Improve Your Windows 10 Privacy by Changing These Settings

While Windows 10 aims to personalize your experience, the extent of its data collection can feel intrusive and overwhelming. It's as if every digital move is being monitored, from the websites you visit to the apps you use and even your physical location.

But it doesn't have to be this way. You can control how much information Windows 10 gathers about you. 

This guide will help you reclaim your privacy by adjusting your settings, limiting data collection, and taking back control of your digital footprint. Let's make Windows 10 work for you, not against you.

Why privacy matters on Windows 10

Windows 10 enhances user experience by gathering various types of data, including your location, browsing history, and app usage. Ever noticed how ads for products you recently searched for suddenly appear online? That's data collection at work.

While some data is necessary for specific Windows 10 features to function, you have significant control over the extent of data Microsoft collects. We will walk you through navigating and customizing your Windows 10 privacy settings, ensuring your personal information remains controlled.

Read more: Adjusting your privacy settings on Windows 10 will only stop tracking and data collection by Microsoft. The moment you go online, your data, identity, location, and browsing will be mined by advertisers, social media, websites, and your internet provider. If you want to protect yourself properly, read our guide to Windows 10 VPNs.

Accessing your privacy settings

Navigate to your settings with these steps:

1. Start menu: Click the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner.
2. Settings: Select the gear icon from the options.
3. Privacy dashboard: Locate and click 'Privacy” in the settings window.

Now, let’s look at what you can change.

General privacy

These settings affect how Windows 10 uses your data for personalization and advertising. To access them, open "Privacy Settings” and follow the instructions below.

1. Advertising ID

This unique identifier allows apps and advertisers to track your activity and deliver targeted ads.

How to change: 

• Go to General.
• Toggle "Let apps use advertising ID to make ads more interesting to you based on your app activity" to Off.

2. Speech, Inking, & Typing Personalization

This allows Windows to collect and use your voice, handwriting, and typing patterns to improve features like dictation and autocorrect.

How to change: 

• Go to Speech, Inking, & Typing.
• Click "Turn off speech services and typing suggestions."

3. Activity History

This tracks your app usage and website visits across your devices, potentially syncing this information with the cloud.

How to change: 

• Go to Activity History.
• Uncheck "Store my activity history on this device" and "Send my activity history to Microsoft."

4. App Permissions

This controls how apps can access your camera, microphone, location, contacts, and other sensitive information.

How to change: 

• Find separate sections for each type of permission (e.g., Location, Camera).
• Review and toggle these permissions for individual apps as you prefer.

Location privacy

Windows 10’s location tracking may be convenient for some features, but it’s a privacy nightmare. To take control, navigate to "Location” in your Privacy Settings and follow the instructions outlined below.

1. Turn off Location Services

This will prevent Windows and apps from using your location.

• Toggle the "Location services" switch to Off.

2. Manage Location History

• Under "Location History," click Clear to delete your past location data.
• To prevent future history collection, toggle the "Location History" switch to Off.

3. Restrict App Access to Location

• Scroll down to "Choose which apps can access your precise location."
• Toggle apps you don't want accessing your location to Off.

​​Camera and microphone privacy

Apps on your Windows computer often request access to your camera and microphone. Sometimes, this is necessary for them to function, like Zoom. But many apps simply try to collect your usage data. They also present a security risk. If they’re hacked, you can be monitored without your knowledge.

Windows 10 allows you to control which apps can access these devices in your Privacy Settings. Explore our top antivirus tools that prevent unauthorized camera and microphone access for extra security.

1. Camera Access

• Go to Camera.
• Toggle the "Allow access to the camera on this device" switch to Off if you want to restrict camera access for all apps.
• Under "Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your camera," you can individually toggle access for specific apps.
• For traditional desktop apps, toggle "Allow desktop apps to access your camera" to Off.

2. Microphone Access

• Go to Microphone.
• Toggle the "Allow access to the microphone on this device" switch to Off if you want to restrict microphone access for all apps.
• Under "Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your microphone," you can individually toggle access for specific apps.
• For traditional desktop apps, toggle "Allow desktop apps to access your microphone" to Off.

Account privacy

As a central hub for many Windows 10 services, your Microsoft account also has plenty of privacy settings you may want to adjust. 

For this step, open Settings > Accounts and follow the instructions below. 

Review Account Information and Sync Settings

1. Go to Your Info.
2. Review your personal information and make any necessary changes.
3. Under "Sync your settings," choose which settings you want to sync across devices. If you're concerned about privacy, consider turning off sync for sensitive data like passwords.

Manage Connected Accounts

1. Navigate to Email & Accounts.
2. Here, you'll see a list of email accounts and apps connected to your Microsoft account.
3. Review these connections and remove any you no longer use or trust.

Control Contact Sync and Calendar Sync

1. Go to Sync your settings.
2. Under "Individual sync settings," you can turn off contact and calendar syncing. This will prevent your contacts and calendar events from being shared across devices.

