How to configure Windows 11 for maximum privacy

Since the introduction of Windows 11 in 2021, many users have complained about the extensive list of information it collects regularly from them. Comparisons have been made repeatedly with Apple macOS, as the users feel they provide a safer experience with their privacy policies. However, you can configure your operating system and eliminate privacy concerns.

Hence, keep reading, as this article will successfully guide you through configuring Windows 11 for maximum privacy.

A comprehensive guide on configuring Windows 11 for maximum privacy

Microsoft concisely tracks a lot of data from every system through various options that can be turned off on your device. It tracks advertisements, locations, browsing habits, and much more. However, all of this can be prevented with the following steps.

1) Turning off ad and location tracking

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The first and foremost options you must turn off are the ad and location tracking. Windows 11 tracks your browsing habits to provide you with ads relevant to them through an advertising ID, and you can turn it off.

The same can be said about location tracking. It tracks your system's locations to provide relevant information and updates depending on your location. However, you might want to turn that off for maximum privacy too.

To turn off ad tracking:

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > General.
Turn off the "Let Apps show me personalized ads using my advertising ID" setting.

To turn off location tracking:

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location.
Turn off the "Location Services" option.

2) Turning off your activity history

Although there is no Timeline feature as in the previous version, Windows 11 surprisingly still secretly collects your activity history. It is to collect information about your browsing habits, the websites you visit, your Microsoft accounts, and more.

You can turn this off by traversing to Settings > Privacy & Security > Activity history and turning off the "Store my activity history on this device" option.

3) Changing your software permissions

Some Windows apps can breach your privacy as several access your camera, microphone, location, media, photos, and videos. However, you can limit these apps from accessing your content by deciding which apps have permission and which do not.

To change your software permissions:

Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Click the three-dotted icon on your desired app's right, and click Advanced options.
Here you can set new permissions for your preferred app.

4) Replace your Microsoft email with a local email

To begin with, it is Microsoft that collects all of your information through your email ID. You have likely signed into your system with a Microsoft email. Although the company does not want it, you can set a new email for your system instead.

Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run menu.
Type netplwiz and press enter.
Type your new email in the box and click the "Sign in without a Microsoft account (not recommended)" option below.
Click Next, then click Finish to complete the process.

5) Clean the diagnostic data

Windows also collects data on your Hardware daily. Microsoft claims that it is for the user's benefit as this data helps it constantly improve its services and the user's device.

However, many consider this as another tactic for collecting information. Hence, if you are one of them, you can control and clean this data from the system. Although there is no way that you can stop Microsoft from collecting this data entirely, you can still limit it to a large extent.

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security> Diagnostics & Feedback.
You can turn off the "Send optional diagnostic data" option from the Diagnostic data section.
Turn off the "Improve inking and typing," "Tailored Experiences," and "View Diagnostic Data" sliders too.
Finally, click "Delete Diagnostic data" and "Delete" to remove this from the system.

These are the best ways in which you can improve the privacy of your system manifold. However, if you are still paranoid about your privacy, you can even resort to severe measures, such as signing out from Cortana, removing emails, not using drives, and more.