Privacy and Security Change Diagnostic Data Settings in Windows 11


  • Staff
Diagnostic_Data_banner.png

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.

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.


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




Option One

Change Diagnostic Data Settings in Settings


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)


Diagnostic_data_Settings-1.png

3 Turn On (optional - default) or Off (required) Send optional diagnostic data for what you want. (see screenshots below)

Diagnostic_data_Settings-3.png
Diagnostic_data_Settings-2.png

4 You can now close Settings if you like.




Option Two

Change Diagnostic Data Settings using REG file


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:00000003

3 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:00000001

4 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.




Option Three

Specify Diagnostic Data Setting in Local Group Policy Editor


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

Diagnostic_data_gpedit-1.png

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)​

Diagnostic_data_gpedit-2.png

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)​

Diagnostic_data_gpedit-3.png

9 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.




Option Four

Specify Diagnostic Data Setting using REG file


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:00000003

6 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


 

Attachments

  • Turn_OFF_to_send_required_diagnostic_data.reg
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  • Turn_ON_to_send_optional_diagnostic_data.reg
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  • Default_user_choice_diagnostic_data.reg
    580 bytes · Views: 292
  • Disable_send_diagnostic_data.reg
    614 bytes · Views: 304
  • Specify_send_optional_diagnostic_data.reg
    606 bytes · Views: 327
  • Specify_send_required_diagnostic_data.reg
    614 bytes · Views: 306
  • Diagnostic_Data.png
    Diagnostic_Data.png
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Last edited:
Does the description of "diagnostic data off" still apply today? I am talking about this part:
Allow Diagnostic Data said:
Using this value, no diagnostic data is sent from the device. This value is only supported on Enterprise, Education, and Server editions.

What I get from this is that if I have the Pro for Workstations edition of Windows, I won't be able to benefit from this setting at all.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    TempleOS
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Does the description of "diagnostic data off" still apply today? I am talking about this part:


What I get from this is that if I have the Pro for Workstations edition of Windows, I won't be able to benefit from this setting at all.

Hello Shizwiz, and welcome. :alien:

Correct, "diagnostic data off" is only supported on the Enterprise, Education, and Server editions.

We can basically only toggle on/off send optional diagnostic data.
 

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
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
Works like a champ on Win 11 Ent 22H2 22621.1848. Thank You, Brink
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    WMI says "To be Filled By OEM"
    Keyboard
    Plastic
    Mouse
    I have not seen any lately
    Internet Speed
    Insert AIM ICON :)
    Browser
    The first one I find to double click on.
    Antivirus
    Sandbox

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