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Disable Edge browsing history collection for ads

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Works with Windows 10 and 11Works with Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Server 2008 or newer.
  • Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
  • Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
  • Impact: Minimum

    System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: Low

    This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.

  • Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
  • Administrator rights requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
  • Fully reversible

    You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.

    The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview

This script stops Microsoft from personalizing ads and content using your browsing data across its services, thereby enhancing your privacy.

Microsoft Edge collects and transmits your browsing history, favorites, usage data, and other web activities to Microsoft 1 2 3. This data is used to personalize advertisements and content to your interests 1 2 3 4. This information is shared with other Microsoft services, such as Microsoft Edge, Bing, and News 1 2 3 4. For instance, based on your activity, Microsoft may show you ads for products from stores you frequently visit or news related to topics you often read about 1 3.

By executing this script, you prevent Microsoft from utilizing your browsing data to personalize ads and content 1. This ensures your browsing habits are kept private and not used for advertising purposes.

Authorities like The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) 5 and The Center for Internet Security (CIS) 6 recommend this script for enhanced security. DISA categorizes the absence of this setting as a medium severity security vulnerability 5.

This setting is applicable only to personal Microsoft accounts and does not apply to child or enterprise accounts 2 4. Once applied, the setting cannot be altered by the user, indicating that the browser is being managed 2 4.

This script configures the PersonalizationReportingEnabled 2 3 4 5 6 Edge policy.

Caution
  • This will display the message "Your browser is managed by your organization" on the settings page.
  • This locks settings and prevents them from being changed on the settings page.
Safe for General Use
All actions in this script is recommended for all users. This is recommended for all users to improve without any noticeable impact on the system functionality.
Sources
PrivacyLearn.com maintains strict sourcing standards for accuracy, integrity and up-to-date content. Our content relies on authoritative sources including vendor documentation, industry standards, and verified research. Learn more about our verification process and quality standards in our editorial standards page.

Apply Now

Choose one of three ways to apply:

Download script

Download and run the script directly
  • No app needed
  • Offline usage
  • Easy-to-apply
  • Free
  • Open-source
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable Edge browsing history collection for ads" using script

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 5 instructions
  1. 1

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
    Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
  2. 2

    Keep the file

    If warned by your browser, keep the file.
  3. 3

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  4. 4

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  5. 5

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy

Guided, automated application with safety checks
  • Recommended for most users
  • Includes safety checks
  • Free
  • Open-source
  • Popular
  • Offline/Online usage
Open privacy.sexy
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable Edge browsing history collection for ads" using privacy.sexy

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the script name: Disable Edge browsing history collection for ads
    2. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  3. 3

    Run

    Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

    This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Run commands

Copy and run commands manually Requires technical knowledge
Apply changes
:: Configure "PersonalizationReportingEnabled" Edge policy
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge!PersonalizationReportingEnabled"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'; $data = '0'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' /v 'PersonalizationReportingEnabled' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable Edge browsing history collection for ads" using commands

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Command Prompt
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • ≈ 3 instructions
View step-by-step guide with screenshots
  1. 1

    Open Command Prompt

    Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. 2

    Copy code

  3. 3

    Paste & run

    Paste the commands into Command Prompt and press Enter to run.

    Some changes require a system restart to take effect

Similar Guides

Wider Goal

Guides below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.

See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.

These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.

Overview - This category blocks several types of advertisements in Microsoft Edge, such as promotional suggestions, notifications, and recommendations. Impact - Pr...

Same Goal

Other guides in Disable Edge ads 

See settings that are in the same category as this guide.

Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.


About the Creators

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
    • Certified security professional
    • 7+ years experience securing banks
    • Open-source developer since 2005
    • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
    • Hundreds across the globe
    • Testers, reviewers, developers
    • Companies, military agencies
    • Community since 2017

Reviewed By

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:
  • Expert review by undergroundwires

    • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
    • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
  • Public review by large community

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments

History

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.