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Windows 11 Device usage is a personalization setting, not a detailed activity log. It asks how you intend to use your PC so Windows can tailor tips, recommendations, and ads. Microsoft says it does not share this Device usage data with third parties; that statement applies to this feature, not every kind of data Windows or other Microsoft services may process.
What Device usage asks and how Windows uses your choices
Device usage lets you select categories that describe how you plan to use your PC. Microsoft lists development, gaming, family, creativity, school, entertainment, and business as examples. The choices can inform personalized tips, recommendations, and ads.
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Microsoft’s examples include a Dev Home suggestion for development, Xbox Game Pass or gamer-oriented app and site suggestions for gaming, family-group setup, creativity recommendations, OneDrive for school files, entertainment app and site suggestions, and a Microsoft 365 Business trial. These are examples, not a promise that every person will see each suggestion.
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What Microsoft says about sharing Device usage data
Microsoft Support’s Personalize Your Windows Experience With Device Usage Settings says: “We don’t share this data with third-party.” The statement concerns the information provided through Device usage as described on that page. It does not establish that no other Windows feature, Microsoft service, app, or website processes or shares information.
Where to review Device usage
- Open Settings > Personalization > Device usage.
- Turn the categories you want on or off. Microsoft says you can change or opt out of these choices at any time.
- If the path or label differs after a Windows update, search Settings for Device usage.
On a work- or school-managed PC, an organization’s policy may limit which privacy settings you can change.
Device usage is only one part of Windows privacy
Several separate settings affect diagnostics, personalization, identifiers, activity history, and app access. They do not form a single switch that turns all Windows data collection on or off.
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| Control | What it concerns | Where to review it |
|---|---|---|
| Device usage | Your selected intended-use categories, used for tailored tips, recommendations, and ads. | Settings > Personalization > Device usage |
| Personalized offers | Personalization based on Windows activity and diagnostic data, account information, and information from other Microsoft products and services. | Settings > Privacy & security; wording and availability can vary by Windows version or device policy. |
| Diagnostic data | Required or optional technical and usage information sent to Microsoft, depending on the selected level. | Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback |
| Advertising ID | A per-user identifier that apps using it can access for their advertising. | Settings > Privacy & security; look for the advertising ID or general privacy settings. |
| Activity history | A local history of activities such as apps and services used, files opened, and websites browsed. | Settings > Privacy & security > Activity history |
| App permissions | Access to capabilities such as location, camera, microphone, contacts, and calendar. | Settings > Privacy & security; choose the relevant permission. |
What Personalized offers may use
Microsoft describes a separate control called Get personalized tips, ads, and recommendations based on my Windows activity. When enabled, Microsoft says it may use information about the device and how it is used—including Windows diagnostic data—along with account information and information from other Microsoft products and services.
Microsoft’s examples of other information include Edge web activity when the relevant Edge collection is enabled; use of services such as Bing, Microsoft 365, Xbox, and MSN; subscription and purchase history; and data from third-party websites that may be shared with Microsoft. This is a broader personalization description than the Device usage category choices.
Microsoft says required diagnostic data used for offers may include device information, settings, capabilities, and whether the device is working properly. If optional diagnostic data is enabled, personalization may also use app and feature usage and additional device-health information. Some personalization can happen locally, without data leaving the device. Microsoft says it does not use crash-dump content, speech, typing, or inking input data to personalize offers. These statements describe Personalized offers, not every Windows data flow.
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Required and optional diagnostic data
Microsoft distinguishes two diagnostic-data levels. Required data is included when optional data is selected.
- Required diagnostic data: device information, settings, capabilities, and information about whether Windows is operating properly.
- Optional diagnostic data: may add information about websites browsed, device activity or usage, enhanced error reporting, and crash memory state. Microsoft notes that crash memory can unintentionally include parts of a file that was in use when a problem occurred.
Microsoft says Windows remains just as secure and operates normally when only required diagnostic data is sent. It lists uses for diagnostic data that include security and updates, troubleshooting, reliability, performance, compatibility, accessibility, privacy, and energy efficiency.
Under Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback, you can review related controls and use the Diagnostic Data Viewer to inspect diagnostic data available while the viewer is running. Microsoft says the viewer does not display diagnostic-data history. The delete diagnostic data option does not delete data associated with a Microsoft account or prevent further diagnostic data from being sent.
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Other controls that are easy to confuse with Device usage
Advertising ID
The advertising ID is separate from Device usage. Apps that use it can access the per-user identifier for their own advertising purposes. Microsoft says turning it off does not reduce the number of ads; it may make ads less relevant. It also does not cover other interest-based ads, including website-cookie ads or ads in other products.
Start, search, and Settings suggestions
Windows has separate controls for app-launch tracking used to personalize Start and search, suggested content in Settings, and website access to your language list. These controls are not part of the Device usage toggle.
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Activity history concerns records of activities such as apps and services used, files opened, and websites browsed. Microsoft describes that history as stored locally on the device. This is distinct from diagnostic data that Windows may transmit to Microsoft.
App permissions
Permissions for location, camera, microphone, contacts, and calendar are separate again. Microsoft cautions that the privacy permission lists mostly apply to Store apps; desktop applications may access some data differently or may not appear in those lists.
Why the setting names may differ
Microsoft says the older Tailored experiences label is being replaced by Personalized offers on newer Windows versions. If a label or control is missing, the PC may be on an older update or managed by an organization. Windows updates and management policies can also affect which settings are available.
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