Windows · Personalization
Tell Windows how you use this PC
Lets you tell Windows how you primarily use the device, such as Gaming, Family, Creativity, Business, School, or Entertainment, so it can tailor recommendations, tips, and pre-installed app suggestions accordingly.
How to open Device Usage
- Open Settings → Personalization → Device usage
- Toggle on the categories that best describe how you use this PC
- Toggle off any categories that no longer apply
- Close Settings; recommendations adjust over time
What you should know
- Select one or more usage categories that describe this device
- Influences suggested apps, tips, and notifications shown by Windows
- Can be updated at any time as your usage changes
- Separate from account-level Microsoft advertising preferences
Why it matters
Device usage tailoring shapes the recommendations, tips notifications, and even some pre-installed app suggestions Windows shows you, so an inaccurate selection can lead to irrelevant clutter like gaming tips on a strictly work laptop. For shared or managed devices, setting this accurately helps keep the experience focused and reduces noise from suggestions that don't apply. It's a lightweight way to make Windows feel more relevant without granting any additional data access beyond what's already collected.
Best practices
- Select only the categories that genuinely reflect how the device is used
- Revisit this setting after repurposing a device, such as turning a gaming PC into a work machine
- Combine with 'tailored experiences' privacy settings if you want to limit related personalized suggestions
- Leave it unset if you'd rather not receive any usage-based recommendations
Common problems and fixes
- Irrelevant app suggestions keep appearing
- Review and narrow down your selected device usage categories to better match actual usage.
- Setting doesn't seem to change anything immediately
- Recommendations update gradually over time and after restarts, not instantly.
- Option is missing or grayed out
- This feature requires an up-to-date Windows 11 build; check Windows Update if the page looks different than expected.
Tips and tricks
- Set this after a fresh install to speed up getting relevant default app suggestions
- Pair with Start menu layout customization for a setup that matches your workflow
Frequently asked questions
Does this send data to Microsoft?
It informs on-device and cloud-driven recommendations, similar to other personalization features tied to your Microsoft account if signed in.
Can I select more than one usage type?
Yes, you can select multiple categories that apply to your device.
Is this the same as tailored experiences in Privacy settings?
No, tailored experiences controls whether diagnostic data personalizes tips and offers, while device usage is a direct self-reported category.
Related settings
- PersonalizationPersonalization is the hub for changing how Windows looks and feels — desktop background, accent colors, themes, lock screen, Start menu layout, and taskbar behavior all live under this one settings category. It's the starting point for making a shared or new PC feel like your own.
- Start MenuStart menu settings let you control which folders appear next to the power button, how many pinned app rows and recommended file rows show, and whether recently added or most-used apps surface automatically. It's where you shape the layout you see every time you click Start.
- Touch Keyboard PersonalizationLets you personalize the appearance and behavior of the on-screen touch keyboard used on tablets, touchscreens, and 2-in-1 devices, including theme, key sound, and text suggestions.
More Personalization guides for Windows
- ThemesThemes bundle a desktop background, color scheme, sound scheme, and mouse cursor set into a single saved combination you can switch between instantly. Windows includes several built-in themes, and you can download more or save your own custom combination.
- Lock ScreenLock Screen settings control the image, slideshow, or Windows Spotlight photo shown before you sign in, plus which apps can show quick status glances like unread email count or your next calendar event. It's the first thing you and anyone walking by sees on a locked PC.
- TaskbarTaskbar settings control which icons appear, how they're aligned, and which system tray items show by default. This is where you manage pinned apps, the search box, widgets, and corner icons like clock, network, and volume.
- FontsFonts settings let you preview every typeface installed on your PC, download additional fonts from the Microsoft Store, and install new ones by dragging a font file directly onto the page. Every font installed here becomes available system-wide, appearing in the font list of every app that lets you choose one, from word processors to design software.
- Colors & Accent ColorControls the accent color used across Start, taskbar, title bars, and other UI elements, and lets you choose whether Windows should surface a color automatically from your background.
- Background & Windows SpotlightControls your desktop background, including static pictures, slideshows, solid colors, and Windows Spotlight, which automatically rotates curated images and can show fun facts on your desktop.