How to Stop Windows 11 From Spying on You (Without Breaking Anything)

Guides & TutorialsMay 26, 20268 min readBy CM Editorial

What Windows 11 Actually Sends

By default, Windows 11 collects telemetry across these categories: required (diagnostic data for Windows Update reliability), optional (browsing history, search queries, voice samples), and inking/typing (samples of your handwriting and keyboard input for prediction improvement). The optional and inking/typing categories are where the privacy concerns actually live. Required telemetry is necessary for Windows Update to function.

The Privacy Hardening Checklist

1. Settings → Privacy & security → Diagnostics & feedback

Set “Diagnostic data” to Required only
Toggle off “Improve inking and typing”
Toggle off “Tailored experiences”
Toggle off “View diagnostic data”
Set “Delete diagnostic data” to delete current data
Set “Feedback frequency” to Never

2. Settings → Privacy & security → Activity history

Toggle off “Store my activity history on this device”
Click “Clear” to remove existing history

3. Settings → Privacy & security → Search permissions

Set “SafeSearch” to your preference (Moderate or Off)
Set “Cloud content search” to off for both Microsoft account and Work or school account
Toggle off “Search history on this device”
Toggle off “More info from web”

4. Settings → Privacy & security → Permissions for ALL of these

Go through every category — Location, Camera, Microphone, Notifications, Account info, Contacts, Calendar, Phone calls, Call history, Email, Tasks, Messaging, Radios, Other devices, Background apps, App diagnostics, Automatic file downloads, Documents, Pictures, Videos, File system. Toggle off the master switch for each category you don’t actively need. You can re-enable per-app as needed.

5. Settings → Privacy & security → Speech

Toggle off “Online speech recognition”

6. Settings → Privacy & security → Personalization

Toggle off “Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID”
Toggle off all “Show me suggested content” toggles
Toggle off “Let websites show me locally relevant content”

7. Settings → Apps → Startup

Disable any app you don’t recognize. Pay attention to “Microsoft Edge”, “OneDrive”, and any pre-installed bloatware.

8. Settings → System → Notifications

Toggle off “Show me suggestions for how I can set up my device”
Toggle off “Get tips and suggestions when I use Windows”

Group Policy (Windows 11 Pro Only)

If you’re running Windows 11 Pro, the Group Policy Editor gives finer-grained control:

Open gpedit.msc and navigate to:

Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Data Collection and Preview Builds
Enable “Allow Diagnostic Data” and set to “Send required diagnostic data”
Enable “Limit Diagnostic Log Collection”
Enable “Limit Dump Collection”

Telemetry-Limiting Tools

For aggressive hardening, two free tools are well-respected by the security community:

O&O ShutUp10++ — the gold standard. Free, portable, lists every setting with risk assessment.
WPD (Windows Privacy Dashboard) — slightly more aggressive defaults, also free.

Caution: Both tools include options that can break Microsoft Store, Windows Update, or Defender if applied carelessly. Start with their “Recommended” preset, restart, verify Windows Update and Defender still work, then go deeper.

Hosts File Blocking (Advanced)

You can block specific Microsoft telemetry endpoints via the hosts file:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

This is a community-maintained list — search for “Windows telemetry hosts file” to get a current one. Add entries to redirect telemetry domains to 0.0.0.0. Be careful: blocking the wrong domain can break Microsoft Store, Office activation, or Windows Update.

What You Should Keep On

Don’t disable everything. These are worth leaving alone:

Required diagnostic data — needed for Windows Update reliability
Windows Defender SmartScreen — actually catches malicious downloads
Find my device — if you ever lose a laptop, you’ll want this
Automatic time sync — not a privacy concern, just useful

The Microsoft Account Question

Windows 11 strongly encourages a Microsoft account. You can still use a local account:

During fresh install: disconnect from the internet at the OOBE login step, type a fake email, then choose “create local account” when the system errors
On existing install: Settings → Accounts → Your info → “Sign in with a local account instead”

Local account avoids most cloud-tied telemetry. The trade-off: no OneDrive integration, no Settings sync between devices, and you’ll need to remember another password.

Browser Choice

If you care about privacy, don’t use Edge as your default browser. The browser is fast and the engine is good but the data collection is extensive. Firefox or LibreWolf (a privacy-focused Firefox fork) are better choices. Brave is a reasonable middle ground if you like Chromium-based browsers.

What You’ll Lose

Hardening your Windows 11 privacy means giving up these convenience features:

Cortana voice features
Personalized search results in Start menu
“Suggested” apps and content
Inking improvements over time
Some Microsoft Store recommendations

None of these are critical. Most people don’t notice they’re gone.

Bottom Line

Windows 11 collects a lot less data than the headlines suggest, but the defaults are still permissive. Walking through the Settings privacy section once, choosing “Required only” diagnostic data, and using a local account covers the vast majority of the issue. O&O ShutUp10++ handles the edge cases. Your computer will work exactly the same with significantly less data flowing to Redmond.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does this process take?

First-timers should budget 60-90 minutes. Experienced users can complete it in 20-30 minutes. Don’t rush — measuring twice and cutting once applies to PC work too. Mistakes here can damage hardware or void warranties.

Do I need any special tools?

A magnetic Phillips screwdriver, an anti-static wrist strap (or grounding via touching a metal case before starting), and good lighting are the essentials. A flashlight and small tweezers help in tight spaces.

Will this void my warranty?

For most consumer hardware, basic maintenance and upgrades don’t void warranties — the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act in the US prevents that. But cutting tamper seals or removing soldered components can. Always check your specific model’s warranty terms first.

What if something goes wrong?

Stop immediately, document the issue with photos, and check our troubleshooting guides. Most issues are reversible if you don’t force anything. When in doubt, restore the original state and seek help on r/buildapc or your component’s official support channel.