Windows · Privacy & Security
Manage diagnostic data sent to Microsoft
Controls how much diagnostic and usage data your device sends to Microsoft, along with feedback frequency, tailored experiences, and options to view or delete diagnostic data.
How to open Diagnostics & Feedback
- Open Settings → Privacy & security → Diagnostics & feedback
- Choose Required or Optional diagnostic data
- Toggle tailored experiences on or off
- Set feedback frequency and optionally delete existing diagnostic data
What you should know
- Choose between Required and Optional diagnostic data levels
- Toggle 'tailored experiences' that use diagnostic data for tips and recommendations
- View diagnostic data through the Diagnostic Data Viewer
- Set how often Windows asks for feedback and delete existing diagnostic data
Why it matters
Diagnostic data settings determine how much telemetry about your device's performance, crashes, and usage patterns is transmitted to Microsoft, which is a meaningful privacy consideration for security-conscious users and organizations. Choosing 'Required' diagnostic data minimizes what leaves the device while still allowing Windows Update and basic security functions to work correctly. This page also controls how often Windows interrupts you with feedback prompts, which affects daily annoyance levels independent of the privacy implications.
Best practices
- Select 'Required diagnostic data' if you want the minimum data sharing needed for core functionality
- Turn off tailored experiences if you don't want diagnostic data influencing tips and ads
- Set feedback frequency to 'Never' or 'Occasionally' to reduce interruptions
- Use the Diagnostic Data Viewer if you want to audit exactly what's collected
Common problems and fixes
- Diagnostic Data Viewer app isn't installed
- Install it from the Microsoft Store using the link provided directly on this settings page.
- Too many feedback prompts appear
- Lower the 'Windows should ask for my feedback' frequency to Never or Occasionally.
- Unsure what data was already sent
- Use the 'Delete diagnostic data' button to clear data already stored in the cloud tied to your device.
Tips and tricks
- Enterprise and Education editions may have additional 'Security' diagnostic level options via policy
- Combine with Activity History settings for a fuller picture of what's shared with Microsoft
Frequently asked questions
Can I stop diagnostic data collection entirely?
No, Windows always sends a minimal 'Required' level needed for security and update functionality; you can't disable it completely on most editions.
Does this affect Windows Update?
No, Required diagnostic data is sufficient for Windows Update to function normally.
What is tailored experiences?
It's a feature that uses your diagnostic data to personalize tips, ads, and recommendations shown by Microsoft apps and services.
Related settings
- Activity HistoryControls whether Windows stores a history of your app and browsing activity locally and, if signed in, syncs it to Microsoft to power features like Timeline-style continuity across devices.
- Privacy & SecurityPrivacy & Security is the central hub introduced in Windows 11 that groups Windows Security (antivirus and firewall), sign-in options, app permissions, and general privacy controls like diagnostic data and activity history into one settings category. It's the starting point for auditing everything related to your PC's security and data posture in one place.
- Location PrivacyManages whether Windows and individual apps can access your device's location, including the master location toggle and per-app permissions for location data.
More Privacy & Security guides for Windows
- Camera PermissionCamera Permission controls which applications are allowed to access your device's camera. Managing these permissions helps protect your privacy and ensures that only trusted applications can capture video or images.
- Microphone PermissionMicrophone Permission lets you control which applications can use your device's microphone. This is essential for maintaining privacy and preventing unauthorized audio recording by untrusted software.
- Windows SecurityWindows Security is the built-in protection center for virus & threat protection, firewall & network protection, and device health. It runs Microsoft Defender Antivirus and lets you review recent scans and threats.
- App PermissionsApp Permissions organizes privacy controls by capability rather than by app, letting you see at a glance which installed apps can access location, contacts, calendar, file system, and a dozen other data types. Instead of checking each app individually, you pick a permission type and review every app that has requested it.
- BitLocker Device EncryptionDevice Encryption (built on BitLocker technology) encrypts your entire system drive so its contents are unreadable to anyone without your Windows sign-in credentials or a separate recovery key, even if the physical drive is removed and connected to another PC. It's automatically available on many modern PCs that meet specific hardware requirements, and can be extended to additional drives on Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
- General Privacy OptionsGeneral privacy options cover system-wide toggles that don't belong to a specific permission, including advertising ID personalization, app launch tracking for Start menu suggestions, and website language list access.