This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to delete diagnostic data that Microsoft has collected about your Windows 11 or Windows 10 device.
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.
You can delete diagnostic data for your device. This does not delete the diagnostic data that is associated with your Microsoft account, nor does it stop your diagnostic data from being sent to Microsoft. If your organization has enrolled the device to services that rely on this data, your IT department might have a copy of this device’s diagnostic data.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable deleting diagnostic data that Microsoft has collected about this device.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Deleting Diagnostic Data in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Deleting Diagnostic Data using REG file
EXAMPLE: Delete diagnostic data disabled
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Two to configure 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 Disable deleting diagnostic data policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.
5 Enable Deleting Diagnostic Data
This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below.
6 Disable Deleting Diagnostic Data
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below.
7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
2 Enable Deleting 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.
Enable_Delete_diagnostic_data.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection]
"DisableDeviceDelete"=-3 Disable Deleting Diagnostic Data
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_Delete_diagnostic_data.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection]
"DisableDeviceDelete"=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.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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