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Disable automatic system compatibility checks (Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser)

Overview​

About this category

This category contains privacy scripts for Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This category covers disabling of the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser. This tool checks your computer's software and hardware compatibility with the latest Windows updates, including major upgrades such as Windows 11 1. It scans your system, collecting detailed information about your apps and devices to ensure everything will work smoothly with potential updates 2 3. This process helps Microsoft improve Windows and keep your system running efficiently with the latest features. However, it sends substantial system usage data to Microsoft, raising privacy concerns for some users.

This script optimizes your computer by managing how it prepares for Windows updates. The Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser, designed to check system readiness for new updates, routinely discards saved update data 2. Consequently, your computer must redownload this data during subsequent update checks, consuming significant internet bandwidth 2 and CPU resources 3. Preventing this redundancy, the script reduces internet usage and improves computer performance.

The Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser contributes to Desktop Analytics 2 (formerly Windows Analytics 4), a system that collects and sends Windows diagnostics and app usage data to Microsoft servers 4. This service is unavailable in high-privacy settings such as GCC High or the US Department of Defense 4, highlighting its potential privacy implications. These organizations, known for stringent privacy and security standards, do not utilize Desktop Analytics, suggesting the service's inherent data collection practices may not align with high-privacy protocols.

Despite its utility, Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser can introduce additional vulnerabilities to your system. A known elevation of privilege vulnerability linked with the appraiser allows a configuration file to be susceptible to symbolic link and hard link attacks, also known as the "Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability" 5.

By disabling the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser, this category contributes to enhancing your system's privacy by reducing unnecessary data transmission to Microsoft servers, mitigating potential vulnerabilities, and conserving network bandwidth and CPU usage.

Safe for General Use

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

Apply now​

These scripts are written using Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Choose one of two ways to apply:

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

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy​

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

Open privacy.sexy

It allows selectively choose parts of this action to conduct. 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 category name: Disable automatic system compatibility checks (Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser).
  3. Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.
  4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download​

Consider restarting your computer for all changes to take affect.

Reversible

This action is completely reversible, you can restore your changes to the initial/default state. The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

If something goes wrong, use the Revert script provided above.

Standard​

This script includes only Standard recommendation level.

Safe for General Use

Standard scripts in this category is recommended for all users. They help to improve privacy without affecting stability.

Download only standard scripts by clicking on the button:

Download script

Restore these changes if you decide to revert them by downloading the restore script:

Download restore script

Explore further​

This category includes total of 2 scripts but no subcategories.

Explore its 2 scripts:

Disable daily compatibility data collection ("Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" task)

This script disables the "Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" scheduled task. The "Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" is a default scheduled task in Windows. It collects program telemetry information for participants in the Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program, and it maintains this data collection across computer reboots. Running at least daily, this task assesses your system's eligibility for Windows 11 upgrades. By disabling this task, the script helps in optimizing computer perfo...

Disable telemetry collector and sender process ("CompatTelRunner.exe")

This script disables "CompatTelRunner.exe", associated with the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser This process runs at least daily from Windows 7 onwards. It collects extensive data, including information about devices, apps, drivers, hardware configurations, and other user engagement details. This data, formerly known as Windows Customer Data, is then sent to Microsoft servers. "CompatTelRunner.exe" is known for high CPU, disk, and network usage, affecting system performance. Disabling it can t...

Explore Categories​

This action belongs to Disable Application Experience data collection category. Application Experience comprises services and tasks that help applications, including older ones, run smoothly. These components collect and send telemetry data to Microsoft, potentially impacting user privacy. Scripts under this category aim to enhance user privacy, data protection, and protect... Read more on category page ▶

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