Disable automatic Software Quality Metrics (SQM) data transmission
Overview
This script improves your privacy on Windows.
These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
This script disables the "Proxy" scheduled task.
This task sends Software Quality Metrics (SQM) data to Microsoft 1. SQM stands for "Software Quality Metrics" 2 3, also known as "Software Quality Management" 4 5. It is part of Microsoft's telemetry framework, gathering and sending usage and performance data to Microsoft 2 3 5.
This task specifically collects and sends autochk
SQM data 1.
autochk
is a Windows tool that checks file system integrity before Windows starts 6.
This task enables features of the Customer Experience Improvement Program for participating users 7. It sends data when a user opts into the Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program 1.
Why disable it?
- Privacy: Disabling this task reduces data sent to Microsoft 1, enhancing your privacy.
- Performance and Reliability: Microsoft suggests this task isn't required 7. Turning it off can boost performance 1 8 and system reliability 1 7.
- Security: Enabling this background data collection task increases vulnerabilities. Authorities, such as the Polish government 9, advise disabling this task for enhanced security.
Overview of default task statuses
\Microsoft\Windows\Autochk\Proxy
:
OS Version | Default status |
---|---|
Windows 10 22H2 | 🟢 Ready |
Windows 11 22H2 | 🟢 Ready |
Windows 11 23H2 | 🟢 Ready |
This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.
This script is recommended for all users. It helps to improve privacy without affecting stability.
Implementation Details
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Language: batch
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Required Privileges: Administrator rights
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Compatibility: Windows only
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Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script
Explore Categories
- Disable background customer experience data collection
- Disable Customer Experience Improvement Program
- Disable OS data collection
This action belongs to Disable background customer experience data collection category. This category includes scripts that disable scheduled tasks from the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP). The CEIP, designed by Microsoft, collects background data on user interactions with its products. This data collection is executed through multiple background tasks that... Read more on category page ▶
This action belongs to Disable Customer Experience Improvement Program category. This script disables the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP). CEIP collects user interaction data with Windows. This includes hardware configurations (e.g., processor count, screen resolution), system performance, reliability metrics, and user behaviors like folder creation on... Read more on category page ▶
This action belongs to Disable OS data collection category. This category configures Windows using 153 scripts. These scripts are organized in 33 categories. The category includes 14 subscripts and 13 subcategories that include more scripts and categories. Read more on category page ▶
Apply now
Choose one of three ways to apply:
- Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
- Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
- 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.
You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application.
privacy.sexy instructions
- Open or download the desktop application
- Search for the script name:
Disable automatic Software Quality Metrics (SQM) data transmission
. - Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
- Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.
Alternative 2. Download
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.
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Download the script file by clicking on the button below:
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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.
Alternative 3. Copy
This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
HELP: Step-by-step guide
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Click on Start menu
- Windows 11
- Windows 10
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Type cmd
- Windows 11
- Windows 10
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Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator
- Windows 11
- Windows 10
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Click on Yes to run Command Prompt
- Windows 11
- Windows 10
- Windows 11
- Windows 10
- Copy the following code:
:: Disable scheduled task(s): `\Microsoft\Windows\Autochk\Proxy`
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$taskPathPattern='\Microsoft\Windows\Autochk\'; $taskNamePattern='Proxy'; Write-Output "^""Disabling tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^""."^""; $tasks = @(Get-ScheduledTask -TaskPath $taskPathPattern -TaskName $taskNamePattern -ErrorAction Ignore); if (-Not $tasks) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, no tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^"" found, no action needed."^""; exit 0; }; $operationFailed = $false; foreach ($task in $tasks) { $taskName = $task.TaskName; if ($task.State -eq [Microsoft.PowerShell.Cmdletization.GeneratedTypes.ScheduledTask.StateEnum]::Disabled) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, task `"^""$taskName`"^"" is already disabled, no action needed."^""; continue; }; try { $task | Disable-ScheduledTask -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully disabled task `"^""$taskName`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to disable task `"^""$taskName`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; $operationFailed = $true; }; }; if ($operationFailed) { Write-Output 'Failed to disable some tasks. Check error messages above.'; exit 1; }"
- Right click on command prompt to paste it.
- Press Enter to apply remaining code.
Copy restore code
Copy and run the following code to restore changes:
:: Restore scheduled task(s) to default state: `\Microsoft\Windows\Autochk\Proxy`
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$taskPathPattern='\Microsoft\Windows\Autochk\'; $taskNamePattern='Proxy'; $shouldDisable = $false; Write-Output "^""Enabling tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^""."^""; $tasks = @(Get-ScheduledTask -TaskPath $taskPathPattern -TaskName $taskNamePattern -ErrorAction Ignore); if (-Not $tasks) { Write-Warning ( "^""Missing task: Cannot enable, no tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^"" found."^"" + "^"" This task appears to be not included in this version of Windows."^"" ); exit 0; }; $operationFailed = $false; foreach ($task in $tasks) { $taskName = $task.TaskName; if ($shouldDisable) { if ($task.State -eq [Microsoft.PowerShell.Cmdletization.GeneratedTypes.ScheduledTask.StateEnum]::Disabled) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, task `"^""$taskName`"^"" is already disabled, no action needed."^""; continue; }; } else { if (($task.State -ne [Microsoft.PowerShell.Cmdletization.GeneratedTypes.ScheduledTask.StateEnum]::Disabled) -and ($task.State -ne [Microsoft.PowerShell.Cmdletization.GeneratedTypes.ScheduledTask.StateEnum]::Unknown)) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, task `"^""$taskName`"^"" is already enabled, no action needed."^""; continue; }; }; try { if ($shouldDisable) { $task | Disable-ScheduledTask -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully disabled task `"^""$taskName`"^""."^""; } else { $task | Enable-ScheduledTask -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully enabled task `"^""$taskName`"^""."^""; }; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to restore task `"^""$taskName`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; $operationFailed = $true; }; }; if ($operationFailed) { Write-Output 'Failed to restore some tasks. Check error messages above.'; exit 1; }"
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