Review Windows diagnostic and advertising privacy controls

Check the installed Windows edition and version

Microsoft's About instructions identify where to find the installed edition and version. Keep that information beside the relevant help page; managed devices and different updates can expose different controls. Microsoft: find the installed edition and version

1. Open Settings, then System and About. Under Windows specifications, read the edition and version. This guide follows the public Windows 11 documentation, not a verified session on your installed build. Microsoft: find the installed edition and version

Inspect the optional diagnostic-data choice

Microsoft distinguishes required from optional diagnostics. Microsoft: required and optional diagnostics

1. Open Start, Settings, Privacy and security, then Diagnostics and feedback. Inspect the diagnostic-data choice and any organization-managed notice. Read the matching explanation before choosing whether to send optional data. Microsoft: required and optional diagnostics

Inspect advertising ID and offers separately

Microsoft's current help gives distinct routes for advertising ID and Personalized offers. Follow the displayed label for the installed version. Microsoft: advertising ID and Personalized offers

1. Under Settings, Privacy and security, inspect Recommendations and offers for the advertising-ID choice. Separately inspect Personalized offers and its Windows-activity option. Compare the two scopes before changing either. Microsoft: advertising ID and Personalized offers

Read the local viewer storage consequences first

The Diagnostic Data Viewer requires its app and data viewing to be enabled. Microsoft warns that this can use up to 1 GB by default. Turning off viewing removes its local stored history and does not control Office viewing history. Read the current instructions before enabling a new local diagnostic store just to inspect privacy. Microsoft: local diagnostic viewer and storage

Distinguish device deletion from future collection

Microsoft says Delete diagnostic data concerns device diagnostics, does not remove account-associated diagnostics and does not stop future diagnostic transmission. An organization may retain another copy. Review the scope before deliberately choosing deletion. Microsoft: required and optional diagnostics

Inspect the account-level category and explanation

The Microsoft privacy dashboard is a separate account route. Its help distinguishes displayed activity from browser-cookie data and sign-in activity. Microsoft: account dashboard scope and gaps

1. Use the official dashboard help to identify the category relevant to the signed-in account. Inspect the available information and clearing explanation before choosing any deletion. Do not interpret absence from the dashboard as a complete inventory. Microsoft: account dashboard scope and gaps

Use the organization's documented route on a managed computer

Microsoft's compliance guide describes admin-controlled diagnostic access and deletion in qualifying configurations. If a control is managed, consult the organization's current policy and administrator. Microsoft: edition and managed-device context