DEV Community

‎
‎

Posted on

Stop Windows 10 From Spying On You in 2026

Every second you're on the computer, Microsoft is quietly watching. Every keystroke, every app, every location ping. It's all going up to their headquarters in Redmond. And if you care at all about privacy, you should do something about it.

Before you go off and start flipping every switch in Windows 10 please set a restore point this will be your safety net in case something breaks or acts weird. I am not responsible for any damages caused by these changes. If you ever want to undo what you did, just go back through the same settings in reverse. Everything can be reverted.

1. Stop using a Microsoft account

If you're logged in with a Microsoft account, guess what? You're giving them basically everything. Your settings, your apps, even your typing habits.

  1. Settings > Accounts > Your Info
  2. Click "Sign in with a local account instead"
  3. Make a username and password, then sign out
  4. Log back in with the local account you just created

2. Turn off location

Windows loves knowing where you are. Do you really need your PC telling Microsoft you're at Starbucks right now?

  1. Settings > Privacy > Location
  2. Click Change > toggle off location
  3. Scroll down > clear device location history

3. Kill the advertising ID and personalization

Surprise! Microsoft loves ads. Every account gets an advertising ID.

  1. Settings > Privacy > General
  2. Turn off "Let apps use advertising ID"
  3. Turn off "Send Microsoft info about how I write"
  4. Turn off "Show me suggested content in Settings"

4. Limit diagnostic data and feedback

Windows needs crash reports. Sure, some of that helps. But sending it to Microsoft is not needed at all. Someone else's PC will help fix problems in the next update.

  1. Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback
  2. Set "Diagnostic data" to Required only
  3. Set "Feedback frequency" to Never
  4. Click Delete diagnostic data

5. Turn off Cortana and web search

Cortana… the "helpful assistant" that listens to you all the time. It's time we leave you back on planet Reach.

Click Search, open Cortana settings, turn everything off
To stop web results in Start:

  1. Run regedit
  2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
  3. Right click and create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value called DisableSearchBoxSuggestions and set it to 1 Note: This entry is case sensitive, ensure that capitalization and spelling is correct
  4. Restart your PC

6. Disable Connected User Experiences and Telemetry

This one is a no brainer. Telemetry sends data in the background all the time.

  1. Open services.msc
  2. Find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry
  3. Double-click > Startup type: Disabled
  4. Click Stop, then apply

If you see Diagnostics Tracking Service on services its the same process.

7. Registry tweak for telemetry (advanced)

If you know what you’re doing, the registry gives extra control.

  1. Open regedit
  2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection
  3. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value called AllowTelemetry and set it to 0 Note: This entry is case sensitive, ensure that capitalization and spelling is correct
  4. Restart your PC

Final thoughts

Windows 10 is not built to protect your privacy. You have to fight for it. These steps won’t make you invisible, but they stop your PC from being an open mic to Microsoft. Privacy isn’t optional. It’s a human right. Take control. Your data is yours.

Top comments (0)