7 Windows 11 Privacy Settings You Should Check in 2026

Windows 11 collects diagnostic information, remembers certain activities, and allows apps to request access to personal data. Some of these features are useful, but you may not need every permission or personalization option enabled.

You can limit optional data collection, control what apps can access, and delete certain information Microsoft has already collected. These seven Windows 11 privacy settings are worth reviewing, particularly if you use your PC for work or handle sensitive information.

1. Turn off optional diagnostic data

Path: Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback

Windows sends diagnostic data to Microsoft to help identify problems, maintain security, and improve the operating system.

Microsoft divides this information into required and optional categories. Required data includes information about your device, its configuration, and whether Windows is functioning properly.

Optional data can include additional app activity, performance information, and diagnostic details.

To limit collection:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback.
3. Find Send optional diagnostic data.
4. Turn the setting Off.

According to Microsoft’s diagnostic data documentation, optional collection can include information about application usage and system performance.

Disabling it does not stop required diagnostic data from being collected.

What to consider: Some troubleshooting and diagnostic features rely on optional information. On managed computers, administrators may restrict this setting, and reducing collection can affect certain enterprise reporting capabilities.

2. Disable inking and typing personalization

Path: Settings > Privacy & security > Inking & typing personalization

Windows can create a personalized dictionary using words you type or write. This helps improve suggestions, spelling, and handwriting recognition.

You can disable this feature if you would rather not have Windows build a personalized word list.

1. Open Settings > Privacy & security.
2. Select Inking & typing personalization.
3. Turn Custom inking and typing dictionary off.

This disables the personalized dictionary and clears its contents.

There is a second setting worth reviewing.

Navigate to Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback and turn off Improve inking and typing if it is available.

Microsoft explains in its inking and typing privacy guidance that these controls serve different purposes.

The first manages your personalized dictionary. The second determines whether samples of typing and handwriting data can be used to improve Microsoft’s recognition features.

What to consider: Disabling personalization may make typing predictions and handwriting recognition less tailored to your habits. Standard keyboard and handwriting input remain available.

3. Review location permissions

Path: Settings > Privacy & security > Location

Windows location services support features such as maps, automatic time-zone detection, and Find My Device.

However, not every application needs access to your precise location.

To review permissions:

1. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Location.
2. Check whether Location services is enabled.
3. Review Let apps access your location.
4. Turn off precise-location access for apps that do not need it.

Microsoft’s location privacy documentation explains that Windows supports both device-level controls and individual app permissions.

If you use a laptop, consider keeping device location enabled while restricting unnecessary app access.

What to consider: Find My Device requires location services to work. Turning off device location can also affect automatic time-zone detection and location-based applications.

Desktop applications may determine approximate location through other methods, including IP addresses, so these controls do not prevent every form of location detection.

4. Turn off clipboard synchronization

Path: Settings > System > Clipboard

Windows clipboard history lets you retrieve recently copied text and images. It can also synchronize supported clipboard content between devices signed in with the same account.

That convenience can become a privacy concern when you regularly copy confidential work information, addresses, or other sensitive text.

To control synchronization:

1. Open Settings > System > Clipboard.
2. Find Clipboard history across your devices.
3. Turn synchronization off if you do not need it.
4. Alternatively, choose manual synchronization if that option is available.

Microsoft’s clipboard support guide distinguishes local clipboard history from cloud synchronization.

You can keep clipboard history enabled on your PC without automatically sharing copied content across devices.

To remove saved items, select Clear under Clear clipboard data. This clears clipboard history except for pinned items.

What to consider: Turning off synchronization means copied content will no longer automatically appear on your other devices. Ordinary copy-and-paste functionality continues to work.

5. Disable personalized offers and recommendations

Path: Settings > Privacy & security > Recommendations & offers

Windows can use information about your device and activity to personalize recommendations, advertisements, and suggestions.

Depending on your Windows version, the relevant control may appear under Personalized offers or within Recommendations & offers.

