What Breaks When You Disable the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service in Windows 11

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

What Is the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service?

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a background program that collects diagnostic data about your hardware and apps. It tracks how you use your computer, watches for crashes, and sends the information to Microsoft. Microsoft uses that data to patch security holes and improve future software updates.

In the Services console it appears under its display name, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. By default it starts automatically with Windows, so it runs on almost every Windows 11 PC.

Think of the service as an automated reporter. It follows how apps behave, records crashes and hardware problems, and uploads that data to Microsoft servers. The reports help Microsoft spot problems that affect many machines, so it can fix them in later updates.

Microsoft relies on this data to patch security holes and improve future Windows 11 updates. The service checks your system health without asking permission each time. That helps developers, but it also means the service runs continuously.

All that background activity uses a small amount of memory, disk and processor time. On a modern desktop you will not notice it. On an older laptop or a machine with a slow hard drive, it can be more visible.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a built-in Windows 11 background service. It collects diagnostic data, error logs and performance metrics and sends them to Microsoft. Disabling it stops that stream of reports, but a few built-in features depend on it and stop working properly.

This article explains what you lose, what you gain, and how to turn the service off with the Services console and Task Scheduler. It also covers how to turn it back on, and a lower-risk option in Settings for anyone who would rather not disable services at all.

Disabling telemetry breaks a few specific things. Windows can no longer check for Windows Insider builds, the Feedback Hub app stops working properly, and Windows 11 stops showing tailored support recommendations.

In return, you stop the constant data collection, which addresses the main privacy worry. The trade-off is that you lose convenient access to some Microsoft support tools and certain update notifications.

Normal use is not affected. You can also reverse the change at any time, as the later sections show.

What Is the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service?

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a background program that collects diagnostic data about your hardware and apps. It tracks how you use your computer, watches for crashes, and sends the information to Microsoft. Microsoft uses that data to patch security holes and improve future software updates.

In the Services console it appears under its display name, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. By default it starts automatically with Windows, so it runs on almost every Windows 11 PC.

Think of the service as an automated reporter. It follows how apps behave, records crashes and hardware problems, and uploads that data to Microsoft servers. The reports help Microsoft spot problems that affect many machines, so it can fix them in later updates.

Microsoft relies on this data to patch security holes and improve future Windows 11 updates. The service checks your system health without asking permission each time. That helps developers, but it also means the service runs continuously.

All that background activity uses a small amount of memory, disk and processor time. On a modern desktop you will not notice it. On an older laptop or a machine with a slow hard drive, it can be more visible.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a built-in Windows 11 background service. It collects diagnostic data, error logs and performance metrics and sends them to Microsoft. Disabling it stops that stream of reports, but a few built-in features depend on it and stop working properly.

This article explains what you lose, what you gain, and how to turn the service off with the Services console and Task Scheduler. It also covers how to turn it back on, and a lower-risk option in Settings for anyone who would rather not disable services at all.

Disabling telemetry breaks a few specific things. Windows can no longer check for Windows Insider builds, the Feedback Hub app stops working properly, and Windows 11 stops showing tailored support recommendations.

In return, you stop the constant data collection, which addresses the main privacy worry. The trade-off is that you lose convenient access to some Microsoft support tools and certain update notifications.

Normal use is not affected. You can also reverse the change at any time, as the later sections show.

What Is the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service?

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a background program that collects diagnostic data about your hardware and apps. It tracks how you use your computer, watches for crashes, and sends the information to Microsoft. Microsoft uses that data to patch security holes and improve future software updates.

In the Services console it appears under its display name, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. By default it starts automatically with Windows, so it runs on almost every Windows 11 PC.

Think of the service as an automated reporter. It follows how apps behave, records crashes and hardware problems, and uploads that data to Microsoft servers. The reports help Microsoft spot problems that affect many machines, so it can fix them in later updates.

Microsoft relies on this data to patch security holes and improve future Windows 11 updates. The service checks your system health without asking permission each time. That helps developers, but it also means the service runs continuously.

All that background activity uses a small amount of memory, disk and processor time. On a modern desktop you will not notice it. On an older laptop or a machine with a slow hard drive, it can be more visible.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a built-in Windows 11 background service. It collects diagnostic data, error logs and performance metrics and sends them to Microsoft. Disabling it stops that stream of reports, but a few built-in features depend on it and stop working properly.

