How To Disable Data Collection and Suggested Content (ads) in Windows 11
Windows 11 has hidden settings that track your activity or push ads, even after setup. Here’s what they do, where to find them, and why I turn them off every time.
If you thought you already disabled all the tracking and content suggestions during setup, there are few things left to turn off. Windows 11 includes additional data collection options buried deeper in the Privacy & Security settings. I always go in and turn off four extra settings right away, and I suggest you do the same.
These settings relate to app tracking, personalized ads, Microsoft 365 popups, and more. They're not obvious unless you go digging, so let me walk you through exactly what they do and why I recommend disabling them.
How to find and disable these settings
Here’s how to get to all four:
Open the Start Menu (I use Open Shell for a cleaner look)
Click on Settings
Select Privacy & security from the left-hand menu
Under Windows permissions, click General
You’ll see each of these settings listed. Flip all to Off.
“Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID”
This one lets apps use a unique advertising ID that’s linked to your Microsoft account. Even if you never touch the Microsoft Store, this is turned on by default, and it allows Microsoft to show you targeted ads.
If you’re using a local account, it doesn’t apply, but many people aren’t. Turning it off won’t stop ads entirely, but it will stop them from being based on your behavior. I don’t want that kind of personalization, and I don’t need my OS doing ad targeting, so I always disable it.
“Let websites show me locally relevant content by accessing my language list”
This setting allows websites to look at your language preferences and adjust content based on your region. Personally, I don’t want websites accessing that kind of system info behind the scenes. If they need to know my language or location, they can ask, or I can set it manually.
It’s a small thing, but it’s another example of Microsoft defaulting to data sharing unless you say otherwise.
“Let Windows improve Start and search results by tracking app launches”
This is where Windows keeps tabs on what apps you open and when—all in the name of giving you better Start and Search suggestions.
The idea sounds helpful, but in practice, I don’t see the benefit. Especially when the Start menu has only gotten worse over time. If Microsoft were using this data to make meaningful improvements, maybe I’d reconsider. But from what I can tell, they’re collecting usage info while leaving the Start menu in a clunky, half-baked state. I turn this one off without hesitation.
“Show me suggested content in the Settings app”
This one is especially annoying. It controls whether Microsoft shows popups and suggestions (read: ads) in your system Settings. Most of what shows up are Microsoft 365 upsells and product nudges—nothing I’ve ever found useful.
These ads only appear if you’re signed in with a Microsoft account, but that applies to a lot of users by default. I don’t want marketing injected into my Settings app, so I always switch this off immediately.
Why I take the time to do this
Let’s be honest: Microsoft isn’t collecting this data to improve our experience. They’ve had years of telemetry coming in from millions of users, and Windows 11 still has a broken Start menu, upsell, ads, more friction, and fewer user options than Windows 10. Some improvements have been made, but many of the problems remain.
These settings are all turned on by default. Most people don’t know they’re even there. Microsoft gets more than enough data from everyone else, and I have no interest in contributing to that, especially when I don’t think it’s being used in good faith.
If Microsoft were actually using this data to fix real usability issues or simplify things for users, maybe I’d be more open to it. But from where I sit, it’s mostly about ad delivery, data mining, and nudging people deeper into the Microsoft ecosystem.
Final thoughts
Disabling these four settings won’t break anything. You’ll still have a fully functional system, you just won’t be handing over as much of your data or dealing with popups in the Settings app. It’s a small but meaningful step toward taking back a bit of control.
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