If you want to reduce the amount of personal data leaving your PC, the Privacy settings menu in Windows 10 is the place to start. This guide walks through each key section so you can lock down the information you'd rather keep to yourself. To find these options, open Settings and select Privacy, then work through the sections in the left-hand panel.
Account info
If you'd rather your apps couldn't reach your account details, switch this setting off to block access altogether and keep that information private. If there are specific apps you're comfortable sharing it with, leave the setting on and enable access only for those apps.
Activity history
Activity history controls whether details about what you do on your computer are sent to Microsoft. If you'd prefer they weren't, turn this setting off.
Diagnostics and feedback
This section governs how much diagnostic data you allow Microsoft to collect. To share as little as possible, choose the Basic (or "Required") diagnostic data option rather than the full option.
You can also turn off the toggle that lets Microsoft use your diagnostic data to deliver tailored tips and recommendations, which further limits what's sent.
Toward the bottom of the section, you can set how often Windows asks you for feedback. The available options include Never, if you'd rather not be prompted at all.
Camera and microphone
The Camera and Microphone settings work the same way. If you use either device, make sure your PC is allowed to access it, then choose exactly which apps can use it. Reviewing these regularly stops programs from tapping into your camera or microphone without your permission.
Speech
This setting lets Microsoft store your voice data in the cloud and use it to improve its cloud-based speech services. You'll need to enable it to use the Cortana assistant. If you rely on speech features that don't depend on the cloud, those will keep working even with this setting turned off.
Location
Turning location off stops your PC from sharing your physical location with Microsoft, and also prevents apps from determining where you are.
Notifications
If app notifications are getting in the way, you can switch them off here. If you'd rather keep them on, you can pick and choose which apps are allowed to send you alerts.
A note for 2026
Windows 10 reached the end of Microsoft's mainstream support in October 2025, so if you're still running it, keeping a tight rein on these privacy settings matters more than ever. Reviewing each section periodically, especially after major updates or when installing new software, is the simplest way to stay in control of what your PC shares.