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Disable automatic cloud configuration downloads

Overview​

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script turns off the OneSettings service, a feature from Microsoft that downloads configuration settings 1. This action can enhance the privacy and security of your Windows desktop environment by managing a feature called the Services Configuration 1.

Services Configuration is a mechanism that various Windows components and apps use to update their settings dynamically 2 3. By default, Windows periodically tries to connect with the OneSettings service to download configuration settings 1. This script turns off that function, reducing the chance of data being shared with third-party vendors 1.

This script is recommended by CIS Microsoft Windows Desktop Benchmarks 1. Please be aware that turning off this service might affect how certain apps that rely on this service work 3.

The script changes a registry setting to disable OneSettings downloads 3 1. It also provides a revert code to undo this change, if needed, which returns the system to its previous state.

If you want to limit how much data is sent to Microsoft, turning off the OneSettings service can help enhance your privacy 1. For more information about the impact of OneSettings on privacy, visit learn.microsoft.com.

This script lets you manage your privacy by restricting the automatic configuration updates of Windows components and apps, including telemetry services, from the cloud 3 1.

By using this script, Windows will not connect to OneSettings to fetch any configuration settings 1. This reduces the amount of data sent to third-party vendors, which can help alleviate potential security concerns 1.

However, please be aware that while this setting can enhance privacy, turning off this service could lead to some applications not working properly. These applications may depend on dynamic configuration updates that will be stopped when the service is disabled 3 1.

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand its implications. Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

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 Windows telemetry and data collection category. This category configures Windows using 17 scripts. These scripts are organized in 4 categories. The category includes 4 subscripts and 3 subcategories that include more scripts and categories. 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 automatic cloud configuration downloads.
  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
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection!DisableOneSettingsDownloads"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection'; $data = '1'; reg add 'HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection' /v 'DisableOneSettingsDownloads' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
  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
:: Delete the registry value "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection!DisableOneSettingsDownloads"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "reg delete 'HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection' /v 'DisableOneSettingsDownloads' /f 2>$null"

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