Stop Windows 11 from Suggesting Content in Privacy and Security Recommendations and Offers Settings

How to Stop 🪟 Windows 11 From Suggesting Content in Privacy and Security Recommendations and Offers Settings

The main switches are in the Settings ⚙️ app. Windows uses them to decide whether to show tailored tips and promotional content, and whether apps can use your advertising ID. The exact page layout depends on your build of Windows 11. Newer builds have a Recommendations & offers page. On others, the same switches sit on the General page under Privacy & security. The steps below cover both.

1. Click the Start button on your taskbar 🖥️.
2. Select the Settings icon, which looks like a gear.

   

   The Settings ⚙️ window opens. You can also press the Win+I.
3. Click Privacy & security on the left side of the window.

   

   The privacy options appear on the right.
4. Select Recommendations & offers from the options on the screen. If you don’t see it, select General instead. Your build keeps the same switches there.
5. Find the setting that lets apps use your advertising ID to show you ads based on your app usage, and turn it off.

   

   The switch should now read Off. On the General page it is worded as letting apps show you personalized ads by using your advertising ID.
6. Find the setting that controls whether Windows can show you suggested content in the Settings ⚙️ app, and turn it off. Check that it also reads Off.

Turning off these switches tells Windows 11 to stop using your app activity to pick targeted ads and personal recommendations. Turning off the advertising ID does not remove ads. You will still see ads, but they won’t be matched to your activity. To undo any of these changes, return to the same page and switch the toggle back to On.

Adjusting General Privacy Settings for a Cleaner Experience

The same Privacy & security area holds a few other tracking options. By default, Windows can use your app launches, your language list, and some diagnostic details to personalize what you see. Reviewing them takes a couple of minutes.

1. Open Settings by clicking the Start button and choosing the gear icon.
2. Click Privacy & security.
3. Review the other items on this page. On the General page you will find the option that lets websites show you locally relevant content by accessing your language list. You will also find the option that lets Windows improve Start and search results 🔍 by tracking app launches.
4. Turn off any feature you do not want running in the background. If you are unsure what a switch does, leave it alone and read the short description under it first.

Switching off these options will not break your apps. At worst, the Start menu ⊞ stops reordering itself around the apps you open most. Checking the recommendations and offers settings once keeps your system working the way you want, with fewer ads and suggestions getting in the way.

Improving Start Menu and Search Results

The search panel is another place where Windows adds content you did not ask for, such as trending topics, daily highlights, and links to online results. Turning these off leaves a search window that is quicker and focused on what is on your PC.

1. Open the Settings app from your Start menu.

2. Click Privacy & security.
3. Select Search permissions. The page lists the search options for your account.

4. Look at the cloud content search options and turn off any you don't want. Then scroll down to More settings and turn off Show search highlights.

The search bar will stop showing trending topics and online suggestions. Searches should feel faster and cleaner. The highlights option may be missing on some builds or on managed work PCs. If so, your organization may be controlling it.

Managing Windows Defender SmartScreen and App Controls

It is a safety feature, not an advertising one. It checks downloaded files, apps, and web addresses against Microsoft's reputation data and warns you about unrecognized or malicious ones. The checks run through Windows Security, the built-in antivirus and protection tool. Look at these controls so you know what is turned on, but do not turn them off just for privacy. Most people should leave them on.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Click Privacy & security.
3. Select Windows Security.

   

   The Windows Security page lists the protection areas.
4. Click App & browser control. This opens the Windows Security app. From there you can review how your computer handles unrecognized apps and files. Look for the Reputation-based protection settings to see which checks are active.

With the personalized suggestion switches off in Privacy & security, Windows 11 stops using your app activity to show tailored tips and promotional offers. Keeping SmartScreen on lets you protect your PC while limiting what data is used for ads.

Summary

After that you can check back whenever a big Windows update installs, since updates can sometimes bring a setting back to its default.