Microsoft uses diagnostic data to keep Windows secure and up to date, troubleshoot problems, and make product improvements as described in more detail below. Regardless of whether you choose to send Optional diagnostic data, your device will be just as secure and will operate normally. This data is transmitted to Microsoft and stored with one or more unique identifiers that can help us recognize an individual user on an individual device and understand the device's service issues and use patterns.
Required diagnostic data is information about your device, its settings and capabilities, and whether it is performing properly. This is the minimum level of diagnostic data needed to help keep your device reliable, secure, and operating normally.
Optional diagnostic data includes additional details about your device and its settings, capabilities, and device health. Optional diagnostic data also includes information about the websites you browse, device activity (sometimes referred to as usage), and enhanced error reporting. Optional diagnostic data can also include the memory state of your device when a system or app crash occurs (which may unintentionally include parts of a file you were using when a problem occurred). Required diagnostic data will always be included when you choose to send Optional diagnostic data. While your device will be just as secure and operate normally when only sending Required diagnostic data, the additional information we collect when you've chosen to send Optional diagnostic data makes it easier for us to identify and fix issues and make product improvements that benefit all Windows customers.
This tutorial will show you how to change diagnostic data settings to either disable or send required or optional diagnostic data to Microsoft about your Windows 11 PC.
You must be signed in as an administrator to change diagnostic data settings.
Turning off Send optional diagnostic data will also disable Improve inking and typing.
Send optional diagnostic data is required to be turned on to join the Windows Insider Program to get preview builds of Windows 11.
Contents
- Option One: Change Diagnostic Data Settings in Settings
- Option Two: Change Diagnostic Data Settings using REG file
- Option Three: Specify Diagnostic Data Setting in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Four: Specify Diagnostic Data Setting using REG file
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on Privacy & security on the left side, and click/tap on Diagnostics & feedback on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Turn On (optional - default) or Off (required) Send optional diagnostic data for what you want. (see screenshots below)
4 You can now close Settings if you like.
1 Do step 2 (optional) or step 3 (required) below for what you want.
2 Turn On "Send optional diagnostic data"
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_ON_to_send_optional_diagnostic_data.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Diagnostics\DiagTrack]
"ShowedToastAtLevel"=dword:00000003
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection]
"AllowTelemetry"=dword:00000003
"MaxTelemetryAllowed"=dword:000000033 Turn Off "Send optional diagnostic data" to Only Send Required Diagnostic Data
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_OFF_to_send_required_diagnostic_data.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Diagnostics\DiagTrack]
"ShowedToastAtLevel"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection]
"AllowTelemetry"=dword:00000001
"MaxTelemetryAllowed"=dword:000000014 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Four to specify the same policy.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration>Administrative Templates>Windows Components>Data Collection and Preview Builds
3 In the right pane of Data Collection and Preview Builds in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Allow Diagnostic Data policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (default), step 6 (disable), step 7 (required), or step 8 (optional) below for what you want.
5 Use Default Diagnostic Data Settings
This will allow using Option One and Option Two.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)
6 Turn Off and Disable Diagnostic Data
This will turn off and disable sending diagnostic data, and prevent using Option One and Option Two.
A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Diagnostic data off in the "Options" drop menu, click/tap on OK, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below step 8)
7 Specify Send Required Diagnostic Data
This will prevent using Option One and Option Two.
A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Send required diagnostic data in the "Options" drop menu, click/tap on OK, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below step 8)
8 Specify Send Optional Diagnostic Data
This will prevent using Option One and Option Two.
A) Select (dot) Enabled, select Send optional diagnostic data in the "Options" drop menu, click/tap on OK, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)
9 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
1 Do step 2 (default), step 3 (disable), step 4 (required), or step 5 (optional) below for what you want.
2. Use Default Diagnostic Data Settings
This will allow using Option One and Option Two.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.
Default_user_choice_diagnostic_data.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection]
"AllowTelemetry"=- 3. Turn Off and Disable Diagnostic Data
This will turn off and disable sending diagnostic data, and prevent using Option One and Option Two.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.
Disable_send_diagnostic_data.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection]
"AllowTelemetry"=dword:00000000 4. Specify Send Required Diagnostic Data
This will prevent using Option One and Option Two.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.
Specify_send_required_diagnostic_data.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection]
"AllowTelemetry"=dword:00000001 5. Specify Send Optional Diagnostic Data
This will prevent using Option One and Option Two.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 6 below.
Specify_send_optional_diagnostic_data.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection]
"AllowTelemetry"=dword:000000036 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
7 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
8 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Related Tutorials
Attachments
Last edited:
