The Windows 11 24H2 update introduces remarkable kernel optimizations and DirectStorage enhancements, but it also brings the most aggressive data collection framework Microsoft has ever deployed. Out of the box, Windows 11 streams continuous diagnostic telemetry, records behavioral search queries, indexes local activity snapshots for Copilot Recall, and injects sponsored app recommendations across the Start Menu and File Explorer. In this engineering guide, we walk through step-by-step procedures to permanently disable Windows 11 telemetry and background advertising services without breaking Windows Update or core system stability.
Phase 1: Disable Diagnostic Telemetry via Group Policy Editor
Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions include the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc), which enforces privacy restrictions directly at the kernel policy layer, preventing Windows Update from silently reenabling disabled options.
Press Win + R, type
gpedit.msc, and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.Navigate to:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds.Double-click on Allow Diagnostic Data. Set the radio button to Disabled (or select Enabled and set the dropdown level to Diagnostic data off (Enterprise only)). Click Apply and OK.
In the same policy folder, locate Disable OneSettings Downloads. Set this policy to Enabled. This prevents Microsoft's cloud servers from dynamically overriding your local diagnostic settings.
Navigate to:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Cloud Content. Double-click Turn off Microsoft consumer experiences and set it to Enabled. This stops Windows from pre-installing sponsored trial applications.
Phase 2: Terminate Telemetry and Tracking Services via PowerShell
Even when policies are set, background Windows services like the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service (DiagTrack) and WAP Push Message Routing Service remain configured to launch automatically. Disabling these services releases background CPU cycles and eliminates hidden disk writes.
Open PowerShell as Administrator (right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin)), then execute the following clean commands sequentially:
# Stop and permanently disable the DiagTrack service
Stop-Service -Name "DiagTrack" -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Set-Service -Name "DiagTrack" -StartupType Disabled
# Disable WAP push telemetry routing
Stop-Service -Name "dmwappushservice" -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Set-Service -Name "dmwappushservice" -StartupType Disabled
# Disable Windows Feedback and Customer Experience Improvement tasks
Disable-ScheduledTask -TaskPath "\Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\" -TaskName "Consolidator" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Disable-ScheduledTask -TaskPath "\Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement Program\" -TaskName "UsbCeip" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Disable-ScheduledTask -TaskPath "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\" -TaskName "Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Phase 3: Turn Off Copilot Recall and Snapshot Ingestion
Windows 11 24H2 includes the underlying subsystem for Copilot Recall, which periodically captures encrypted desktop snapshots and runs optical character recognition (OCR) through an onboard NPU or CPU threads. Users who value confidentiality or system resources should disable this framework entirely.
# Registry command to disable Windows Recall and User Activity tracking
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot" /v "TurnOffWindowsCopilot" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot" /v "TurnOffWindowsCopilot" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsAI" /v "DisableAIDataAnalysis" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
Phase 4: Remove Start Menu Ads, Search Highlights, and Lock Screen Promos
To stop Microsoft advertising identifiers and sponsored suggestions across the user interface, adjust these key settings:
Start Menu Promotions: Open Settings > Personalization > Start. Turn toggle Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more to Off.
Advertising ID: Open Settings > Privacy & security > General. Turn off all four toggles: Let apps show me personalized ads, Let websites show me locally relevant content, Let Windows improve Start and search results, and Show me suggested content in the Settings app.
File Explorer Banner Ads: Open File Explorer, click the three dots menu (
...) > Options > View tab. Scroll down and uncheck Show sync provider notifications. Click Apply and OK.
Verification & Performance Payoff
Restart your computer once following these changes. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and sort by CPU usage. You will immediately notice that background system wake-ups from CompatTelRunner.exe, Sedlauncher.exe, and DiagTrack have dropped to absolute zero. Network packet inspections will confirm that persistent outbound pings to v10.events.data.microsoft.com are blocked, restoring total privacy and cleaner CPU frame pacing for competitive gaming.
Originally published on Tech Boss (How to Completely Disable Windows 11 Telemetry, Copilot Recall, and Background Ads (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)) — Explore interactive performance diagnostics, real-time benchmarks, and technical engineering advisories at imtechboss.com.
Top comments (0)