissions section.
4. Here you will see a list of categories: Location, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, etc.

Click on each category one by one to review its settings. For each permission type, you have two levels of control:

• A Master Switch: At the top of the page for Camera or Microphone, for example, there is a master switch like “Camera access” or “Microphone access.” Turning this off blocks all applications (except for some built-in Windows functions) from using that hardware.
• Individual App Toggles: Below the master switch, you will see a list of every application that has requested access. You can go through this list and turn the toggle Off for any app that you believe does not need it.

Key Permissions to Review:

• Camera: Do you want apps to be able to turn on your webcam? Review the list and disable it for any app you don’t use for video calls or recording.
• Microphone: This is one of the most important permissions. Be very strict about which apps can listen in.
• Location: As we’ll discuss next, very few desktop apps need to know your physical location.
• Contacts, Calendar, Call history, Email: Unless you use an app that specifically needs to integrate with your mail or calendar (like a third-party email client), most apps should not have access to this information.

Check the “Recent activity” log within each permission section. This shows you exactly which apps have accessed that hardware or data and when. It is a useful tool for spotting any unusual behavior.

Turning Off Location Tracking

Windows has a location service, similar to the one on your smartphone. It uses Wi-Fi networks and your internet connection to determine your approximate physical location.

This feature can be useful for certain applications. A weather app can automatically show you the local forecast. A map application can give you directions from your current location. News apps can show you local stories.

For a desktop computer that stays in one place, having location services on all the time is often unnecessary. It is another piece of data that is being collected and shared with applications. While it can be useful in specific moments, it is more private to keep it turned off by default and only enable it when you need it for a specific task. For a laptop that you travel with, you may want to leave it on, but it is still important to control which apps can use it.

For Windows 11 and 10:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Privacy & security (Windows 11) or Privacy (Windows 10).
3. Under “App permissions,” click on Location.
4. At the very top, turn the toggle switch for Location services to Off. This will disable location tracking for all users and apps on the device.
5. If you prefer to leave it on but limit which apps can use it, you can leave “Location services” on and instead scroll down to the list of apps and turn off access individually.

A Deeper Step: Using a Local Account

For those who want to take their privacy a step further, consider using a local account instead of a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows.

Microsoft Account

When you sign in with a Microsoft account, your settings, files (if you use OneDrive), and preferences are synced across all your devices. This is convenient, but it also means more of your data is stored on Microsoft’s servers.

Local Account

A local account exists only on your physical computer. Nothing is synced to the cloud automatically. Your files and settings stay on that one machine. This greatly reduces the amount of data you share with Microsoft.

You can switch to a local account in Settings > Accounts > Your info. The trade-off is losing the convenience of synced settings and some Microsoft Store features, but for privacy, it is a powerful change.

Putting You Back in Control

Your privacy is valuable. The default settings in Windows are designed for convenience and data collection, not for maximum privacy. By taking a few minutes to walk through these four key areas—diagnostics, advertising ID, app permissions, and location—you can significantly reduce the amount of information your computer shares. These are not complicated changes, but they have a real impact. Taking these small steps puts the power back where it belongs: in your hands.