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Disable online experiments by Microsoft in Visual Studio Code

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

Missing Good Quality Documentation

This page does not yet meet PrivacyLearn's documentation standards. However, the script/action is stable and verified by community. Here are some options for you to understand its functionality:

Computer-generated docs (PREVIEW)

This documentation may be low quality but still useful.
Read computer-generated explanation

This documentation is automatically extracted from the code implementation.

Follow this publication: disable online experiments by Microsoft in Visual Studio Code on your Windows system to create a safe and private environment for information privacy safeguard. Another thing to note, this setup equips you to handle the procedure to reverse the applied updates.

Promoting self-determination in the digital age starts with digital privacy maintenance. Enabled by this guide, improve important privacy safeguard preferences and explore the solutions that match your goals. Follow the guide exactly as written. Skipping details might lead to unnecessary confusion.

Reference: https://github.com/privacysexy-forks/vscode/blob/1aee0c194cff72d179b9f8ef324e47f34555a07d/src/vs/workbench/contrib/experiments/node/experimentService.ts#L173

Technical Details​

  • This config applies system update settings to help maximize system data privacy assurance and this helps to realize limited update analytics. This would help make the system more effective for the purpose of reduced system interruption.
  • To obtain hardened software defaults, this configuration handles JSON content to be able to minimize data handling defenses risks. During reduced overhead to the privacy-invasive configurations, this adjustment can also help make the system more stable.

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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.

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  • Easy-to-apply
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Help

How to apply or restore "Disable online experiments by Microsoft in Visual Studio Code" 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​

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  • Recommended for most users
  • Includes safety checks
  • Free
  • Open-source
  • Popular
  • Offline/Online usage
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How to apply or restore "Disable online experiments by Microsoft in Visual Studio Code" 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 online experiments by Microsoft in Visual Studio Code
    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
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$settingKey='workbench.enableExperiments'; $settingValue=$false; $jsonFilePath = "^""$($env:APPDATA)\Code\User\settings.json"^""; if (!(Test-Path $jsonFilePath -PathType Leaf)) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, no updates. Settings file was not at `"^""$jsonFilePath`"^""."^""; exit 0; }; try { $fileContent = Get-Content $jsonFilePath -ErrorAction Stop; } catch { throw "^""Error, failed to read the settings file: `"^""$jsonFilePath`"^"". Error: $_"^""; }; if ([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($fileContent)) { Write-Host "^""Settings file is empty. Treating it as default empty JSON object."^""; $fileContent = "^""{}"^""; }; try { $json = $fileContent | ConvertFrom-Json; } catch { throw "^""Error, invalid JSON format in the settings file: `"^""$jsonFilePath`"^"". Error: $_"^""; }; $existingValue = $json.$settingKey; if ($existingValue -eq $settingValue) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, `"^""$settingKey`"^"" is already configured as `"^""$settingValue`"^""."^""; exit 0; }; $json | Add-Member -Type NoteProperty -Name $settingKey -Value $settingValue -Force; $json | ConvertTo-Json | Set-Content $jsonFilePath; Write-Host "^""Successfully applied the setting to the file: `"^""$jsonFilePath`"^""."^"""
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable online experiments by Microsoft in Visual Studio Code" 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

    Copy the code:
    Copy Apply Code Copy Revert 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.
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Same Goal​

Other guides in Disable Visual Studio Code data collection 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.
See all 8 guides

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
About Us

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
    • Audited and verified using automated security tests

  • Public review by large community​

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments
    • Audited and verified using third-party security software

History​

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential 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.

Review Change History Our Change Process