How to Enable or Disable Advertising ID in Windows 11

Windows 11 assigns your computer a unique “advertising ID.” This ID lets apps and websites track your activity to show you ads tailored to your interests. If you prefer more privacy, you can turn this feature off.

Why do this?

You should do this to stop apps from building a profile on your habits. Turning it off prevents personalized tracking and reduces the number of targeted ads you see.

What happens when done?

Once disabled, your apps will no longer use your unique ID to track your activity. You will still see ads, but they will be generic rather than based on your personal browsing data.

Method 1: Using Windows Settings

This is the easiest way to change your settings.

1. Open the Windows Settings app Settings app.
2. Select Privacy & security on the left menu.
3. Click the General tile.

4. Find the option that says “Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID.”
5. Toggle the switch to Off to disable it, or On to enable it.

Method 2: Using Group Policy (Requires Admin Privileges)

This method is for advanced users who want to apply settings across the whole system.

1. Press the Windows key, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Go to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > User Profile.
3. Double-click on Turn off the advertising ID.

• Not Configured: The feature stays on by default.
• Enabled: This turns off the advertising ID for all users.
• Disabled: This lets individual users control the setting themselves.

Click OK to save. You may need to restart your computer for this to take effect.

Method 3: Using Registry Editor (Requires Admin Privileges)

Warning: Be careful when editing the registry. Only do this if you are comfortable with system files.

1. Press the Windows key, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AdvertisingInfo
3. Look for DisabledByGroupPolicy on the right side. If it is not there, right-click, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it DisabledByGroupPolicy.
4. Double-click the item and set the value to 1 to disable the ID. Set it to 0 to enable it.

Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Summary

Your advertising ID is a tracking tool used for personalized ads. By disabling it through the Settings app, Group Policy, or the Registry, you regain control over your privacy. Choose the method that feels most comfortable for your skill level, and remember to restart your device if you use the advanced methods.