How to Disable Telemetry in Windows 11 Windows telemetry is Microsoft's automatic collection of diagnostic data, error reports, and system performance information. But for privacy-conscious organizations, disabling or limiting telemetry may be the right choice. In this video, we’ll walk you through what Windows telemetry is, how to reduce or disable it where possible, and what to consider before making changes. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne’s IT video hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. Understanding Windows Telemetry Let’s further define what Windows telemetry is. Put simply, it’s part of Windows’ proactive maintenance. It helps Microsoft stay ahead of emerging threats and ensure overall device health. However, not everyone is comfortable sharing this diagnostic data. Luckily, Windows 11 allows you to reduce telemetry—and in some editions, disable it almost entirely. A couple of disclaimers though: you can’t fully disable telemetry on Windows 11 Home, and even after disabling, minimal diagnostic data may still be sent to maintain system stability. How to Disable Telemetry in Windows 11 Now, let's explore four methods for reducing or disabling telemetry in Windows 11. Starting with the easiest: via Windows Settings. Method 1 — Windows Settings First, press Win + I to open Settings. Navigate to Privacy & security and then Diagnostics and Feedback. Next, toggle Send optional diagnostic data to Off. Next, the Group Policy Editor method requires admin rights and works on Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter. Go to Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates Windows Components, and then Data Collection and Preview Builds. Double-click Allow Diagnostic Data, set it to Enabled, and choose your level: 0 for Security, 1 for Basic, 2 for Enhanced, and 3 for Full. Afterward, click Apply and then OK. Then run gpupdate /force in Command Prompt. The Registry Editor method is for advanced users, so always back up your registry first. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter. Then navigate to this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\ Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection Find or create the AllowTelemetry value and assign a number between 0 and 3, with 0 offering the least data sharing. Restart your PC to apply the changes. The last method is to disable telemetry services directly. This is optional but may break dependencies, so test carefully before deploying broadly. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter; then disable the following: Connected User Experiences and Telemetry (DiagTrack) Dmwappushservice Alternatively, run these commands in Command Prompt before restarting your PC: sc config DiagTrack start= disabled sc config dmwappushservice start= disabled Overall, disabling telemetry can reduce your organization’s digital footprint and improve privacy. Whether you're securing a single PC or managing thousands of endpoints, these methods give you more control over your data. For more information, check out our official blog post on Disabling telemetry in Windows 11, linked in the description below.