How to Disable Windows Telemetry Data Collection

Windows collects diagnostic and usage data—known as telemetry—to help Microsoft improve system performance and troubleshoot problems. While this may be helpful for some, many users, especially in enterprise and privacy-focused environments, prefer to limit or disable Windows telemetry data collection. Over the years, I’ve helped configure systems in workplaces and home setups to limit data sharing with Microsoft. While Windows doesn’t allow full telemetry deactivation on Home or Pro editions by default, there are safe and effective ways to reduce telemetry or turn it off as much as the system allows.

This guide explains how to disable Windows telemetry using Group Policy, Registry Editor, and Services settings—clearly and step by step.

What Is Windows Telemetry?

Telemetry is Microsoft’s system for collecting data from your Windows device. This includes:

• System diagnostics
• Device configurations
• App usage patterns
• Performance stats
• Error reports

Windows 10 and 11 transmit this data back to Microsoft servers regularly, especially when set to the Default (Full) data level.

There are four levels of telemetry in Windows:

1. Security – only collects data for Windows Defender and Windows Update
2. Basic – includes system data and basic diagnostics
3. Enhanced – no longer used in recent versions
4. Full – detailed diagnostics and user behavior tracking (default on most editions)

Why Disable or Limit Telemetry?

Common reasons:

• Protect personal and organizational privacy
• Reduce background network activity
• Improve system performance by disabling telemetry-related services
• Avoid sending potentially sensitive data outside the local network

Pre-checks and Recommendations

• These changes work best on Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
• Some options are unavailable on Home editions unless applied via registry edits.
• Always create a system restore point before modifying policies or the registry.
• Changes may reset after major Windows updates—recheck settings after updates.

Method 1: Disable Telemetry Using Group Policy Editor (Recommended for Pro/Enterprise)

Group Policy provides the safest and most direct method to control telemetry.

Step-by-Step:

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, press Enter
2. Navigate to:
   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds
3. Double-click Allow Telemetry
4. Select Enabled, then choose 0 – Security from the dropdown
   • Security level sends minimal data (only available in Enterprise/Education)
   • If not available, use 1 – Basic
5. Click Apply and OK

Optional:

• Double-click and Enable:
  • Disable pre-release features or settings
  • Disable consumer experiences

1. Apply the changes:
   • Press Windows + X > Open Command Prompt (Admin)
   • Run:

bash

CopyEdit

gpupdate /force

This immediately applies the new group policy settings.

Method 2: Use Registry Editor to Disable Telemetry (Works on Home Edition)

For systems without Group Policy access, use the registry.

Step-by-Step:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, press Enter
2. Navigate to:

CopyEdit

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection

If the key doesn’t exist, create it manually.

1. In the right pane:
   • Right-click > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
   • Name it: AllowTelemetry
   • Set value to:
     • 0 = Security (only in Enterprise)
     • 1 = Basic
     • 2 = Enhanced
     • 3 = Full
2. Close the Registry Editor
3. Reboot the system

This disables or minimizes telemetry based on the value you’ve selected.

Method 3: Disable Telemetry Services

Even after limiting telemetry levels, background services still run. Disabling them can help reduce activity.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter
2. Locate the following services:
   • Connected User Experiences and Telemetry
   • dmwappushsvc
   • Diagnostic Execution Service (if present)
3. For each service:
   • Right-click > Properties
   • Set Startup type to Disabled
   • Click Stop, then Apply and OK

After restarting your system, these services should no longer run.

Method 4: Use Task Scheduler to Disable Telemetry-Related Tasks

Windows uses scheduled tasks to send telemetry in the background.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + S, search for Task Scheduler
2. Navigate to:
   Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Customer Experience Improvement Program
3. Disable the following tasks (if available):
   • Consolidator
   • KernelCeipTask
   • UsbCeip
   • Any Application Experience tasks

Right-click each task > Disable

This prevents Microsoft from running background telemetry tasks automatically.

Method 5: Disable Feedback and Diagnostics via Settings

This limits interactive telemetry like feedback requests.

Steps:

1. Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Diagnostics & Feedback
2. Turn off:
   • Send optional diagnostic data
   • Tailored experiences
   • Improve inking and typing
3. Set Feedback frequency to Never

These settings don’t stop telemetry entirely but help reduce user interaction data collection.

Optional: Block Telemetry Domains (Advanced)

Advanced users may choose to block known telemetry URLs using the hosts file or firewall rules. This can prevent outbound connections to Microsoft servers but may affect some features.

Examples:

kotlin

CopyEdit

127.0.0.1 telemetry.microsoft.com

127.0.0.1 watson.telemetry.microsoft.com

127.0.0.1 settings-win.data.microsoft.com

Modify C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts (requires admin rights).
Use with caution—may break Windows Store or Defender updates.

To Verify Telemetry Settings

PowerShell:

powershell

CopyEdit

Get-ItemProperty -Path “HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection” -Name “AllowTelemetry”

Group Policy Report:

cmd

CopyEdit

gpresult /h telemetry.html

Open telemetry.html to confirm settings applied.

Things to Avoid

• Don’t use aggressive third-party telemetry blockers that modify core system files
• Avoid disabling Windows Update entirely unless necessary
• Always back up system settings before major changes
• Understand that certain telemetry functions may return after feature updates

Conclusion

Disabling Windows telemetry is achievable using built-in tools like Group Policy Editor, Registry Editor, and Services configuration. By adjusting settings at different levels, you can greatly reduce or eliminate the data sent to Microsoft, helping protect privacy and reduce background resource usage. I’ve applied these methods across dozens of machines, especially in environments where data sensitivity is critical. Just remember that some telemetry helps Microsoft maintain OS stability, so make sure to balance privacy and functionality based on your needs.