Many people find it tricky to keep their personal information private on Windows 11. The operating system gathers quite a bit of data, which can feel invasive. Luckily, there are simple steps you can take to limit what Windows 11 collects about you. Even if you’re not overly concerned about privacy, these tweaks can help you control your digital footprint without much hassle.

Turning Off Ad Tracking in Windows 11

One of the main privacy concerns with Windows 11 is how it tracks your interests to serve targeted ads. This happens through an advertising ID that’s separate from your Microsoft account. It collects data not just when you browse online, but also when you use apps on your PC. The good news is, you can disable this feature.

To do that, open the Settings app by searching “settings” and clicking the gear icon. Navigate to Privacy & security, then Recommendations & offers. Here, you’ll see a slider for Advertising ID. Switch it to Off. This means you’ll still see ads, but they’ll be more generic and less tailored to your interests.

While you’re here, check the “Personalized offers” setting at the top of the same list. Turn it off to prevent Microsoft from showing you ads and suggestions based on your Windows usage. For extra peace of mind, visit Microsoft’s Privacy Dashboard online. Sign into your Microsoft account and go to the “Personalized ads & offers” section. Turn off the sliders for “See ads that interest you” and “Share my data with third parties,” to stop targeted advertising across your account.

Controlling Location Tracking

Many Windows 11 features rely on knowing your location, like weather apps or local news. If you prefer to keep your whereabouts private, you can turn off location tracking entirely.

Open Settings, then go to Privacy & security, followed by Location. Shift the Location services slider from On to Off. This stops Windows from tracking your location for everyone on the device.

If you only want certain apps to access your location, leave location services on. Then, under “Let apps access your location,” toggle the sliders for individual apps. For example, you might keep Weather allowed but block other apps.

Desktop apps also can access your location. To control this, turn on “Let desktop apps access your location.” You’ll see a list of desktop apps—pick which ones can or cannot use your location by toggling their permissions.

Managing App Permissions and Data Sharing

Apps can be quite invasive, asking to access your camera, microphone, photos, or contacts. Windows 11 lets you manage these permissions individually.

Go to Settings, then Apps, and select Installed apps. Find an app you want to adjust, click the three-dot menu, and choose Advanced options. From there, you can toggle permissions like camera or microphone for that app.

Not all apps have this detailed control, so an alternative is to visit Settings, Privacy & security, then App permissions. Here, you’ll see a list of features—location, camera, microphone, and more. Clicking on each feature shows which apps have access. You can turn off access globally or adjust for individual apps by toggling sliders.

Additionally, Windows collects diagnostic data about your device to improve Windows performance. You can control what info gets sent to Microsoft by going to Settings, Privacy & security, Diagnostics & feedback. Under Diagnostic data, you can select what kind of information Windows shares. Keep in mind, you cannot completely stop data collection, but you can limit it.

By taking these steps, you can significantly reduce the amount of personal information Windows 11 gathers. These tweaks help you stay more private without sacrificing the core features of your PC. It’s a quick process that gives you more control over your digital privacy in today’s connected world.

Inspired by

• https://www.computerworld.com/article/1616461/how-to-protect-your-privacy-in-windows-11.html

Sources

• gmpg.org
• unsplash.com
• microsoft.com
• microsoft.com
• pcworld.com