How to Enable or Disable Diagnostic Data Viewer in Windows 11
The Diagnostic Data Viewer in Windows 11 is a built-in app that lets you read the diagnostic logs your computer sends back to Microsoft. Windows collects these system files and app usage records by default to fix bugs and improve security.
Turning on the viewer lets you inspect all that telemetry data in real time. Disabling the feature stops this detailed logging, though basic security data sharing continues to run in the background.
To enable or disable the Diagnostic Data Viewer in Windows 11, open Settings , navigate to Privacy & security, then Diagnostics & feedback. Expand the View diagnostic data section and use the toggle switch.
Is the Diagnostic Data Viewer Installed by Default?
The Diagnostic Data Viewer Windows 11 tool is not pre-installed on your computer by default. You need to download the Diagnostic Data Viewer app directly from the Microsoft Store before you can use it to review the system information your device sends to Microsoft.
Using the Settings App
You can use the Settings app to turn the Diagnostic Data Viewer Windows 11 feature on or off quickly. Open Settings, go to privacy options, and find the diagnostics controls to change whether your device saves and shows this information.
- Open the Windows Settings app.
- Select Privacy & security on the left.
- Click the Diagnostics & feedback tile on the right.
- Select the View diagnostic data tile to expand it.
- Use the toggle switch to turn it On or Off.
Open Settings , choose Privacy & security, and click Diagnostics & feedback. Next, expand the **View diagnostic data** tile and use the toggle to turn diagnostic data viewing **On** or **Off**. The Settings app can be closed once you’re finished.
Troubleshooting: Cannot Find or Enable the App
If you cannot locate the Diagnostic Data Viewer in Windows 11, verify first that you have downloaded it from the Microsoft Store.
Enterprise and Privacy Context
Network administrators use Group Policy (a centralized collection of system configurations) to manage these privacy settings across multiple computers. Home users manage these settings directly. Your diagnostic data history can be reviewed online via the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard.
Data Management and History
The Diagnostic Data Viewer allows you to see what data your Windows 11 device has collected and when it was collected.
Using the Local Group Policy Editor
The Local Group Policy Editor lets you control the Diagnostic Data Viewer Windows 11 tool across your system if you use Windows Pro or Enterprise. This method requires administrator rights and allows you to enforce privacy rules through system policy folders.
- Open the Start menu, type
gpedit.msc, and press Enter. - Navigate to this folder path: Computer Configuration Administrative Templates Windows Components Data Collection and Preview Builds.
- Find Disable diagnostic data viewer in the list and double-click it.
- Choose Not Configured, Enabled, or Disabled.
- Click OK to save. You may need to restart your computer for these changes to take effect.
Using the Registry Editor
The Registry Editor gives you a way to enable or disable the Diagnostic Data Viewer Windows 11 tool by changing specific system keys. You need administrator privileges and must proceed with caution because mistakes in the registry can cause system problems.
- Open the Windows Registry.
- Go to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection - Double-click EnableEventTranscript.
- Change the value to 1 to turn it on, or 0 to turn it off.
- If you do not see this item, right-click in the empty space, select New DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it
EnableEventTranscript.
Save your changes and restart your computer.
Summary
Several methods exist for managing the amount of data your Windows 11 computer sends to Microsoft, including the Settings app, Group Policy Editor, or Registry Editor.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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