Disable Tailored Experiences in Windows 10

Tailored experiences in Windows 10 are personalized tips, ads, and suggestions that Microsoft shows based on how you use your device. Disabling them stops Microsoft from using your diagnostic data to tailor those prompts. You can turn this off in a few clicks through the Settings app, and the steps below work for Windows 10 versions 1903 and later.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 PC with administrator privileges (you’ll need to confirm a User Account Control prompt)
• Your Microsoft account sign-in info if you want to also stop tailored experiences across your Microsoft account (optional)

Step-by-Step

1. Open Settings. Click the Start button (Windows logo) in the bottom-left corner, then click the gear icon labeled “Settings.” Alternatively, press Windows key + I on your keyboard.
2. Go to Privacy. In the Settings window, click the tile labeled “Privacy.” It has a padlock icon.
3. Select Diagnostics & feedback. In the left sidebar of the Privacy page, scroll down and click “Diagnostics & feedback.”
4. Find the tailored experiences section. Scroll down the right-hand pane until you see a heading that says “Tailored experiences.” It will have a short description explaining that Microsoft uses your diagnostic data to offer personalized tips, ads, and recommendations.
5. Turn off the toggle. Under that heading, you’ll see a toggle switch. Click it so it turns from blue (On) to gray (Off). A User Account Control prompt may appear; click “Yes” to confirm the change.
6. Optional: Disable across your Microsoft account. If you want to stop tailored experiences on other Windows 10 devices signed in with the same Microsoft account, go to account.microsoft.com/privacy/ad-settings in a web browser, sign in, and turn off the toggle under “Personalized ads.” This is separate from the device-level setting but controls similar ad personalization.
7. Verify the setting stuck. After toggling off, the switch should remain gray. If you reopen the same page later, it should still be off.

Common Mistakes

• Turning off the wrong toggle. The page has several toggles. Make sure you’re on “Tailored experiences,” not “Diagnostic data” or “Improve inking and typing.” Turning off diagnostic data entirely is a different, more aggressive change.
• Forgetting to confirm the UAC prompt. If you don’t click “Yes” on the User Account Control popup, the toggle will flip back on. Always confirm the prompt.
• Thinking this stops all ads. Disabling tailored experiences only stops the personalization of tips and ads based on your diagnostic data. It does not block ads in apps, the Start menu, or web browsers. Those are controlled elsewhere.
• Assuming it applies to your Microsoft account automatically. The device toggle only affects that specific PC. If you sign in on another computer, that device has its own setting.

Tips

• If you want fewer promotional notifications overall, also go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions and uncheck “Show me the Windows welcome experience after updates and occasionally when I sign in to highlight what’s new and suggested.”
• For a cleaner Start menu, right-click any suggested app tile and select “Unpin from Start,” then go to Settings > Personalization > Start and turn off “Show suggestions occasionally in Start.”
• Check the setting after major Windows feature updates. Occasionally an update may reset some privacy preferences, so it’s worth verifying.
• If you’re on a work or school device managed by an organization, the toggle may be grayed out. That means your IT administrator has set a policy that overrides it.

Troubleshooting

• The toggle turns itself back on. This can happen if a Windows update resets settings. Reopen Settings and turn it off again. If it keeps reverting, check if you have third-party “optimizer” or “privacy” software that might be interfering. Also verify you’re not signed in with a domain account that enforces a policy.
• The “Tailored experiences” section is missing. This section only appears on Windows 10 version 1903 or later. If you don’t see it, run Windows Update to install the latest feature update. To check your version, press Windows key + R, type winver, and press Enter.
• The toggle is grayed out. This means your device is managed by an organization (work or school). You cannot change it yourself. Contact your IT administrator and ask them to disable “Tailored experiences” via Group Policy.
• You still see personalized ads after turning it off. Remember that this setting only affects Windows’ own tailored experiences. Ads in websites, apps, and other services use their own tracking. For Microsoft’s broader ad personalization, adjust your Microsoft account privacy settings online as described in step 6.
• You can’t find the Privacy section. If the Settings app is not opening normally, try restarting your PC. If it persists, run the Windows Update troubleshooter from Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling tailored experiences affect Windows updates?

No. This setting only controls personalized tips and ads. It does not stop or delay Windows updates. Updates are managed separately under Settings > Update & Security.

Will this make my PC faster?

Not noticeably. The feature has a negligible impact on performance. The main benefit is privacy — Microsoft will no longer use your diagnostic data to tailor what it shows you.

Is this the same as turning off diagnostic data?

No. Diagnostic data is the information Windows sends to Microsoft about how your device works. Tailored experiences is a separate feature that uses that data to personalize tips and ads. You can turn off tailored experiences while keeping diagnostic data on, or vice versa.

Do I need to restart my PC after turning it off?

No restart is required. The change takes effect immediately. Some users report that new tailored tips stop appearing within a few minutes, though existing ones may remain until the next content refresh.

Does this stop Cortana suggestions or Bing ads?

No. Cortana’s suggestions and Bing search ads are separate services with their own privacy controls. To manage those, go to Settings > Cortana or your Microsoft account privacy dashboard.

Will this setting sync across my devices?

No. The toggle in Settings applies only to the device you’re on. If you use multiple Windows 10 PCs, you’ll need to turn it off on each one. The optional Microsoft account setting you change online applies to ad personalization across your account, but the device-level toggle is per-PC.

Related

• Cannot Start Remote Desktop Service After Windows Updates?
• Install Windows on Dynamic Disk: Yes, With a Catch
• How to Completely Uninstall Discord