This article explains what you lose, what you gain, and how to turn the service off with the Services console and Task Scheduler. It also covers how to turn it back on, and a lower-risk option in Settings for anyone who would rather not disable services at all.

Disabling telemetry breaks a few specific things. Windows can no longer check for Windows Insider builds, the Feedback Hub app stops working properly, and Windows 11 stops showing tailored support recommendations.

In return, you stop the constant data collection, which addresses the main privacy worry. The trade-off is that you lose convenient access to some Microsoft support tools and certain update notifications.

Normal use is not affected. You can also reverse the change at any time, as the later sections show.

What Is the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service?

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a background program that collects diagnostic data about your hardware and apps. It tracks how you use your computer, watches for crashes, and sends the information to Microsoft. Microsoft uses that data to patch security holes and improve future software updates.

In the Services console it appears under its display name, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. By default it starts automatically with Windows, so it runs on almost every Windows 11 PC.

Think of the service as an automated reporter. It follows how apps behave, records crashes and hardware problems, and uploads that data to Microsoft servers. The reports help Microsoft spot problems that affect many machines, so it can fix them in later updates.

Microsoft relies on this data to patch security holes and improve future Windows 11 updates. The service checks your system health without asking permission each time. That helps developers, but it also means the service runs continuously.

All that background activity uses a small amount of memory, disk and processor time. On a modern desktop you will not notice it. On an older laptop or a machine with a slow hard drive, it can be more visible.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

What Is the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service?

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a background program that collects diagnostic data about your hardware and apps. It tracks how you use your computer, watches for crashes, and sends the information to Microsoft. Microsoft uses that data to patch security holes and improve future software updates.

In the Services console it appears under its display name, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. By default it starts automatically with Windows, so it runs on almost every Windows 11 PC.

Think of the service as an automated reporter. It follows how apps behave, records crashes and hardware problems, and uploads that data to Microsoft servers. The reports help Microsoft spot problems that affect many machines, so it can fix them in later updates.

Microsoft relies on this data to patch security holes and improve future Windows 11 updates. The service checks your system health without asking permission each time. That helps developers, but it also means the service runs continuously.

All that background activity uses a small amount of memory, disk and processor time. On a modern desktop you will not notice it. On an older laptop or a machine with a slow hard drive, it can be more visible.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a built-in Windows 11 background service. It collects diagnostic data, error logs and performance metrics and sends them to Microsoft. Disabling it stops that stream of reports, but a few built-in features depend on it and stop working properly.

This article explains what you lose, what you gain, and how to turn the service off with the Services console and Task Scheduler. It also covers how to turn it back on, and a lower-risk option in Settings for anyone who would rather not disable services at all.

Disabling telemetry breaks a few specific things. Windows can no longer check for Windows Insider builds, the Feedback Hub app stops working properly, and Windows 11 stops showing tailored support recommendations.

In return, you stop the constant data collection, which addresses the main privacy worry. The trade-off is that you lose convenient access to some Microsoft support tools and certain update notifications.

Normal use is not affected. You can also reverse the change at any time, as the later sections show.

What Is the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service?

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a background program that collects diagnostic data about your hardware and apps. It tracks how you use your computer, watches for crashes, and sends the information to Microsoft. Microsoft uses that data to patch security holes and improve future software updates.

In the Services console it appears under its display name, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. By default it starts automatically with Windows, so it runs on almost every Windows 11 PC.

Think of the service as an automated reporter. It follows how apps behave, records crashes and hardware problems, and uploads that data to Microsoft servers. The reports help Microsoft spot problems that affect many machines, so it can fix them in later updates.

Microsoft relies on this data to patch security holes and improve future Windows 11 updates. The service checks your system health without asking permission each time. That helps developers, but it also means the service runs continuously.

All that background activity uses a small amount of memory, disk and processor time. On a modern desktop you will not notice it. On an older laptop or a machine with a slow hard drive, it can be more visible.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

What Is the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service?

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a background program that collects diagnostic data about your hardware and apps. It tracks how you use your computer, watches for crashes, and sends the information to Microsoft. Microsoft uses that data to patch security holes and improve future software updates.

In the Services console it appears under its display name, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. By default it starts automatically with Windows, so it runs on almost every Windows 11 PC.

