Microsoft is known to collects various pieces of data about your device and your behavior with it to understand what features are working, which ones are not, and what changes are needed.
Ultimately, this telemetry data helps to make Windows 10 a better product. However, for many people, this is also a privacy concern, which is why starting with the Windows 10 April 2018 Update, Microsoft is introducing an option that allows users to view the raw diagnostic data that the company collects about your device. In addition, in order to give more control to users, it’s now possible to delete that telemetry data that has been collected from your computer.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to delete the Windows 10 diagnostic data collected from your device.
How to delete diagnostic data using Settings
Although you can’t stop Microsoft from collecting data about your device, you can delete the already collected diagnostic data using these steps:
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Open Settings.
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Click on Privacy.
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Click on Diagnostic & feedback.
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Under “Delete diagnostic data,” click the Delete button.
Diagnostic & feedback settings on Windows 10 version 1803
Once you’ve completed the steps, the diagnostic data will be erased from your device. If you’re using Windows 10 with a Microsoft account, then you may need to sign into your account to delete additional data.
It’s not absolutely clear, but as I understand it, this feature should delete the data stored on your device and from the Microsoft servers.
If you don’t see these settings, it’s likely because you’re not running Windows 10 version 1803 (April 2018 Update) or later, which is expected to rollout in spring 2018.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].