To disable Windows telemetry in Windows 10 and 11, open Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection, set AllowTelemetry to 0, then create the same DWORD value at a second registry path and set it to 0 as well. Restart your PC after making both changes.
Quick Steps:
- Press Windows + R, type
regedit, and press Enter - Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection - Double-click
AllowTelemetryand set the Value Data to0, then click OK - Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection - Right-click in the empty space and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
- Name the new value
AllowTelemetry, press Enter, double-click it, and set the Value Data to0 - Close Registry Editor and restart your PC
What Is Windows Telemetry and Why Disable It?
Windows telemetry is data that Microsoft collects from your PC and sends back to their servers in the background. This can include things like your hardware configuration, app usage, crash reports, and general system behavior. Microsoft says they use this data to improve Windows, but a lot of people just don’t want their computer sending that kind of information without knowing exactly what’s being collected.
Back when I was running my computer repair business, clients would ask me to set up their new PC as privately as possible. Disabling telemetry was always one of the first things on that list. It doesn’t break anything in Windows — everything keeps working the same way — it just stops that background data collection from happening.
Windows has several telemetry levels: Security (0), Basic (1), Enhanced (2), and Full (3). Most Windows installs default to Basic or higher. By setting AllowTelemetry to 0 in the registry, you’re locking it to the Security level, which is the minimum amount of data Windows will collect.
How to Disable Windows Telemetry Step by Step
Step 1: Open Registry Editor
Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog. Type regedit and press Enter. If Windows asks for permission through the User Account Control prompt, click Yes to continue. The Registry Editor will open.
Step 2: Modify the AllowTelemetry Value at the First Path
Navigate to the following registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection. You can copy this path directly from the video description and paste it into the address bar at the top of Registry Editor to get there quickly. Once you’re at that path, double-click on the AllowTelemetry entry and change the Value Data to 0, then click OK.
Step 3: Create a New DWORD Value at the Second Path
Now navigate to this second registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection. Once you’re there, right-click anywhere in the empty white space on the right side and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it AllowTelemetry and press Enter. Then double-click the new entry, set the Value Data to 0, and click OK.
Step 4: Close Registry Editor and Restart Your PC
Once you’ve made both changes, close the Registry Editor and restart your computer. The telemetry settings will take effect after the restart, and Windows will be limited to the Security-level data collection going forward.
Want an Easier Way to Handle Windows Privacy Settings?
If you’d rather not go into the registry manually every time, I built a free tool called Winhance that lets you manage telemetry, privacy settings, and a whole lot more from a clean, straightforward interface. It takes care of the registry changes for you and gives you a clear picture of what’s been applied to your system — no manual editing required.
Other Privacy Tweaks Worth Doing Alongside This
Disabling telemetry is a solid first step, but it’s not the only thing running in the background on a default Windows install. Windows also runs automatic feedback sampling, which collects similar diagnostic data and sends it to Microsoft — disabling that is worth doing right after this. Another one I always take care of is the Advertising ID, which is a unique identifier Windows assigns to your account and uses to serve personalized ads across apps. Most people don’t even know it exists, but turning it off only takes a couple of minutes.
Common Issues & Solutions
Problem: The AllowTelemetry entry doesn’t exist at the first path
Solution: If the entry isn’t there, create it yourself. Right-click in the empty space, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, name it AllowTelemetry, and set the Value Data to 0.
Problem: The DataCollection key doesn’t exist at either registry path
Solution: You’ll need to create the key first. Right-click on the parent folder in the left panel, select New > Key, name it DataCollection, and then create the AllowTelemetry DWORD value inside it.
Problem: Access is denied when trying to modify registry values
Solution: Make sure you opened Registry Editor as an administrator. If you still get an access denied error on a specific key, right-click on it, select Permissions, and confirm your user account has Full Control.
FAQ
Does disabling telemetry break anything in Windows?
No, nothing breaks. Windows and all your apps continue to work exactly the same way. You’re just stopping the background data collection from happening. I’ve applied this tweak on hundreds of computers over the years at the repair shop and never had it cause a problem.
Does this work on Windows 10 Home?
Yes. The registry method works on all editions of Windows 10 and 11, including Home. The Group Policy method for disabling telemetry is only available on Pro and Enterprise editions, but the registry edits in this guide apply to every edition.
Will Windows reset the telemetry settings after an update?
It can happen after major Windows feature updates. Microsoft has been known to reset certain privacy settings when rolling out large updates. It’s worth checking these registry values after a big update to make sure they’re still set to 0. Using a tool like Winhance makes it easy to recheck and reapply these settings quickly.
Why are there two different registry paths for telemetry?
The first path (SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection) is the standard Windows telemetry key that exists on most systems by default. The second path (SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection) is the policy-based override key, which takes priority over the first. Setting both to 0 makes sure the change sticks regardless of which one Windows checks.
Can I undo this change later?
Yes, easily. Go back to the same registry paths and change AllowTelemetry to 1 for Basic or 3 for Full at both locations, then restart your PC. You can also delete the value entirely and Windows will fall back to its default telemetry level.