Think of the service as an automated reporter. It follows how apps behave, records crashes and hardware problems, and uploads that data to Microsoft servers. The reports help Microsoft spot problems that affect many machines, so it can fix them in later updates.

Microsoft relies on this data to patch security holes and improve future Windows 11 updates. The service checks your system health without asking permission each time. That helps developers, but it also means the service runs continuously.

All that background activity uses a small amount of memory, disk and processor time. On a modern desktop you will not notice it. On an older laptop or a machine with a slow hard drive, it can be more visible.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a built-in Windows 11 background service. It collects diagnostic data, error logs and performance metrics and sends them to Microsoft. Disabling it stops that stream of reports, but a few built-in features depend on it and stop working properly.

This article explains what you lose, what you gain, and how to turn the service off with the Services console and Task Scheduler. It also covers how to turn it back on, and a lower-risk option in Settings for anyone who would rather not disable services at all.

Disabling telemetry breaks a few specific things. Windows can no longer check for Windows Insider builds, the Feedback Hub app stops working properly, and Windows 11 stops showing tailored support recommendations.

In return, you stop the constant data collection, which addresses the main privacy worry. The trade-off is that you lose convenient access to some Microsoft support tools and certain update notifications.

Normal use is not affected. You can also reverse the change at any time, as the later sections show.

What Is the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service?

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a background program that collects diagnostic data about your hardware and apps. It tracks how you use your computer, watches for crashes, and sends the information to Microsoft. Microsoft uses that data to patch security holes and improve future software updates.

In the Services console it appears under its display name, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. By default it starts automatically with Windows, so it runs on almost every Windows 11 PC.

Think of the service as an automated reporter. It follows how apps behave, records crashes and hardware problems, and uploads that data to Microsoft servers. The reports help Microsoft spot problems that affect many machines, so it can fix them in later updates.

Microsoft relies on this data to patch security holes and improve future Windows 11 updates. The service checks your system health without asking permission each time. That helps developers, but it also means the service runs continuously.

All that background activity uses a small amount of memory, disk and processor time. On a modern desktop you will not notice it. On an older laptop or a machine with a slow hard drive, it can be more visible.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

What Is the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service?

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a background program that collects diagnostic data about your hardware and apps. It tracks how you use your computer, watches for crashes, and sends the information to Microsoft. Microsoft uses that data to patch security holes and improve future software updates.

In the Services console it appears under its display name, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. By default it starts automatically with Windows, so it runs on almost every Windows 11 PC.

Think of the service as an automated reporter. It follows how apps behave, records crashes and hardware problems, and uploads that data to Microsoft servers. The reports help Microsoft spot problems that affect many machines, so it can fix them in later updates.

Microsoft relies on this data to patch security holes and improve future Windows 11 updates. The service checks your system health without asking permission each time. That helps developers, but it also means the service runs continuously.

All that background activity uses a small amount of memory, disk and processor time. On a modern desktop you will not notice it. On an older laptop or a machine with a slow hard drive, it can be more visible.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a built-in Windows 11 background service. It collects diagnostic data, error logs and performance metrics and sends them to Microsoft. Disabling it stops that stream of reports, but a few built-in features depend on it and stop working properly.

This article explains what you lose, what you gain, and how to turn the service off with the Services console and Task Scheduler. It also covers how to turn it back on, and a lower-risk option in Settings for anyone who would rather not disable services at all.

Disabling telemetry breaks a few specific things. Windows can no longer check for Windows Insider builds, the Feedback Hub app stops working properly, and Windows 11 stops showing tailored support recommendations.

In return, you stop the constant data collection, which addresses the main privacy worry. The trade-off is that you lose convenient access to some Microsoft support tools and certain update notifications.

Normal use is not affected. You can also reverse the change at any time, as the later sections show.

What Is the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service?

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a background program that collects diagnostic data about your hardware and apps. It tracks how you use your computer, watches for crashes, and sends the information to Microsoft. Microsoft uses that data to patch security holes and improve future software updates.

In the Services console it appears under its display name, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. By default it starts automatically with Windows, so it runs on almost every Windows 11 PC.

Think of the service as an automated reporter. It follows how apps behave, records crashes and hardware problems, and uploads that data to Microsoft servers. The reports help Microsoft spot problems that affect many machines, so it can fix them in later updates.

Microsoft relies on this data to patch security holes and improve future Windows 11 updates. The service checks your system health without asking permission each time. That helps developers, but it also means the service runs continuously.

