User privacy is a crucial aspect of every app, device, and website we use today. The demand for stricter data privacy laws has pressured even the biggest tech companies to be more transparent of their user data collection, usage, and subsequent distribution. Microsoft gives Windows 11 users control of their data through an extensive list of privacy options.
The privacy options available in Windows 11 are some of the best we’ve ever seen. Users can configure individual app permissions, data collection preferences, and much more. Read on as we dissect everything you need to know to take control of your privacy on Windows 11.
Why Does Data Privacy Matter?
A single website or app can collect and store the sensitive information of millions of individuals. In the wrong hands, this vast amount of data can have grave consequences for individuals. Data privacy is essentially how organizations handle user information.
Most people won’t mind their basic information (such as name and gender) being shared with companies. However, throw in sensitive data such as an address, bank details, etc., into the mix, and you're suddenly in a very sticky situation.
Related: How to Keep Advertisers From Stealing Your Data In essence, data privacy laws allow users to take control of their data and prevent it from being misused. Applications that track your browsing history, search queries, etc., often sell this data to a third party that you may never even have heard of. These companies can then utilize this data for targeted ad campaigns, market research, and much more.
Windows 11's Privacy Settings
Now that you’ve been refreshed with the importance of data privacy let’s explore the different privacy settings in Windows 11.
General Privacy Preferences
Every Windows user has a unique advertising ID linked to their particular device; this advertising ID, if enabled, allows companies to use the collected data for their purposes. You can stop personalized and targeted advertisements from apps by disabling Windows advertising ID.
To configure the general privacy settings in Windows 11:
- Navigate to Settings > Privacy & security > General.
- To enable or disable the advertising ID setting, toggle the Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID button to your preferred setting.
- Similarly, you can also choose whether websites can show you relevant content by accessing your language list and if Windows can track app launches to improve the Start menu.
Speech Recognition
For users that use speech recognition regularly on their PC, we recommend setting up the relevant privacy preferences.
If you choose to disable Microsoft’s online speech recognition technology, then apps and services that rely on it will not work. This will not affect the Windows Speech Recognition app.
Enabling Microsoft’s online speech recognition can allow Microsoft to improve its technology. You can even choose to contribute your voice clips. Microsoft and its vendors will review the voice clips, but Microsoft assures its users that they are protecting the privacy and, ultimately, the identity of their users.
You can set up the Speech recognition preferences by navigating to Settings > Privacy & security > Speech.
To help improve Microsoft online speech recognition software by sending your voice clips to Microsoft, go to Settings > Privacy & security > Speech and click on Start contributing my voice clips.
Diagnostic Data
Microsoft developers rely on diagnostic data to improve Windows and to keep it working as expected. You have the option to choose between sending only the required diagnostic data or optional diagnostic data that includes how you use apps, the websites you visit, and more.
Here’s how you can set up diagnostic data preferences:
- Launch the Start menu, search for Settings, and launch the Best match.
- Navigate to Privacy & security from the sidebar and then click on Diagnostics & feedback.
- Expand the Diagnostic data tab and choose your preference.
- Choose your privacy preference for Tailored experiences that allow Microsoft to use your data to provide you targeted ads and personalized recommendations.
- If you want to delete the diagnostic data Microsoft has collected, expand the Delete diagnostic data tab and click on Delete.
- To view the collected data, click on the View diagnostic data group and enable the Turn on the Diagnostic Data Viewer and then click on Open Diagnostic Data Viewer.
Search Permissions
The Search permissions page allows you to configure search settings related to privacy options. You can access it through Settings > Privacy & safety > Search permissions.
By setting up SafeSearch, you can choose the amount of adult content that is filtered in web previews. You can choose between Strict, Moderate, and Off filters; Strict thoroughly filters out adult text, videos, and images from web results through Windows Search. If you select the Moderate filter, Windows will filter out adult videos and images, but it will still display the text.
You can also decide whether Windows Search can personalize your search results by including content from Microsoft services such as OneDrive, Outlook, and Bing. You can set these preferences under the Cloud content search group.
Customizing Windows 11's App Permissions
Apps on your PC often require the use of your location data, camera, microphone, and more. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most essential app permissions.
Location
Several apps require location data to function properly, and even Microsoft uses location data from users to improve their Windows location services. Here’s how you can set up location permissions on Windows 11:
- Navigate to Settings > Privacy & security > Location.
- Choose whether you want to enable or disable Location services. If you enabled this option, you can then individually choose which apps are allowed to access your location data.
Camera & Microphone
Similarly, you can choose what apps can have access to the Camera and Microphone.
You can set up Camera access privacy settings through Settings > Privacy & safety > Camera. You can then restrict individual apps from using the camera under Let apps access your camera.
Microphone access settings can be set up through Settings > Privacy & safety > Microphone in the same way as above.
Privacy Prioritized
Windows 11 takes your privacy seriously and gives you complete control over your data. This is a welcome change for consumers worried about where their data is going and how it's being used. And all this would not be possible without the redesigned Windows 11Settings app.