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Disable collection of Edge browsing data for Desktop Analytics

Overview​

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script configures Microsoft Edge to prevent it from sending your browsing history data to Desktop Analytics 1. This browsing data can include information from either your intranet or internet history, or both 1.

When you use Microsoft Edge for browsing, it can collect and send your browsing history to Desktop Analytics, a Microsoft service that helps enterprises to analyze and improve their IT environment. If this setting is disabled, Microsoft Edge does not send any browsing history data, thereby enhancing your privacy.

The script achieves this by modifying a specific value in the Windows Registry. The specific value that the script modifies is MicrosoftEdgeDataOptIn located at HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection. The script sets this value to 0, which indicates to Microsoft Edge that it should not send browsing history data to Desktop Analytics 1.

While enhancing privacy, this could limit the functionality of Desktop Analytics for enterprises that rely on this service for IT insights. However, for individual users, this script can help prevent unwanted data collection and transmission, contributing to an overall safer browsing experience 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 Desktop Analytics telemetry category. Desktop Analytics is a cloud-based service that provides insights about Windows devices in an organization. The service provides insight and intelligence from user data. Desktop Analytics collects diagnostic data from enrolled Windows devices and sends it to Microsoft cloud services. It creates... 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 collection of Edge browsing data for Desktop Analytics.
  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!MicrosoftEdgeDataOptIn"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection'; $data = '0'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection' /v 'MicrosoftEdgeDataOptIn' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$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!MicrosoftEdgeDataOptIn"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "reg delete 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection' /v 'MicrosoftEdgeDataOptIn' /f 2>$null"

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