On Windows 11, open Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback. Choose Required diagnostic data for the minimum collection or Optional diagnostic data for additional detail; Optional always includes Required. The same page lets you inspect currently available events, delete device diagnostic data, and review related controls. Windows 10 uses Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback, but it is now a legacy path because support ended on October 14, 2025.
This guide explains what each level means, how to inspect events without mistaking the viewer for a complete archive, what deletion actually removes, and why a workplace-managed PC may not let you change the setting.
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What Windows diagnostic data settings actually control
Windows diagnostic data is telemetry Microsoft uses to understand whether the operating system is reliable, secure, compatible and functioning normally. The selector in Diagnostics & feedback applies to Windows components. It is not a universal switch for every Microsoft product, third-party application, browser setting or account activity.
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- Required diagnostic data is the minimum category. It covers information about the device, its settings and capabilities, and whether it is operating correctly. Microsoft describes this level as necessary to help keep Windows reliable, secure and operating normally.
- Optional diagnostic data adds more information about device health, activity and errors. Depending on the device and sampled data types, it can include which programs are launched and how long they run, Microsoft browser browsing history and search terms, enhanced error reports, and crash-memory content.
Selecting Optional does not replace Required. Required data continues to be sent whenever Optional is selected. Labels and available choices can differ by Windows edition, update and organization policy, so use the wording shown on your own build.
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Examples of the minimum category
Microsoft’s organization documentation describes Required data in practical terms: device attributes; battery, network, processor, memory and system attributes; update-compatibility information; app-compatibility context; crash or hang counts; and performance context needed to understand operating conditions. The precise events and fields can change with Windows versions, so these are examples rather than a permanent field-by-field promise.
What the additional category can reveal
Optional data can provide more detailed device, configuration and health information. It can include activity such as which programs launch and how long they run, Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer browsing history and search terms, and enhanced error reporting. For some crashes, memory content captured at the time of the failure may be included. That memory could unintentionally contain part of a file or webpage, which makes the Optional level more sensitive for users handling confidential material.
How do I see what data Windows sends to Microsoft?
Windows 11: open Diagnostics & feedback
- Open Settings.
- Select Privacy & security in the left column.
- Choose Diagnostics & feedback.
- Look under Diagnostic data to see which collection choice is active and which choices are available.
The page may also show a notice such as Some settings are hidden or managed by your organization. An unavailable selector can mean that Group Policy, mobile-device management (MDM), or another workplace policy controls the device. A local user setting is not a reliable way to override that policy; contact the organization’s IT administrator.
Use Diagnostic Data Viewer for a live inspection
- Remain on Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback.
- Turn on View diagnostic data.
- Select Open Diagnostic Data Viewer.
- Leave the viewer running while you use Windows, then inspect the events it makes available.
The viewer is a live window, not a historical archive. It displays diagnostic events available while it is running and does not provide a complete record of everything the device previously transmitted. Microsoft also uses sampling for some Optional data types. The viewer can indicate whether a device is included in a sample and which sampled data is being collected, so an absence of an event does not prove that the corresponding category is never collected.
What the viewer cannot tell you
- It cannot reconstruct all earlier diagnostic traffic.
- It cannot show every Optional event type on every device, because collection can be sampled.
- It does not expose a single inventory of data sent by every Microsoft or third-party app.
- It cannot establish that an event was accepted, retained or associated with a particular Microsoft account.
Use it to understand the kinds of Windows events currently available, not as a forensic export or a guarantee that no other service has its own telemetry. If you need to compare behavior, note the Windows version, edition and active setting before you start, because labels and event availability can change after updates.
How do I turn off optional diagnostic data in Windows 11?
- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback.
- Under Diagnostic data, select the option labeled Required diagnostic data, or the equivalent minimum-data choice displayed by your Windows build.
- Confirm that the Optional choice is no longer selected, if Windows presents a confirmation or separate toggle.
- Review the page’s neighboring controls rather than assuming they changed with the diagnostic-data selection.
Choosing Required reduces the Windows diagnostic category to Microsoft’s minimum level. It does not turn off Required data, and it does not disable every privacy-related setting elsewhere in Windows. The exact wording can vary by edition, update and management policy. Windows 11 does not offer the older Enhanced category documented for some earlier configurations.
If the option is missing or greyed out, first check for a management notice and the device’s edition. On an unmanaged personal PC, sign in with an account that can change privacy settings and install pending updates if the page appears incomplete. On a managed PC, ask IT rather than attempting an unofficial workaround.
