Tell me everything about syncing

I don't understand syncing fully. I don't use OneDrive I have it uninstalled on both laptops. I recently installed Windows 10 on a spare laptop/netbook and noticed that syncing is turned on automatically at instal which you don't easily see at first. When I went to search for something, using the search box in Windows 10, I was surprised to see a list of all my recent searches on my Windows 11 laptop. Presumably this is because of syncing, when both laptops are signed in with a Microsoft Account.

What I didn't realise was that microsoft could view my browser searches when I don't use edge, I use Firefox. And presumably is building a profile from my browser searches. So I was wondering about turning syncing off, at least on the Windows 10 laptop, but I don't know what knock on effects this will have. in particular with WI fi passwords and I'm not keen on the idea of my Wi-fi password being synced anyway.

For now Is there any way of stopping microsoft seeing all my browser searches?

"For now Is there any way of stopping microsoft seeing all my browser searches?"

I use Edge and MS does not know because I use suitable settings in Edge and don't sign in to Edge or PC with an MS Account.

I use OneDrive to store Favourites HTML file manually at intervals of my choice. No syncing.

Syncing is on only if you ignore the tick boxes during the OOBE of newly bought Laptop/PC. Pretty much everyone of those tick boxes should be unticked.

You can also delete data that MS has on your Account.

I turn off all that junk, I don't need to be logged into a Microsoft account to use my computer. In addition OneDrive has been banished from all my machines. I use MEGA to provide me with on-line access to my data wherever I might be.

I ticked no to everything during oobe (Windows 10).

Helmut said:

"For now Is there any way of stopping microsoft seeing all my browser searches?"

I use Edge and MS does not know because I use suitable settings in Edge and don't sign in to Edge or PC with an MS Account.

I use OneDrive to store Favourites HTML file manually at intervals of my choice. No syncing.

Syncing is on only if you ignore the tick boxes during the OOBE of newly bought Laptop/PC. Pretty much everyone of those tick boxes should be unticked.

You can also delete data that MS has on your Account.

Click to expand...

Thanks. How do you delete that on your Microsoft account? I do have firefox signed in on both computers and bookmarks and passwords synced with Firefox. So it could be firefox that allowed the searches to show. But it's part of Windows 10 so presumably Microsoft sees them too?

"I ticked no to everything during oobe (Windows 10)."
Obviously you did not. Anyway that is one of the first checks you do with Windows settings just to confirm Syncing is Off.

"How do you delete that on your Microsoft account?"

Open your MS Account(s) using the web access method, Settings > General > Privacy and data.