Windows 11 Privacy: The Settings Worth Reviewing
Windows 11 collects usage data and shows ads and suggestions, and most of it can be turned off in Settings itself, with no third-party tool. Here's an ordered list of what's worth reviewing, and, honestly, what can't be turned off.
Last updated: October 2026
Ads and suggestions
- 01
Turn off the advertising ID and suggestions
Turn off all four: advertising ID, tailored experiences, sharing your language list, and suggested content.
Settings › Privacy & security › General
- 02
Turn off Start recommendations
App and file suggestions disappear from Start.
Settings › Personalization › Start
- 03
Turn off lock-screen tips
Uncheck “Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen”.
Settings › Personalization › Lock screen
Diagnostic data
Honestly: on Home and Pro, “required” diagnostic data can't be turned off completely. It's basic technical information about the device and its stability, not the contents of your files.
- 04
Keep only required data
Turn off “Send optional diagnostic data” and “Tailored experiences”.
Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback
- 05
Delete what's collected
On the same page, choose “Delete diagnostic data”.
- 06
Stop feedback prompts
Set “Feedback frequency” to “Never”.
Activity and search history
- 07
Turn off activity history
Then clear the existing history.
Settings › Privacy & security › Activity history
- 08
Turn off cloud content search
Turn off searching Microsoft and work accounts, and “Search history on this device” if you like.
Settings › Privacy & security › Search permissions
App permissions
Review who can use your camera, microphone and location. You don't need to turn them all off, only for apps that don't need them.
- 09
Camera and microphone
Review the list under “Let apps access…”.
Settings › Privacy & security › Camera · Microphone
- 10
Location
Turn it off if you don't use maps or weather.
Settings › Privacy & security › Location
On Copilot+ PCs: Recall
If yours is a Copilot+ PC, review Recall, which saves screen snapshots. We cover stopping and deleting it in a separate guide.
What we recommend avoiding
- “Anti-spy” tools that block Microsoft servers or stop updates: they can break security updates and the Store.
- Deleting Windows services or components by hand.
- Any app that asks you to turn off Windows Defender.
Questions gamers ask
No. They're all official Windows settings, and you can switch them back any time from the same place.
A cleaner Windows, fully in your control
X TWEAKS PRO records every change, undoes it in one click, and never asks you to turn off any protection. Free to start.