Help improve Microsoft products by sending the results from searches on the web


catspyjamas

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So this telemetry MS has introduced into Edge under Privacy: "Help improve Microsoft products by sending the results from searches on the web" - I have turned it off, so was surprised when I got a pop up on relaunching Edge later saying MS was improving my search results or something, with a button to go to my settings, where the option was re-enabled. Not by me! So I disabled it again.

Now, within 5-10 mins of launching Edge, I get the pop up again, every single time. And every time I have to disable the option. I do not have sync settings enabled in Edge or my general Windows settings, so that is not the problem. Anyone else finding this very annoying behaviour? MS needs to learn no means no!

Win 11 Pro and Edge 96.0.1054.53.

EDIT: I have discovered the same thing happens for me on Edge on Win 10 too. I've also discovered the the option is not re-enabling itself if I open a settings page WITH the pop up still there, but then the only way to get rid of the pop up is to either click on one of the two buttons it shows. There is no "x". One is "got it" and one is "Manage settings". Both options re-enable the option, and so I disable it again. The pop up still happens soon after Edge is launched though.

I don't appreciate the nagging or the interruption to go and disable it all the time. Will have to go and provide some feedback, but before I do, is this happening for anyone else?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Zbook 15v
    CPU
    i7-8850H
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD 530 + Quadro P600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    When used as a desktop - Dell P2415Q (4K)
    Screen Resolution
    4K
    Hard Drives
    1 x SSD
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX Keys
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Anywhere 3
    Internet Speed
    4G Wireless Broadband. Speeds vary from 260/50 to 70/20 (Mb) depending on day/time.
    Browser
    Edge, Chrome. Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender. MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    No battery - spicy pillow removed. Laptop is permanently plugged in.
Not seeing this behaviour with my Edge, it is possible the popup is generated due to another setting you have enabled/ turned off requiring confirmation for each new session, can't say which setting though as I don't have the issue, sorry.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 22H2, build: 22621.521
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Scan 3XS Custom 1700
    CPU
    Intel i7-12700K 3.6GHz Base (5.0GHz Turbo)
    Motherboard
    Asus ProArt Creator B660 D4
    Memory
    64GB DDR 3600Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Tuff RTX 3080 10GB OC
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gigabyte G32QC 32inch 16:9 curved @2560 x 1440p 165Hz Freesync Premium Pro/ Dell SE2422H 24inch 16:9 1920 x 1080p 75Hz Freesync
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440p & 1920 x 1080p
    Hard Drives
    WD SN570 1TB NVME (Boot), Samsung 870QVO 1TB (SSD), SanDisk 3D Ultra 500Gb (SSD) x2, Seagate 3Tb Expansion Desk (Ext HDD), 2x Toshiba 1Tb P300 (Ext HDD)
    PSU
    Corsair RM1000X Modular
    Case
    Corsair 4000D Airflow Desktop
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H150i RGB Pro XT 360mm Liquid Cooler, 3 x 120mm fans, 1x Exhaust
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Ergonomic
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    800Mbs
    Browser
    Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes
In Settings, Privacy & security I have the 'Send optional diagnostic data' set to off.

This is my settings in Edge,

1639306211591.png
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro & 🐥.
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700U with Radeon Vega Mobile Gfx
    Motherboard
    ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. X509DA (FP5)
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    RX Vega 10 Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz)
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080@60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 2TB NVMe 1.3
    Internet Speed
    25 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ACER NITRO
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5800H / 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    CZ Scala_CAS (FP6)
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4 SDRAM 3200 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6 GB GDDR6 SDRAM
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio. NVIDIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" LED backlight 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) 144 Hz
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 Evo Plus 2TB NVMe M.2
    PSU
    180 Watt, 19.5 V
    Mouse
    Lenovo Bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    25 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
I have mine turned off and it stays off. Like @Fabler2 I do not send any optional stuff to MS if ever I did I would use the feedback hub
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware M18 R1
    CPU
    13th Gen Core i9 13900HX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 @4800MHz 2x16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce RTX 4090HX 16GB
    Sound Card
    Nvidia HD / Realtek ALC3254
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18" QHD+
    Screen Resolution
    25660 X 1600
    Hard Drives
    C: KIOXIA (Toshiba) 2TB KXG80ZNV2T04 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
    D: KIOXIA (Toshiba) 2TB KXG80ZNV2T04 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
    Case
    Dark Metallic Moon
    Keyboard
    Alienware M Series per-key AlienFX RGB
    Mouse
    Alienware AW610M
    Browser
    Chrome and Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton
    Other Info
    Killer E3000 Ethernet Controller
    Killer Killer AX1690 Wi-Fi Network Adaptor Wi-Fi 6E
    Bluetooth 5.2
    Alienware Z01G Graphic Amplifier
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware Area 51m R2
    CPU
    10th Gen i-9 10900 K
    Memory
    32Gb Dual Channel DDR4 @ 8843MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia RTX 2080 Super
    Sound Card
    Nvidia
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Hard Drive C: Samsung 2TB SSD PM981a NVMe
    Hard Drive D:Samsung 2TB SSD 970 EVO Plus
    Mouse
    Alienware 610M
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Norton