All that background activity uses a small amount of memory, disk and processor time. On a modern desktop you will not notice it. On an older laptop or a machine with a slow hard drive, it can be more visible.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

What Is the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service?

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a background program that collects diagnostic data about your hardware and apps. It tracks how you use your computer, watches for crashes, and sends the information to Microsoft. Microsoft uses that data to patch security holes and improve future software updates.

In the Services console it appears under its display name, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. By default it starts automatically with Windows, so it runs on almost every Windows 11 PC.

Think of the service as an automated reporter. It follows how apps behave, records crashes and hardware problems, and uploads that data to Microsoft servers. The reports help Microsoft spot problems that affect many machines, so it can fix them in later updates.

Microsoft relies on this data to patch security holes and improve future Windows 11 updates. The service checks your system health without asking permission each time. That helps developers, but it also means the service runs continuously.

All that background activity uses a small amount of memory, disk and processor time. On a modern desktop you will not notice it. On an older laptop or a machine with a slow hard drive, it can be more visible.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a built-in Windows 11 background service. It collects diagnostic data, error logs and performance metrics and sends them to Microsoft. Disabling it stops that stream of reports, but a few built-in features depend on it and stop working properly.

This article explains what you lose, what you gain, and how to turn the service off with the Services console and Task Scheduler. It also covers how to turn it back on, and a lower-risk option in Settings for anyone who would rather not disable services at all.

Disabling telemetry breaks a few specific things. Windows can no longer check for Windows Insider builds, the Feedback Hub app stops working properly, and Windows 11 stops showing tailored support recommendations.

In return, you stop the constant data collection, which addresses the main privacy worry. The trade-off is that you lose convenient access to some Microsoft support tools and certain update notifications.

Normal use is not affected. You can also reverse the change at any time, as the later sections show.

What Is the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service?

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a background program that collects diagnostic data about your hardware and apps. It tracks how you use your computer, watches for crashes, and sends the information to Microsoft. Microsoft uses that data to patch security holes and improve future software updates.

In the Services console it appears under its display name, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. By default it starts automatically with Windows, so it runs on almost every Windows 11 PC.

Think of the service as an automated reporter. It follows how apps behave, records crashes and hardware problems, and uploads that data to Microsoft servers. The reports help Microsoft spot problems that affect many machines, so it can fix them in later updates.

Microsoft relies on this data to patch security holes and improve future Windows 11 updates. The service checks your system health without asking permission each time. That helps developers, but it also means the service runs continuously.

All that background activity uses a small amount of memory, disk and processor time. On a modern desktop you will not notice it. On an older laptop or a machine with a slow hard drive, it can be more visible.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

What Is the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service?

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a background program that collects diagnostic data about your hardware and apps. It tracks how you use your computer, watches for crashes, and sends the information to Microsoft. Microsoft uses that data to patch security holes and improve future software updates.

In the Services console it appears under its display name, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. By default it starts automatically with Windows, so it runs on almost every Windows 11 PC.

Think of the service as an automated reporter. It follows how apps behave, records crashes and hardware problems, and uploads that data to Microsoft servers. The reports help Microsoft spot problems that affect many machines, so it can fix them in later updates.

Microsoft relies on this data to patch security holes and improve future Windows 11 updates. The service checks your system health without asking permission each time. That helps developers, but it also means the service runs continuously.

All that background activity uses a small amount of memory, disk and processor time. On a modern desktop you will not notice it. On an older laptop or a machine with a slow hard drive, it can be more visible.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

That’s it. The Windows Error Reporting Service is disabled, so Windows no longer packages crash details to send to Microsoft.

To reverse this, open the service’s properties again, set Startup type back to Manual, and click Apply and then OK. Manual is the default for this service.

Step 4Turn Off Related Scheduled Tasks

The last part uses the built-in Task Scheduler to disable background tasks such as the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. These tasks can start telemetry collection again after you have turned the service off. Disabling them closes that gap.

1. 1. Press the Win and R again to open the Run box.

1. 2. Type taskschd.msc and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler. A window opens with a tree on the left, a task list in the middle and an actions pane on the right.

1. 3. Click the arrow next to Task Scheduler Library on the left side, then go to Microsoft, then Windows, and click Application Experience. The middle pane now lists the tasks in that folder.