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Required versus Optional diagnostic data
| Aspect | Required diagnostic data | Optional diagnostic data |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Minimum information Microsoft says is needed to help keep Windows reliable, secure and operating normally. | Additional information for broader diagnostics, product improvement and troubleshooting. |
| Device and configuration | Device attributes, settings, capabilities and operating-condition information. | Additional device, configuration and health detail. |
| Examples | Battery, network, processor, memory and system attributes; update or app-compatibility context; crash or hang counts. | More detailed health and performance context, subject to the data types sampled for the device. |
| Activity examples | Not the broader activity detail described for Optional. | Can include which programs are launched and how long they run. |
| Browser information | Not the browser-history and search-term examples associated with Optional. | Can include Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer browsing history and search terms, according to Microsoft’s description. |
| Crash information | Crash metadata and operating context. | Enhanced error reporting and, for some crashes, memory content at the time of the crash. That memory could unintentionally contain part of a file or webpage. |
| Availability | Normally the baseline level, although an organization or Windows edition can determine how it is configured. | May be unavailable on some managed configurations; some event types are sampled. |
| Relationship | Always included when Optional is selected. | Includes Required; it is an additional level, not an alternative replacement. |
The table describes Microsoft’s published categories, not a permanent field-by-field contract. Microsoft says specific diagnostic items can change. The detailed event inventories linked from its support guidance should be treated as version-dependent.
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Does turning off optional diagnostic data affect Windows security?
Microsoft’s Windows diagnostics and privacy guidance states: Regardless of whether you choose to send Optional diagnostic data, your device will be just as secure and will operate normally.
That is Microsoft’s assurance about the Required-versus-Optional choice. It does not mean that every separate Windows privacy control, app telemetry setting or account service has been disabled.
Required data remains enabled when Optional is turned off. Windows still sends the minimum information Microsoft identifies as necessary for reliability, security and normal operation. If a particular application has its own diagnostics switch, that setting must be reviewed separately. Turning Optional off can reduce the detail available to Microsoft when investigating a problem, but Microsoft’s stated security and normal-operation assurance still applies.
Can I delete diagnostic data Windows already sent?
Delete data associated with the device
- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback on Windows 11, or Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback on Windows 10.
- Find Delete diagnostic data.
- Select Delete and follow any confirmation shown.
This control has a limited scope. Microsoft says it deletes diagnostic data associated with the device; it does not delete diagnostic data associated with your Microsoft account, and it does not stop new diagnostic data from being sent after deletion.
Account-associated data
For additional diagnostic information associated with a Microsoft account, Microsoft directs users to the Microsoft Privacy dashboard. The dashboard is a separate account-level route and should not be confused with the device deletion button. If the computer is managed and an organization uses services that rely on diagnostic data, that organization may retain its own copy under its policies.
Deletion is therefore a cleanup action, not a permanent opt-out. If your goal is to reduce future collection, first choose Required where permitted, then review the other controls and app-specific settings. If your goal is to remove account-linked records, use the Privacy dashboard as well.
Review the neighboring privacy controls
Several controls appear near the diagnostic-data selector but have different purposes:
- Tailored experiences, called Personalized offers on newer Windows versions, controls recommendations and personalized suggestions based on diagnostic information.
- Improve inking & typing governs data used to improve handwriting recognition, typing recognition and related input features.
- Feedback frequency controls how often Windows asks you for feedback.
These switches are separate decisions. Changing the diagnostic-data level does not automatically change them. A user who wants the narrowest practical collection should inspect each control and read its current description instead of assuming that Required disables personalization, feedback prompts or input-improvement features.
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Windows 10 path and support status
On Windows 10, open Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback. The page provides the corresponding diagnostic-data selector, Diagnostic Data Viewer option, deletion control, typing and inking setting, and feedback-frequency setting.
Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. The path may still work on an installed edition, but available labels, policies and data inventories are version-dependent. Check your edition and support arrangements rather than assuming that every Windows 10 installation offers identical choices. An organization-managed Windows 10 device can still have policy-enforced settings that a local account cannot change.
Because Windows 10 is now a legacy platform, use the page as a way to understand the setting on an existing installation, not as evidence that the device continues to receive the same support or privacy features as a supported Windows 11 build.
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Managed computers: when IT controls the setting
Workplace, school and other managed devices can receive diagnostic-data settings through Group Policy or MDM. Microsoft’s organization guidance, updated September 11, 2025, documents Required and Optional configuration for supported Windows editions, including Windows 11 Enterprise, Education and Professional; Windows 10 Enterprise, Education and Professional; and Windows Server. The applicable controls depend on the Windows version, edition and management system.
If a choice is greyed out, missing or accompanied by a management notice:
- Do not assume a registry edit or firewall block is an equivalent solution.
- Do not promise that a local setting can override organizational policy.
- Ask the IT administrator which diagnostic-data policy is applied and whether the organization retains its own copy.
- Request the organization’s privacy or retention explanation if you need to know how collected data is handled after it leaves the device.
Enterprise policy also does not automatically govern every third-party app. Windows diagnostic settings apply to Windows components, while third-party software and some Microsoft apps can expose separate diagnostics controls.
