How to change diagnostic data settings in Windows 10. Windows 10 devices send diagnostic data to Microsoft to help improve performance and security. You still have options to control how much data gets collected. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to Ninja One's IT video hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. How to manage diagnostic settings. To start, the easiest way to manage diagnostic settings is through Windows Settings. Press Win plus I, then go to Privacy, Diagnostics and Feedback. Here you can choose Require diagnostic data or Allow optional diagnostic data for more detailed reporting. If you're in a managed environment or just want more control, you have two more options, Task Scheduler and the Registry Editor. In Task Scheduler, (keyboard clicking) search for it in Start, then go to Task Scheduler Library, Microsoft, Windows, Application Experience. Find Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser, right-click, and select Disable to stop scheduled data tasks. For advanced users, the Registry Editor offers deeper customization. Open Run, type regedit, and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, Software, Policies, Microsoft, Windows, DataCollection. Right-click the right panel, select New, DWORD 32-bit value, name it AllowTelemetry, then set its value to 0. This limits diagnostics to the minimum. Deleting data and other privacy tweaks. To delete data already collected, go back to Settings, Diagnostics and Feedback, and click Delete under Delete diagnostic data. Some data may also be stored in your Microsoft account, which you can manage at the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard online. Other privacy tweaks include turning off Tailored Experiences to stop personalized ads and adjusting feedback frequency so Windows stops asking for input. Both are found in the same Diagnostics and Feedback panel. Lastly, remember, you can't fully disable required data collection, but Microsoft lets you view what's being sent by enabling the Diagnostic Data Viewer in Settings, Privacy, Diagnostics and Feedback, View diagnostic data. For more information, check out our official blog post on changing diagnostic data settings in Windows 10 linked in the description below.