1. 4. Look at the middle pane for tasks such as Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and ProgramDataUpdater. The exact list can vary a little between Windows 11 builds, so disable only the tasks that match these names.

1. 5. Right-click each of these tasks and choose Disable. The Status column for each task should change to Disabled.

That’s it. The scheduled tasks that could restart telemetry collection are now disabled.

To undo this, right-click each disabled task in the same folder and choose Enable. The Status column should change back to Ready.

A major Windows feature update can sometimes turn services and tasks back on. Check these settings again after one.

Summary

Disabling the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service stops your computer from sending constant diagnostic data to Microsoft. It does not harm your daily apps, games or security updates. With the Services console and Task Scheduler, you can turn these background tracking features off without installing anything extra.

The cost is small: no Insider build checks, a limited Feedback Hub, fewer tailored suggestions and no automatic crash reports. If any of those matter to you, set the service back to Automatic and enable the tasks again. Check the settings after major Windows updates, since they can be reset.

If you only want to share less data, the switches under Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback are a gentler option.

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a built-in Windows 11 background service. It collects diagnostic data, error logs and performance metrics and sends them to Microsoft. Disabling it stops that stream of reports, but a few built-in features depend on it and stop working properly.

This article explains what you lose, what you gain, and how to turn the service off with the Services console and Task Scheduler. It also covers how to turn it back on, and a lower-risk option in Settings for anyone who would rather not disable services at all.

Disabling telemetry breaks a few specific things. Windows can no longer check for Windows Insider builds, the Feedback Hub app stops working properly, and Windows 11 stops showing tailored support recommendations.

In return, you stop the constant data collection, which addresses the main privacy worry. The trade-off is that you lose convenient access to some Microsoft support tools and certain update notifications.

Normal use is not affected. You can also reverse the change at any time, as the later sections show.

What Is the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry Service?

The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is a background program that collects diagnostic data about your hardware and apps. It tracks how you use your computer, watches for crashes, and sends the information to Microsoft. Microsoft uses that data to patch security holes and improve future software updates.

In the Services console it appears under its display name, Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. By default it starts automatically with Windows, so it runs on almost every Windows 11 PC.

Think of the service as an automated reporter. It follows how apps behave, records crashes and hardware problems, and uploads that data to Microsoft servers. The reports help Microsoft spot problems that affect many machines, so it can fix them in later updates.

Microsoft relies on this data to patch security holes and improve future Windows 11 updates. The service checks your system health without asking permission each time. That helps developers, but it also means the service runs continuously.

All that background activity uses a small amount of memory, disk and processor time. On a modern desktop you will not notice it. On an older laptop or a machine with a slow hard drive, it can be more visible.

Why Basic Privacy Settings Are Not Enough

The basic Windows 11 privacy settings are not enough to stop data collection. They only lower the amount of diagnostic information your computer shares. They do not turn off the underlying tracking service, so that program keeps running in the background until you disable it.

Home and Pro editions do not let you set diagnostic data to fully off in Settings. The lowest level you can pick is Required diagnostic data, which means the Optional diagnostic data switch is off. Only Enterprise and Education editions can go lower, and only through policy.

The privacy options in the Settings app change how much data is sent. They do not stop the service itself. If your goal is to keep the service from running at all, Settings alone will not do it.

Still, Settings is the lower-risk choice if you want to share less without touching services or scheduled tasks. It changes nothing in the system beyond the privacy options, and you can reverse it in seconds. Here is how to use it:

1. Open Settings › Privacy & security › Diagnostics & feedback. The page lists the diagnostic data options.
2. Turn off the Send optional diagnostic data switch. Windows then sends only the required diagnostic data.
3. Scroll down to the Delete diagnostic data section and click Delete. This asks Microsoft to delete the diagnostic data it has already collected from your device.

That’s it. Your PC now shares the minimum diagnostic data that Home and Pro allow, and the older data tied to your device is cleared. If a setting is greyed out, your organization may manage it through policy.

The main Settings app only reduces the amount of data your computer sends out. The background service keeps running, and it still scans your files and monitors system tasks. To stop those processes, you have to change deeper system settings.

The sections below use the Services console and Task Scheduler for that.

What Breaks or Changes When You Disable Telemetry

Disabling the service does not break basic computer use, web browsing, games or office apps. You will lose some diagnostic features, though. Your computer stops sending automatic crash reports when apps close unexpectedly, and you stop receiving personalized feature suggestions and tips from Microsoft.

