Stop Microsoft from spying on you on Windows 10. Opt out of data collection and personalized ads by Windows 10 for PC, phone, mobile phone, apps, browser, Bing, and Microsoft account.In this post, we’ll see how to block or disable ads in Cortana, on the lock screen, in the Start menu, in the Action Center, in the Ink workspace, in Skype, OneDrive, and other personalized ads in Windows 10 , and tighten up your account settings. Microsoft and Bing too.
Not all Windows 10 users may know, but they are tracked by default. That said, Windows 10 claims to be a very secure operating system with detailed privacy settings, but there are still many things to keep in mind. Windows 10 actually collects more of your browsing, location history, communication history, and contacts from messages and apps than its predecessors.
Every time you visit a Microsoft website, tracking cookies are installed on your computer and track all web browsing. This data is then sent to Microsoft’s servers and used by Bing.com to serve targeted ads to you. It doesn’t matter if you use Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, or any other browser, Microsoft is always tracking you.
To disable or remove ads in Windows 10, you need to:
- Visit the Microsoft Account & Bing Dashboard to strengthen your privacy settings.
- Go to Settings> Personalization and turn off ads for the lock screen, Cortana, and the Start menu.
- Follow this procedure to turn off ads in Windows Ink Workspace, Skype, OneDrive in File Explorer, Action Center, and more.
Content
- Don’t let Microsoft spy on you on Windows 10
- Disable personalized ads on Windows 10
- Bing privacy settings
- Blocking ads in Windows 10
- Disable targeted ads in Windows 10 settings
- Windows 10 privacy settings
- Remove Ads from Windows Ink Workspace
- Remove Cortana Ads
- Remove Get Skype Notifications
- Remove ads in Action Center
Don’t let Microsoft spy on you on Windows 10
In short, Microsoft tracks and adds your data to your Advertising ID . Everything you’re looking for, every program you download, every app you use, and every website you visit, is tracked and submitted to Bing and the Windows Store.
In fact, if you’re signed into your Microsoft account, you send most of your personal data to Microsoft’s servers, including the list of devices you use. Microsoft Edge even saves every character you enter to search for something.
Fortunately, you can opt out of collecting data and personalized ads from Microsoft on Windows 10, phones or mobile devices, apps, web browser, and Microsoft account.
Google has a Google toolbar that allows you to view the data associated with your Google account and allows you to change your Google privacy settings. You can also manage your Facebook ad settings. Microsoft also offers the Personal Information Panel, which we talked about earlier. Since the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft has added more features to it, which we’ll take a look at now.
Disable personalized ads on Windows 10
Go to choice.microsoft.com/en-us/opt-out and adjust the options in the right pane.
You will see three settings:
- Personalized ads in this browser
- Personalized ads when I use a Microsoft account.
- Personalized ads on Windows
Even though you can disable the former, even if you are logged into your Windows computer using your local account, to disable 2 and 3, you need to log in using your Microsoft account.
Remember, that:
“To opt out of personalized ads on this browser, your browser must accept third-party and third-party cookies. Instructions for enabling cookies may be available in your browser settings, privacy or help documentation. ”
If you want Microsoft to deliver ads to you, click On. To show “general” ads, click “Off”.
Microsoft says
“To create a more personalized online experience, some of the ads you may receive on Microsoft websites and applications are tailored to your previous activities, searches, and site visits. You are in control, and here you can make the right choice of advertising. ”
Read . Disable ad ID to disable targeting. Disable ad ID to disable ad targeting.
Bing privacy settings
The second option is to configure your Bing privacy settings .
Go to bing.com/account/personalization and sign in with your Microsoft account.
Clear your saved places, your personal information, your search history, etc. Follow the link and hit ‘ Clear All ‘.
Also check your settings with other Microsoft services such as Xbox, OneDrive, Outlook, and Microsoft Advertising . Click on the related links and adjust the settings according to your preference. These Microsoft services also store your data.
If Cortana is enabled on your devices , you unknowingly transfer all of your personal data, such as contacts, locations, calendar, and browsing history, to Microsoft’s servers. Click Clear to clear all your data and you won’t get Cortana recommendations on your device.
More tips here . Opt out of data tracking and targeted ads.
Blocking ads in Windows 10
Disable targeted ads in Windows 10 settings
Ads that appear in these settings may be disabled.
Go to Settings> General> Disable Show suggestions in the Settings app .
This should help.
Windows 10 privacy settings
We’ve already seen how to change Windows 10 privacy settings in detail. Let’s go over the appropriate one again.
Press Win + I to open Windows 10 settings. Go to the “Privacy” section and change your privacy settings.
Disable Allow apps to use my advertising ID to work with apps . This also resets your advertising ID.
In Windows 10 Mobile, go to Settings> Privacy> Advertising ID. Disable Allow apps to use my advertising ID to work with apps.
Read: Disable ads and tips on your lock screen .
Remove Ads from Windows Ink Workspace
To remove ads from the Windows Ink workspace, go to Settings> Devices> Windows Pen & Ink.
In the Windows Ink workspace, you will see Show Recommended App Suggestions . Flip the switch to the off position.
Read: Disable Start Menu Ads in Windows 10 .
Remove Cortana Ads
To remove ads from the Cortana search box, open Cortana, click the Settings icon, and then turn off the toggle switch in the taskbar.
Read: Disable embedded ads and notifications in Windows Explorer .
Remove Get Skype Notifications
To keep the Get Skype app haunted, you can open Settings> Settings> Apps & Features and uninstall the Get Skype app here.
Read: Turn off receiving Office notifications .
Remove ads in Action Center
To remove ads from Action & Action Center, go to Settings> System> Notifications & Actions.
In the Notifications section, you will see Tips, Tricks, and Tricks for using Windows . Flip the switch to the off position.