Feedback & diagnostics

Windows 10 collects diagnostic data about your device and how you use it to improve the operating system. However, you can control how much information you share.

1. Diagnostic Data

• Open the Privacy settings
• Go to "Diagnostics & feedback."
• Under "Diagnostic data," choose "Required" to send only essential data or "Optional" to send more detailed information. If you're highly privacy-conscious, stick with "Required."

2. Feedback Frequency

• In the same section, adjust how often Windows asks for your feedback. You can choose between "Automatically (Recommended)," "Always," "Sometimes," or "Never."

3. Tailored Experiences

• Toggle off "Tailored experiences" to prevent Microsoft from using your diagnostic data to personalize features and recommendations.

Browsing & search privacy

Windows 10's default browser, Microsoft Edge, and the Cortana assistant can gather data about your online activities. To enhance your privacy in this area:

Microsoft Edge

• Navigate to Privacy Settings.
• Under Tracking Prevention, choose Strict for maximum protection against trackers.
• Scroll down and turn off "Show me search and site suggestions as I type" to prevent Edge from sending your keystrokes to Microsoft.
• Review other settings like InPrivate browsing and Clear browsing data for additional privacy control.

Cortana

1. Click the Start button and type "Cortana settings" in the search bar.
2. In the Cortana settings, you can choose to disable Cortana completely or adjust the following:

• Permissions & history: Turn off options like location history and search history.
• Cloud search: Disable this to prevent Cortana from sending your search queries to the cloud.
• Microphone: Manage Cortana's access to your microphone.
• Notifications: Control what information Cortana can show you in notifications.

Windows updates

While Windows updates are essential for security and performance, they also have privacy implications.

Control Update Delivery Optimization

This feature allows your PC to share downloaded updates with other computers on your network or over the internet. While this can speed up updates for others, it may consume your bandwidth. To deactivate it:

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Delivery Optimization.
2. Toggle off "Allow downloads from other PCs."

Disable Automatic Driver Updates

Windows 10 automatically downloads and installs driver updates, which can sometimes cause compatibility issues. To deactivate this:

1. Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Click on the device you want to manage, then go to the Driver tab.
3. Click on Update Driver, then select Browse my computer for drivers.
4. Choose Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
5. Select the driver you want to use and click Next.

Advanced privacy

Looking to take your privacy a step further? Windows 10 offers additional options:

1. Use a Local Account

Consider signing into Windows 10 using a local account instead of a Microsoft account. This can significantly reduce the amount of personal data linked to your Windows profile and sent to Microsoft. While some features might be limited, it offers more privacy.

To change this, navigate Settings > Accounts > Your Info and click "Sign in with a local account instead."

2. Group Policy Editor (Advanced Users)

If you're tech-savvy and comfortable with technical configurations, the Group Policy Editor (available only on Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise Editions) offers granular control over various system settings. These are not easily accessible through the standard interface, including many privacy-related ones.

Through Group Policy, you can turn off telemetry, limit data collection, and restrict specific features. However, proceed with caution, as incorrect modifications can impact system stability.

Additional privacy tips

Taking control of your Windows 10 privacy doesn't stop with the built-in settings. Here are some additional measures you can adopt to safeguard your data further:

1. Privacy-focused browsers & search engines: Use browsers like Brave or Firefox and search engines like DuckDuckGo that prioritize user privacy and limit tracking.
2. App permissions: Be mindful of the permissions you grant to apps. Many apps request access to your camera, microphone, or location even when it is not essential for their functionality. Review these permissions carefully and restrict any unnecessary access.
3. Privacy policies: Before installing new apps, read their privacy policies to understand how they collect, store, and use your data. If a policy is vague or raises concerns, consider alternatives.
4. Use a VPN: A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address, making it harder for third parties to track your online activities.

We've thoroughly tested numerous VPNs and recommend these three for their robust privacy features, reliable performance, and ease of use:

1. ExpressVPN - Known for its exceptional speed and robust security, ExpressVPN is our number 1 VPN for beginners and experienced users.
TIP

In our testing we checked that all ExpressVPN plans work for Netflix. The one year plan is the best value: three months free and a 30 day risk-free trial.

2. Surfshark - This budget-friendly VPN keeps the quality high. It offers strong encryption, a no-logs policy, and the ability to connect unlimited devices simultaneously.
3. NordVPN - With a vast network of servers and advanced features like double VPN, NordVPN is an excellent choice for privacy-conscious users who want maximum security.

To learn more about each VPN and choose the best fit for your needs, read our comprehensive reviews.

Windows 10 privacy FAQs

Conclusion: Balancing privacy with functionality

Taking control of your Windows 10 privacy settings empowers you to protect your personal information and online activities. By making informed choices, you can significantly enhance your digital privacy without compromising the functionality and convenience you enjoy.

Privacy isn't a one-time fix. Revisit your settings periodically and stay informed about the latest privacy developments.

Take action

Ready to enhance your Windows 10 privacy? Check out our top picks for VPNs that boost your security without compromising performance.