Windows Update and Windows Security keep working. Updates still download and install, and Microsoft Defender still receives its definition updates.

Here is what changes in daily use. Most of it happens in the background, so you may not notice anything until you go looking for one of these features.

• • Detailed Error Reporting: Windows no longer sends automatic crash reports to Microsoft when an app suddenly closes. If you want to look into a crash yourself, you can still use Event Viewer, the built-in log tool on your own PC.

• • Personalized Feature Suggestions: Tips and recommendations inside the Windows interface may become less relevant to your daily habits. For many people this is a benefit rather than a loss.

• • Automated Problem Solving: Windows troubleshooting tools may take longer to find rare software bugs because they cannot draw on global error databases. The built-in troubleshooters usually still find common problems.

The Windows Insider Program and the Feedback Hub also depend on this data. If you test preview builds or report bugs to Microsoft, leave the service enabled.

Hidden Benefits: Performance and System Control

Turning off the service has a few quiet benefits. The main one is less unnecessary background disk activity. When the computer sits idle, it spends less time running scheduled diagnostic scans.

That helps older laptops run slightly cooler and save a small amount of battery life.

Do not expect a dramatic speed-up. On a modern PC with an SSD, the difference is small. The gains show up mostly on older hardware, low-memory machines and laptops running on battery.

How to Safely Disable Telemetry in 🪟 🪟 Windows 11

You can turn off these background services with built-in system tools. The Services console and Task Scheduler are both included in Windows 11 Home and Pro, so the steps are the same on either edition.

⚠️ This method requires administrator privileges. Sign in with an administrator account before you start. On a standard account, the Stop button and the Startup type list may be greyed out, or Windows may ask for an administrator password.

No restart is needed for the steps below. A restart afterwards is a good way to confirm the service stays off.

Warning: create a restore point before you do anything else. The steps below disable a service and several scheduled tasks, and a restore point is your quickest way back if something behaves oddly.

To make one, search the Start menu for Create a restore point, open it, and use the Create button on the System Protection tab. If protection is off for your system drive, turn it on first. Some newer Windows 11 builds also offer point-in-time restore, which rolls the whole PC back to an earlier state. Use it if your build has it.

Step 1Open the Services Console

1. 1. Press the Win and the letter R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run box. A small Run window appears in the lower-left corner of the screen.
      

      

1. 2. Type services.msc into the Open box. Check the spelling, because a typo gives you an error message instead of the Services window.
      

      

1. 3. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Services window. You should see a long list of services in alphabetical order, with a detail pane on the left.

Step 2Stop the Telemetry Service

To stop the Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service, find it in the long list of services. Then stop it and change its startup type to disabled. Stopping it ends the background program immediately, so it no longer collects data. Disabling it keeps Windows from starting it again at the next boot.

1. 4. Scroll down the list until you find Connected User Experiences and Telemetry. It sits in the C section, so you do not have to scroll far. Its Status column should read Running.

1. 5. Double-click the service name to open its properties window. The General tab shows the service name, its description and its current startup type, which is normally Automatic.

1. 6. Click the Stop button to halt the service immediately. Wait a moment. The Service status line should change to Stopped.

1. 7. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type and choose Disabled. If the list is greyed out, you are not running with administrator rights. Close the window and sign in with an administrator account.

1. 8. Click Apply and then click OK to save your changes. Back in the main list, the service should now show Disabled in the Startup Type column and have no status.

That’s it. The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service is stopped and will not start again at the next boot.

To undo this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Services console again and double-click Connected User Experiences and Telemetry.
2. Set Startup type back to Automatic.
3. Click Apply.
4. Click Start. The Service status line should change to Running.

You should now have the service back in its default state, running and set to start with Windows.

Step 3Stop Windows Error Reporting

The Windows Error Reporting Service is separate from the telemetry service. It packages crash details and sends them to Microsoft. Turning it off as well keeps those crash reports from leaving your PC.

1. 1. In the same Services window, look for Windows Error Reporting Service. Because the list is alphabetical, it is near the bottom, in the W section.

1. 2. Double-click Windows Error Reporting Service to open its properties.
   3. Click Stop if the service is running. It may already be stopped, because by default it starts only when a problem is reported.
   4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
   5. Click Apply and then OK to save your changes.