Regional and browser-specific qualifications
For readers in the European Economic Area, Microsoft says that from March 6, 2024, Microsoft Edge diagnostic data is collected separately from Windows diagnostic data on Windows 10 version 22H2 and newer and Windows 11 version 23H2 and newer EEA devices. Edge has separate settings for that collection. Verify the installed Windows and Edge versions before applying this qualification; it does not automatically describe devices outside the EEA or older builds.
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- Record whether the device is Windows 11 or Windows 10 and note its edition and current update.
- Open the correct Diagnostics & feedback page and identify the active Required or Optional choice.
- Look for an organization-management notice before attempting to change anything.
- Use Diagnostic Data Viewer as a live inspection tool, not a historical export.
- If minimizing collection is your goal, select Required rather than Optional where the device permits it.
- Review Tailored experiences or Personalized offers, Improve inking & typing, and Feedback frequency independently.
- Use Delete diagnostic data for the device, then use the Microsoft Privacy dashboard for account-associated data.
- Remember that deletion does not stop future collection and that an organization may retain its own copy.
- Check separate diagnostics settings in browsers and applications that matter to you.
- Recheck the labels after a major Windows update because Microsoft can change available data types and wording.
Common misunderstandings to avoid
“Required” means no data is sent
Required is the minimum category, not zero collection. Microsoft describes it as information needed to maintain reliability, security and normal operation.
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The viewer proves what Microsoft has ever received
It does not. The viewer exposes available events while it runs and does not show diagnostic history. Sampling also means that Optional data types will not necessarily appear on every device.
Deleting data prevents future transmission
It does not. The Settings deletion control removes device-associated diagnostic data within its stated scope but does not stop new data from being sent.
One switch controls every app
It does not. Windows components use the Windows diagnostic setting, while third-party apps and some Microsoft apps can have their own diagnostic controls.
A managed-device notice can be bypassed locally
Do not assume that. Policy delivered through Group Policy or MDM can determine which choices are available. The appropriate next step is to ask the administrator.
Optional data is always collected in the same way
Microsoft says some Optional data types are sampled. The viewer may show whether your device is in a sample, and a particular event may not appear even when the broader category is available.
Frequently asked questions
Is Required diagnostic data optional?
No. Required is the minimum level Windows can use for the functions Microsoft describes as reliability, security and normal operation. Selecting Optional adds data; it does not remove Required.
Can I turn off all Windows telemetry?
The consumer selector does not promise zero transmission. Required data remains, and separate Microsoft, browser and third-party app controls may apply. Managed devices can also be governed by organizational policy.
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Why can’t I change the diagnostic-data setting?
A greyed-out or missing choice commonly indicates Group Policy, MDM or another organization rule. Look for the management notice and ask the administrator which policy is active.
Does Diagnostic Data Viewer show old events?
No. It shows events available while it is running and does not provide diagnostic-data history. It is useful for a live inspection, not a complete record of past transmissions.
Will deleting diagnostic data stop Microsoft from collecting more?
No. Deletion removes device-associated data within the control’s scope but does not stop new diagnostic data. Choose Required and review related controls if you want to reduce future collection.
Does device deletion erase Microsoft account data?
No. Microsoft points to the Privacy dashboard for additional diagnostic data associated with a Microsoft account. A managed organization may also retain its own copy.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIs Optional diagnostic data unsafe?
Microsoft states that the device remains just as secure and operates normally whether Optional data is selected. Optional can nevertheless contain more activity and crash-memory detail, so users should choose the level that fits their privacy and troubleshooting needs.
Does this setting control Edge and every other browser?
Not completely. Windows diagnostic settings apply to Windows components. Browsers and applications can have separate controls. In the EEA, Microsoft says newer supported Windows and Edge combinations collect Edge diagnostic data separately under Edge settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to reduce Windows diagnostic data?
On Windows 11, open Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback and select Required diagnostic data. Then review Tailored experiences or Personalized offers, Improve inking & typing, Feedback frequency, and separate app settings.
Can I inspect a complete history of data sent to Microsoft?
No. Diagnostic Data Viewer shows available events while it is running and does not provide a historical archive. Some Optional events are sampled.
What should I do if my PC says settings are managed by my organization?
Contact the IT administrator. Group Policy or MDM may control the available choices, and a local registry or firewall change is not an equivalent override.
What does Delete diagnostic data actually remove?
It removes diagnostic data associated with the device within Microsoft’s stated scope. It does not remove Microsoft-account-associated data, stop future collection, or necessarily remove an organization’s retained copy.
Is Windows 10 guidance still relevant?
The Settings path may still work, but Windows 10 support ended October 14, 2025. Labels and policies are version-dependent, so check the installed edition and support arrangements.
The Bottom Line
Use Diagnostics & feedback to make an informed choice, not an assumption of zero telemetry. Required is Microsoft’s minimum category and remains enabled when Optional is off. Diagnostic Data Viewer offers a live, sampled view; Delete diagnostic data has limited device scope and does not stop future collection. Review neighboring and app-specific controls separately, and ask IT to explain policy on a managed PC.
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