How to Enable or Disable Deleting Diagnostic Data in Windows 11
Deleting diagnostic data in Windows 11 lets you wipe the system info and activity logs that your PC sends to Microsoft. Windows keeps this information to fix bugs and make the OS safer, but you can block people from clearing those history logs if you share your computer.
You need to sign in as an administrator to change this setting on your PC.
You can enable or disable deleting diagnostic data in Windows 11 using the Local Group Policy Editor or Registry. For Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions, open gpedit.msc and navigate to Data Collection. For other editions, use the Registry Editor with administrator privileges and modify the DisableDeviceDelete value.
Option One
Enable or Disable Deleting Diagnostic Data in Local Group Policy Editor
- Open the Local Group Policy Editor by searching for
gpedit.mscin the Start menu . - Navigate to the following path in the left menu:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds
- In the right pane, double-click on Disable deleting diagnostic data.
To Enable Deleting Diagnostic Data (Default):
- Select Not Configured.
- Click OK.
To Disable Deleting Diagnostic Data:
- Select Enabled.
- Click OK.
- Close the editor when finished.
Option Two
Enable or Disable Deleting Diagnostic Data using Registry
To Enable deleting diagnostic data (Default), run this command:
reg delete "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection" /v DisableDeviceDelete /f
To Disable deleting diagnostic data, run this command:
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection" /v DisableDeviceDelete /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
Summary
Managing diagnostic data settings happens through either the Local Group Policy Editor or the Registry. By default, Windows allows you to delete this data. Restricting that ability locks these settings securely on the machine.
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Richard
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Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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