To review these settings:

1. Open Settings > Privacy & security.
2. Select Recommendations & offers, or Personalized offers if that is the label shown.
3. Turn off personalized tips, ads, and recommendations based on Windows activity.
4. Review the other available controls for suggested content and app-launch tracking.

Microsoft’s recommendations and offers documentation explains that personalization can use diagnostic information, device details, and certain account-related activity.

Disabling personalized offers limits how that information is used for recommendations. It does not stop Windows from collecting required diagnostic data or eliminate all advertisements.

What to consider: Windows may provide less relevant suggestions about features, applications, and Microsoft services.

6. Delete diagnostic data already collected

Path: Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback

Changing collection settings affects future data sharing. It does not automatically remove diagnostic information Microsoft previously received.

Windows includes a separate deletion control.

1. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback.
2. Find Delete diagnostic data.
3. Select Delete.

According to Microsoft’s Windows Privacy Compliance Guide, this action requests deletion of diagnostic data collected from the device.

However, it does not delete every type of information associated with your Microsoft account, and it does not prevent Windows from collecting new diagnostic data.

Users who want to inspect diagnostic information can also enable View diagnostic data and open Microsoft’s Diagnostic Data Viewer.

The viewer displays available diagnostic information as it is collected. It is not a complete historical record of everything Microsoft has previously received.

What to consider: On managed PCs, administrators may restrict diagnostic data deletion. Organizations using certain enterprise configurations must handle deletion through administrative processes.

For additional guidance on protecting a Windows computer, our Windows 11 security cheat sheet covers BitLocker, passkeys, and Microsoft Defender.

7. Review your Microsoft account privacy dashboard

Path: Microsoft account privacy dashboard

Not every privacy control is located inside Windows Settings.

Microsoft also provides an online dashboard for reviewing certain information associated with a personal Microsoft account.

This can include search activity, location information, and other data collected through supported Microsoft products and services.

To review your account:

1. Open the Microsoft privacy dashboard.
2. Sign in with your personal Microsoft account.
3. Review the available activity categories.
4. Delete information you no longer want stored, where the dashboard provides that option.

The dashboard is particularly useful if you use multiple Microsoft services, including Windows, Bing, and Edge.

For example, Microsoft explains that Bing search history associated with your account can be reviewed and cleared through the dashboard.

What to consider: The dashboard does not contain every piece of information collected by every Microsoft product. Deleting account activity also does not automatically change the data collection settings on your Windows device.

If you use a work or school account, your organization’s administrator may control separate privacy and retention policies.

What to check on a work-managed PC

Some Windows privacy settings may be unavailable on computers managed by an employer or school.

If Windows displays a message saying that settings are managed by your organization, the relevant controls may be enforced through Group Policy or mobile device management.

IT administrators should also consider operational dependencies before changing diagnostic settings across multiple computers.

For example, Windows Update for Business and Windows Autopatch reporting can depend on diagnostic information.

Microsoft’s enterprise privacy documentation explains that organizations can configure diagnostic data policies centrally and restrict which options employees can change.

Users should avoid bypassing these restrictions without approval from IT.

Windows privacy controls are also separate from browser-specific settings. For example, our coverage of Edge’s AI history search examines additional considerations for users reviewing Microsoft’s browser features.

Which Windows 11 privacy settings should you change first?

Start with optional diagnostic data, app location permissions, and clipboard synchronization. These are straightforward settings that can reduce unnecessary data sharing without substantially changing how most people use Windows.

Next, review personalized offers and typing preferences. Clear diagnostic data if you want to remove previously collected device information, then check your Microsoft account privacy dashboard for additional activity.

None of these changes completely disables Windows telemetry. They give you more control over specific types of collection, synchronization, personalization, and data retention.

For users interested in other Windows changes, Microsoft’s Windows Search redesign introduces additional controls and interface changes worth reviewing.

Also read: Our Windows 11 26H2 comparison explains the differences between the latest Windows releases and what users should expect when upgrading.