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 22H2 19045.4046
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell/Vostro 470 (Year 2012)
    CPU
    Intel i7-3770 @ 3.40GHz
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD 7500 Radeon HD Series
    Sound Card
    Realtek Hi-Def Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U2412M
    Hard Drives
    1 TB 7200 HDD
    Keyboard
    Dell/USB
    Mouse
    Dell/USB
    Internet Speed
    100/10
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Security/MalwareBytes Premium
MS needs to learn no means no!
MS respects only enterprise users (paying customers), policy would lock it, but unfortunately there is no policy for this setting.

I don't appreciate the nagging or the interruption to go and disable it all the time.
You can try to disable those features. Also this flag:
edge://flags/#edge-show-feature-recommendations

Code:
rem Allow personalization of ads, Microsoft Edge, search, news and other Microsoft services by sending browsing history, favorites and collections, usage and other browsing data to Microsoft
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v "PersonalizationReportingEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f

rem Enable full-tab promotional content
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v "PromotionalTabsEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f

rem Allow recommendations and promotional notifications from Microsoft Edge
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v "ShowRecommendationsEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f

rem Choose whether users can receive customized background images and text, suggestions, notifications, and tips for Microsoft services)
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge" /v "SpotlightExperiencesAndRecommendationsEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 3600 & No fTPM (07/19)
    Motherboard
    MSI B450 TOMAHAWK 7C02v1E & IFX TPM (07/19)
    Memory
    4x 8GB ADATA XPG GAMMIX D10 DDR4 3200MHz CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Radeon RX 580 ARMOR 8G OC @48FPS (08/19)
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Z (11/16)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" AOC G2460VQ6 (01/19)
    Screen Resolution
    1920×1080@75Hz & FreeSync (DisplayPort)
    Hard Drives
    ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 Pro SSD 512GB (07/19)
    PSU
    Seasonic M12II-520 80 Plus Bronze (11/16)
    Case
    Lian Li PC-7NB & 3x Noctua NF-S12A FLX@700rpm (11/16)
    Cooling
    CPU Cooler Noctua NH-U12S@700rpm (07/19)
    Keyboard
    HP Wired Desktop 320K + Rabalux 76017 Parker (01/24)
    Mouse
    Logitech M330 Silent Plus (04/23)
    Internet Speed
    400/40 Mbps via RouterOS (05/21) & TCP Optimizer
    Browser
    Edge (No FB/Google) & Brave for YouTube & LibreWolf for FB
    Antivirus
    NoAV & Binisoft WFC & NextDNS
    Other Info
    Headphones: Sennheiser RS170 (09/10)
    Phone: Samsung Galaxy Xcover 7 (02/24)
Thanks for the replies. To those who said you have the setting turned off - I do too! I also do not like to send optional stuff to MS. The problem is the pop up that happens constantly, that cannot be gotten rid of without choosing either "Got It" or "Manage settings". Either choice will re-enable this particular telemetry setting. Of course I can promptly disable it, but then I get another pop up either later on in the browsing session, or a short time after opening a new session of Edge. I think it's happened about five times already today.

@TairikuOkami - cheers for the info! I was actually just curious if it was just me, or if others were finding this too. (And there you go - pop up number six as I type). I'll try disabling the flag in Edge and see if that helps. If it doesn't, I may have a go at the registry edits, though to be fair I prefer not to go messing about with the registry. Thanks for taking the time to share the workarounds.

@DigitalGoat yeah I wondered the same & I've been through all my settings in Edge, and also all relevant settings I can think of in Windows Settings, but I can't see what's doing this. I did think perhaps CCleaner, but I haven't run that 6 times today, so can't be that. If I remember I had a similar experience with pop ups in Edge when they introduced sleeping tabs. They happened most browser sessions from memory, but after a few weeks eventually stopped. Hopefully this one will too. MS really want that telemetry it seems.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Zbook 15v
    CPU
    i7-8850H
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD 530 + Quadro P600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    When used as a desktop - Dell P2415Q (4K)
    Screen Resolution
    4K
    Hard Drives
    1 x SSD
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX Keys
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Anywhere 3
    Internet Speed
    4G Wireless Broadband. Speeds vary from 260/50 to 70/20 (Mb) depending on day/time.
    Browser
    Edge, Chrome. Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender. MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    No battery - spicy pillow removed. Laptop is permanently plugged in.

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