Are you concerned about your privacy when using Windows 11? With each update, Microsoft's operating system includes new features that, while improving the user experience in many ways, can also put our personal data at risk if not managed properly. That's why it's important to learn the essential privacy settings for Windows 11.
This way, you can reduce the amount of information you share with both Microsoft and third parties. This article explains what you should do.
General Privacy Options: The First Wall of Defense
Before diving into more specific privacy settings, you should know that Windows 11 offers a centralized privacy settings panel called “Privacy & Security.”It can be easily accessed from the Settings app. Here you'll find most of the relevant options grouped into different sections.
Access this menu by following the path: Settings > Privacy and securityOnce inside, you'll find key sections like Windows Permissions, Activity History, App Permissions, and Diagnostics & Feedback.
Among the main general options worth reviewing are:
- Allow apps to show personalized ads through your unique identifier (advertising ID).
- Allow websites to access your language list to display relevant local content.
- Improve startup and search results by tracking app launches.
- Show suggested content in the Settings app.
Disabling any of these options reduces the collection of information about your habits, interests, and personal preferences. Review each one carefully and adjust those that do not add value to your daily life..
Microsoft Account vs. Local Account: Sync or Privacy?
When you set up Windows 11 for the first time, the system insists that you use a microsoft account. This option allows you to sync settings, passwords, history, and even apps between devices. However, it also means that A large part of your information is stored on the company's servers.
Do you want to maximize privacy? Switch to a local account. Do it from Settings > Accounts > Your information and look for the option "Sign in with a local account instead." Follow the system's instructions, making sure to copy any relevant data, especially if your drive is encrypted with BitLocker or you're using OneDrive.
Key points:
- By using a local account, you lose automatic sync features, but you gain more control over your data.
- Microsoft will no longer directly associate your daily activity with your personal online profile.
Controlling ad tracking and content personalization
Windows 11 uses your activity to offer you personalized ads and recommendationsThis may seem useful, but it opens the door to creating very detailed user profiles.
Turn this option off in Settings > Privacy & Security > General and look for the following: configurations:
- Allow apps to show personalized ads using my post ID.
- Allow websites to display locally relevant content by accessing my language list.
- Allow Windows to improve startup and search results by tracking app startups.
- Show me suggested content in the Settings app.
By disabling these features, You reduce the exposure of your tastes and habits to Microsoft and other applications.
Voice recognition, handwriting, and input customization
Windows 11 can store and analyze your voice, handwriting and typing to improve the accuracy of suggestions, transcribe your dictation, and personalize your experience. However, by enabling these features, you agree to the collection of data about your voice and typing patterns. To change this, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Voice and disable online voice recognition.
En “Personalizing handwriting and writing input”, you can also turn off custom dictionary creation, which prevents Windows 11 from storing your frequently used words or typing patterns for suggestions.
Advantages of disabling these features:
- Less biometric data sent to the cloud.
- Reducing the risk of sensitive information leaks about how you write or speak.
Adjusting diagnostics and feedback settings
Microsoft routinely collects diagnostic and telemetry data to correct errors, improve products and services, and offer personalized support. Although the company claims that most of this data does not directly identify the user, privacy risks remain.
To control what you send to Microsoft go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Feedback & Diagnostics:
- Required diagnostic data: They are mandatory and cannot be completely disabled.
- Send optional diagnostic data: You can disable this to avoid sending additional information about applications, web pages visited, and device usage.
- Improve handwriting and writing: If you don't want your typing patterns to be analyzed, disable this.
- Personalized Windows ExperiencesIf you're concerned about privacy, keep this option off. You'll avoid recommendations and ads based on your activity.
- Delete diagnostic data stored by Microsoft: You can request that the collected data be deleted from your device.
You can also Manage how often Windows asks you for feedback and even choose to never be bothered with opinion or survey pop-ups.
Activity history: pick up where you left off or more privacy?
Windows 11 Activity History It allows you to sync what you do across multiple devices, allowing you to easily continue an open document or application on another device. But it also means that sensitive information about your habits and open applications is stored in the cloud.
To disable activity history, do the following:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Activity history.
- Uncheck the box next to “Store my activity history on this device.”
- Delete existing history if you wish.
Search, cloud, and permissions in Windows Search
Windows 11 Search can look not only on your PC, but also on the cloud (OneDrive, SharePoint, Outlook, Bing) to deliver integrated results. This may be convenient, but it also means sharing information and documents stored on external services.
Steps to increase your privacy:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Search Permissions.
- Disable the “Cloud Content Search” options.
- Disable search history and search highlights if you don't want your PC to store details about what you search for.
Additionally, in “Searching Windows,” you can decide whether you want local files in certain folders to be excluded from indexing, preventing Windows from displaying private or sensitive documents in quick search results.
Managing OneDrive and Cloud Backup
OneDrive is increasingly integrated into Windows 11 and automatically backs up your documents, pictures, and system preferences. While this is useful for preventing data loss or facilitating restoration, it also means sensitive information is stored in the Microsoft cloud, potentially accessible to third parties or vulnerable to security breaches.
Turning off OneDrive is easy:
- Click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar.
- Accede to Settings> Account.
- Choose “Unlink this device.”
Also, if you do not want your preferences and applications to be saved in the cloud, go to Settings > Accounts > Windows Backup and turn off the “Remember my preferences” and “Remember my apps” options.
Location, camera, microphone, and other app permissions
Apps installed on Windows 11 can request access to a whole series of sensitive permissions: your location, camera, microphone, calendar, contacts, messages, files and much more.
To control these accesses, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > App Permissions, where you will find a list of the following permissions that you can manage individually:
- Location
- Camera
- Microphone
- Voice activation
- Notifications
- Account info
- Contacts
- Calendar
- Phone calls and their history
- Tasks
- Messages
- Radio signals (Bluetooth, etc.)
- Other devices
- Application Diagnostics
- Automatic file downloads
- Documents, music, pictures, videos and complete file system
- Screenshot borders
- Screenshots and applications
By clicking on each permission you can disable it for the entire system or just for specific applications.If you disable the system permission, no app will be able to request it. If you leave it enabled, you can choose which apps you want to have access to and which ones you don't.
Shared experiences and synchronization between devices
Windows 11 has features for sync activities and applications between different devices, facilitating the continuity of work or a document regardless of the device. This feature, while practical, means more personal data travels and is stored online.
To disable synchronization:
- Sign in Settings > Apps > Advanced app settings.
- Disable the “Share across devices” option.
Additional Considerations Beyond Windows 11
Configuring all these settings in Windows 11 is a big step, but Privacy doesn't end at the operating systemThere are other factors to consider when protecting your information:
- Use privacy-focused browsers, such as Firefox, Brave, or Edge properly configured, and review the tracking and cookie options.
- Choose search engines that don't track as much as Google or Bing, opting for alternatives like DuckDuckGo or StartPage if you want even more anonymity.
- Take a close look at the applications you installWhile permissions can be managed, some apps have built-in tracking systems that aren't obvious or transmit more data than they should. Prioritize open-source apps whenever possible.
Correctly configuring your privacy settings in Windows 11 not only protects your digital privacy, but also lets you decide what compromises you want to make regarding syncing, customization, and convenience. Take advantage of all these tips and take control of your personal information to the next level!