How to Disable Windows 11 Telemetry Completely

Windows 11 collects diagnostic and usage data by default, and while you cannot remove every trace on consumer editions, you can dramatically reduce telemetry through Settings, Group Policy, the Registry, and service tweaks. This guide walks through each layer so you can lock down data collection as far as Windows allows.

Set Diagnostic Data to the Minimum in Settings

The first and easiest step is turning off the optional data collection switches:

Read also: How to Recover Deleted Files in Windows 11

1. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback.
2. Set Diagnostic data to Required diagnostic data only (the lowest available on Home/Pro).
3. Turn off Improve inking and typing, Tailored experiences, and View diagnostic data.
4. Under Feedback frequency, choose Never.

Then go through the rest of Privacy & security: disable the advertising ID, let websites show locally relevant content, app launch tracking, and review per-app permissions for location, camera, and microphone. These reduce both telemetry and targeted advertising.

Disable Telemetry with Group Policy (Pro/Enterprise)

On Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education, Group Policy gives stronger control.

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds.
3. Double-click Allow Diagnostic Data (older builds call it “Allow Telemetry”), set it to Enabled, and choose Diagnostic data off or the lowest value available.

Note that on Home and Pro, the absolute “off” setting is enforced as “required” level by Windows; only Enterprise and Education fully honor the off state. Still, this caps collection at the minimum.

Apply the Registry Equivalent (All Editions)

Home edition lacks gpedit, so use the Registry to set the same policy. Back up the Registry first via File > Export.

1. Open regedit and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection (create the DataCollection key if needed).
2. Create a DWORD (32-bit) value named AllowTelemetry and set it to 0.
3. Optionally add DoNotShowFeedbackNotifications set to 1.

Reboot to apply. As above, the 0 value is fully enforced only on Enterprise/Education, but it still minimizes data on consumer editions.

Stop Telemetry Services and Scheduled Tasks

Two background components drive much of the data upload. Disabling them cuts off the pipeline.

Disable the DiagTrack service

1. Open services.msc.
2. Find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry (service name DiagTrack).
3. Right-click it, choose Properties, set Startup type to Disabled, and click Stop.
4. Also consider disabling dmwappushservice the same way.

Turn off telemetry scheduled tasks

Open Task Scheduler and navigate to Microsoft > Windows > Customer Experience Improvement Program. Disable the tasks there, plus Application Experience > Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser. These tasks gather and submit compatibility and usage data.

Block Telemetry at the Network Level

For a final layer, block known Microsoft telemetry endpoints. You can add entries to the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts file or, better, configure blocking at your router or a network-wide DNS filter like Pi-hole, which avoids breaking legitimate Microsoft services. Be cautious: overly aggressive blocking can interfere with Windows Update, the Store, and activation, so block only documented telemetry domains and test afterward. Reputable open-source tools such as O&O ShutUp10++ automate the Settings, Registry, service, and task changes above with reversible toggles, which is convenient if you prefer not to edit each item by hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I completely disable telemetry on Windows 11 Home?

Not entirely. Home and Pro enforce a minimum “required” diagnostic level even when set to off. You can minimize it through Settings, the Registry, disabling DiagTrack, and network blocking, but a small amount of required data still flows. Full off is only honored on Enterprise and Education.

Will disabling telemetry break Windows Update?

Disabling the DiagTrack service and diagnostic data does not stop Windows Update. Problems only arise if you aggressively block Microsoft domains at the network level, which can affect updates, the Store, and activation. Block only documented telemetry endpoints.

Is it safe to disable the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service?

Yes, disabling DiagTrack is generally safe and a common privacy step. It mainly affects diagnostic uploads and some feedback features, not core functionality. You can re-enable it anytime from services.msc.

Are third-party privacy tools reliable for this?

Well-regarded tools like O&O ShutUp10++ apply documented, reversible tweaks and are widely trusted. Avoid obscure “privacy boosters,” create a restore point first, and review each toggle before applying.