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Disable Visual Studio Code telemetry

Overview​

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

https://web.archive.org/web/20221029171138/https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/telemetry

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Safe for General Use

This script is recommended for all users. It helps to improve privacy without affecting stability.

Implementation Details

  • Language: batch

  • Required Privileges: Administrator rights

  • Compatibility: Windows only

  • Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories​

This action belongs to Disable Visual Studio Code data collection category. This category configures Windows using 9 scripts. The category includes 9 subscripts. Read more on category page ▶

Apply now​

Choose one of three ways to apply:

  1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
  2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
  3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy​

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

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

privacy.sexy instructions
  1. Open or download the desktop application
  2. Search for the script name: Disable Visual Studio Code telemetry.
  3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download​

Irreversible Changes

This script is irreversible, meaning there is no straightforward method to restore changes once applied. Exercise caution before running, restoring it may not be possible.

  1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

    Download script

  2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Download revert script​

This file restores your system to its original state, before this script is applied.

Download restore script

Alternative 3. Copy​

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
HELP: Step-by-step guide

  1. Click on Start menu

  2. Type cmd

  3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

  4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

Animation showing how to open terminal as administrator on Windows 11

  1. Copy the following code:
Code to apply changes
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$settingKey='telemetry.enableTelemetry'; $settingValue=$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`"^""."^"""
  1. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
  2. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code​

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$settingKey='telemetry.enableTelemetry'; $settingValue=$false; $jsonFilePath = "^""$($env:APPDATA)\Code\User\settings.json"^""; if (!(Test-Path $jsonFilePath -PathType Leaf)) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, no need to revert because settings file is not found: `"^""$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 "^""Skipping, no need to revert because settings file is empty: `"^""$jsonFilePath`"^""."^""; exit 0; }; try { $json = $fileContent | ConvertFrom-Json; } catch { throw "^""Error, invalid JSON format in the settings file: `"^""$jsonFilePath`"^"". Error: $_"^""; }; if (!$json.PSObject.Properties[$settingKey]) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, no need to revert because setting `"^""$settingKey`"^"" does not exist."^""; exit 0; }; if ($json.$settingKey -ne $settingValue) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, setting (`"^""$settingKey`"^"") has different configuration than `"^""$settingValue`"^"": `"^""$($json.$settingKey)`"^""."^""; exit 0; }; $json.PSObject.Properties.Remove($settingKey); $json | ConvertTo-Json | Set-Content $jsonFilePath; Write-Host "^""Successfully reverted the setting from file: `"^""$jsonFilePath`"^""."^"""

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