Windows 10 includes a lot of data collection that Microsoft can use to improve the operating system and make it better for you. But some of this data collection can be disabled, if you want to. In this article, we’ll show you how to disable Windows 10 telemetry in easy steps.
Disable Telemetry | Services, Registry, Tasks & Group Policy
What is Windows Telemetry?
Windows 10 collects data about how you use your computer, which helps Microsoft improve the operating system and make it more useful to you. This data includes things like what websites you visit, how many apps you use, and your general usage patterns.
Disabling Windows 10’s telemetry will not delete any of your data, and you can still use the features of the operating system without letting Microsoft track it. However, disabling telemetry will make your experience more streamlined and efficient, and may speed up your computer in certain cases.
Why Would I Want to Disable Windows Telemetry?
Windows 10 is one of the most popular platforms on the market and it’s no wonder – the operating system is packed with features and options that make it a great choice for users. But like any other platform, Windows 10 comes with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. While some users may love the level of customization and control offered by Windows 10, others may find the operating system to be too intrusive and get uncomfortable with the amount of tracking data that Windows 10 collects.
If you’re one of those users who don’t want Windows 10 to track your activities or data, you may want to consider disabling the Windows 10 telemetry service. This can be done by going to Settings > Privacy > Location > Tracking and turning off the “Windows 10telemetry” service.
However, disabling Windows 10 telemetry may not be enough for some users. In some cases, disabling the service may actually enable other tracking features that were previously disabled. It’s important to do a little research to figure out which features are enabled and which ones are not before making any decisions about disabling Windows 10 telemetry.
How to Disable Windows Telemetry in the Registry
Disable Windows Telemetry in the Registry
There are a few different ways that you can disable Windows Telemetry in the Registry. The easiest way is to use the Registry Editor.
1. Launch the Registry Editor by clicking on the Start button and typing regedit in the search box.
2. Click on the OK button when the Registry Editor opens.
3. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWindowsUpdateAuto UpdatePreferences
4. In this key, you will see a number of values. The DisableWindowsTelemetry value should be set to 1.
5. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
Note: You can also disable Windows Telemetry by using the Windows settings app. To do this, open the Windows settings app and click on the Privacy tab. Under Windows Update, click on the Change button next to the Windows Telemetry setting. In the settings that appear, set the value to 0 and click on the OK button.
How to Disable Windows Telemetry Using Group Policy
First, open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC).
To open the GPMC, click Start, type gpmc.msc, and then press ENTER.
In the GPMC, expand Policy node, and then select Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsWindows Update.
On the Windows Update tab, double-click Disabled Features.
In the Disabled Features dialog box, select Windows Update from the Feature list, and then click Remove.
Click OK to close the Disabled Features dialog box.
Next, open the Group Policy Management Editor (GPME).
To open the GPME, click Start, type gpme.msc, and then press ENTER.
In the GPME, open the Default Domain Policy folder, and then open the Group Policy Objects (GPO) folder.
On the GPO folder tab, double-click GPO_name.
In the GPO_name window, right-click the Windows Update policy, and then select Edit.
In the Edit Windows Update Policy dialog box, under Allow Windows Update settings to apply automatically, select Disabled.
Click OK to close the Edit Windows Update Policy dialog box.
Next, log off from all users, and then log on to the target user.
To log off from all users, open the GPME, and then select User Configuration
How to Disable Windows Telemetry Using the Command Line
By default, Windows 10 sends telemetry data to Microsoft Corporation every time you open a program or make a change to your computer. This data includes information about your use of the Windows 10 operating system and apps. You can disable this data collection by using the command line.
To disable telemetry using the command line, open a command prompt window and type the following command:
sc config telemetry start=disabled
This command sets the telemetry service to start in disabled mode. You can verify this by typing the following command:
sc status telemetry
This command displays the status of the telemetry service. If the service is not enabled, the command returns an error message.
If you want to disable telemetry for all users on your computer, you can use the following command:
sc config telemetry ALL=disabled
If you only want to disable telemetry for a specific user, you can use the following command:
sc config telemetry username=youruserhere
This command sets the telemetry service for the user named youruserhere to disabled mode.
If you want to disable telemetry for all users on a specific computer, you can use the following command:
sc config telemetry ALL=disabled
This command sets the telemetry service for all users on the computer to disabled mode.
What are the Potential Drawbacks of Disabling Windows Telemetry?
There are a few potential drawbacks to disabling Windows Telemetry.
Firstly, if you disable telemetry, you may not be able to troubleshoot certain problems or issues that may be related to telemetry.
Secondly, if you disable telemetry, you may not receive important updates and patches from Microsoft, as they may not be compatible with your telemetry configuration.
Lastly, disabling Windows Telemetry may also lead to performance issues on your computer.
Conclusion
Disable windows telemetry is a great way to protect your privacy and data.
