Activity history button disappeared


B

Bill Benson

New member
Local time
4:10 AM
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4
OS
windows 11
Been using the activity history to delete history for years and all of a sudden it disappeared. First I rebooted my PC to see if it came back. It didn't. Then updated the latest window 11. That didn't help. Next I set my PC date back a week to where it was available and rebooted again. That did Nothing. Did Microsoft delete it so I couldn't Clear my History ? Is Microsoft still collecting my History even though the button isn't there anymore ? I haven't had any virus or malware to cause it to be deleted. It's a Mystery !
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
Exactly what do you mean by "activity history" button? Where exactly is this "button"? Windows? Browser? (which browser)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4061
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme+ 4gb Solidigm nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4061
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26100.4061
Activity History seems to have been eliminated by MS. If you read what they've stated, it says that they've stopped storing the data on MS servers. BUT, it appears that the mechanism for that was to just remove it entirely (effectively).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel Ultra 7 155H
    Memory
    16gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Arc integrated
    Hard Drives
    SSD
Levitate11 said:
Activity History seems to have been eliminated by MS. If you read what they've stated, it says that they've stopped storing the data on MS servers. BUT, it appears that the mechanism for that was to just remove it entirely (effectively).
Click to expand...
Source?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 2xH2 (latest update ... forever anal)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Slim S01
    CPU
    Intel i5-12400
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT730
    Sound Card
    OOBE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 32"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    512GB KIOXIA NVMe
    1TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    OOBE
    Case
    OOBE
    Cooling
    OOBE
    Keyboard
    BT
    Mouse
    BT
    Browser
    Brave FFox Chrome Opera
    Antivirus
    KIS
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 2xH2 (latest update ... 4ever anal)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 15
    CPU
    i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Samsung NVMe 512GB
    + numerous/multiple SSD Type C USB enclosures
    Internet Speed
    NBN FTTN 50
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS
Hello Bill, and welcome to the forum. :alien:

Activity History has indeed been removed from Settings.

You should still be able to use option 2 in the tutorial below to clear your activity history.

www.elevenforum.com

Clear Activity History in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to clear activity history for your account in Windows 11. Activity history helps keep track of the things you do on your device, such as the apps and services you use, the files you open, and the websites you browse. Your activity history is stored locally on...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
idgat said:
Source?
Click to expand...

Well, if you go to Settings > Privacy & Security, you can no longer find "Activity".
Brink said:
Hello Bill, and welcome to the forum. :alien:

Activity History has indeed been removed from Settings.

You should still be able to use option 2 in the tutorial below to clear your activity history.

www.elevenforum.com

Clear Activity History in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to clear activity history for your account in Windows 11. Activity history helps keep track of the things you do on your device, such as the apps and services you use, the files you open, and the websites you browse. Your activity history is stored locally on...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
Click to expand...

Yes... MS is likely still allowing people to remove it from their MS accounts. But they are no longer collecting it there so it's delete only for now. But it's not stored on the local machine. Since they said they'd stop collecting it on their side, that means it's de-facto gone. At least for the current 24H2.

As for MS's statements, it's all been notably obfuscated: Windows activity history and your privacy - Microsoft Support:

Note: If you have previous activity history stored in the cloud before Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2, January 23, 2024-KB5034204 update, you can use the Clear activity history button to delete previously stored data in the cloud. Otherwise, your activity history will be automatically deleted within 30 days from when your data was last synced to the cloud​

Notice that they don't mention 24H2, because they've stopped storing it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel Ultra 7 155H
    Memory
    16gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Arc integrated
    Hard Drives
    SSD
If I had to guess, MS removed Windows Activity History to comply with EEA (the "EU") rules on data privacy. You know, or get fined again.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Levitate11 said:
Well, if you go to Settings > Privacy & Security, you can no longer find "Activity".
Click to expand...
No, the source of your statement ...
Levitate11 said:
If you read what they've stated, it says that they've stopped storing the data on MS servers. BUT, it appears that the mechanism for that was to just remove it entirely (effectively).
Click to expand...
Who are "they" that you allege?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 2xH2 (latest update ... forever anal)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Slim S01
    CPU
    Intel i5-12400
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT730
    Sound Card
    OOBE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 32"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    512GB KIOXIA NVMe
    1TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    OOBE
    Case
    OOBE
    Cooling
    OOBE
    Keyboard
    BT
    Mouse
    BT
    Browser
    Brave FFox Chrome Opera
    Antivirus
    KIS
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 2xH2 (latest update ... 4ever anal)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 15
    CPU
    i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Samsung NVMe 512GB
    + numerous/multiple SSD Type C USB enclosures
    Internet Speed
    NBN FTTN 50
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS
idgat said:
No, the source of your statement ...
Click to expand...

Settings > Privacy & Security, you can no longer find "Activity". Go there. Let me know if you find the Activity settings. You can be your own source on that.

idgat said:
Who are "they" that you allege?
Click to expand...

Try this:

Windows activity history and your privacy - Microsoft Support

Find out how Microsoft uses activity history data to provide personalized cross-device experiences and to help improve its products and services.
support.microsoft.com support.microsoft.com

Note: The option to send activity history to Microsoft has been deprecated from Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2, January 23, 2024-KB5034204 update. Previous Windows 11 versions before this update would still have the option available on their activity history page, and if enabled, activity history data will still be sent to Microsoft. You can either turn this option off or update to the latest Windows version to get the most recent updates.​
​
You can't send it to MS any longer per the statement above. You can't control it locally because the options are no longer there in 24H2.

Note: If you have previous activity history stored in the cloud before Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2, January 23, 2024-KB5034204 update, you can use the Clear activity history button to delete previously stored data in the cloud. Otherwise, your activity history will be automatically deleted within 30 days from when your data was last synced to the cloud.​

The clearing of previously stored data can apparently only be done via an account at MS, assuming you have one and you let it previously collect history. There do not appear to be any local options remaining in 24H2 to clear your own machine.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel Ultra 7 155H
    Memory
    16gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Arc integrated
    Hard Drives
    SSD
Bill Benson said:
Been using the activity history to delete history for years and all of a sudden it disappeared. First I rebooted my PC to see if it came back. It didn't. Then updated the latest window 11. That didn't help. Next I set my PC date back a week to where it was available and rebooted again. That did Nothing. Did Microsoft delete it so I couldn't Clear my History ? Is Microsoft still collecting my History even though the button isn't there anymore ? I haven't had any virus or malware to cause it to be deleted. It's a Mystery !
Click to expand...
The "activity history" button was in Windows Privacy & Security. I would click on it to clear my history every day before shutting down my PC. I didn't make any changes or add-ons. It just wasn't there anymore.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
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