Clear Visual Studio Application Insights logs
- Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
- Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
- Impact: MinimumSystem Functionality Loss Risk: Low
This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script. - Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
- Fully reversible
You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.
The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.
Overview
Application Insights for Visual Studio stores diagnostic data for e.g. exceptions and performance 1.
Application Insights store .TRN
files that might grow and exceed thousands 2 3.
Sources
- Monitoring Applications using Application Insights. Azure DevOps Hands-on-Labs. (2025).
Original: https://azuredevopslabs.com/labs/vsts/monitor/ - Visual Studio freezes randomly. Visual Studio Feedback. (2025).
Original: https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/t/visual-studio-freezes-randomly/224181#T-N257722-N277241-N407607 - Visual Studio 2017 (15.3.1) keeps hanging/freezing. Stack Overflow. stackoverflow.com. (2024).
Original: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/45832665/visual-studio-2017-15-3-1-keeps-hanging-freezing/53754481
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240314062743/https://stackoverflow.com/questions/45832665/visual-studio-2017-15-3-1-keeps-hanging-freezing/53754481#53754481
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How to apply or restore "Clear Visual Studio Application Insights logs" using script
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 5 instructions
- 1
Download
Download the script file by clicking on thebutton above.
Use button above to restore changes. - 2
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Open the downloaded file. - 4
Exit
Once it's done, press any key to exit the window. - 5
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Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.
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How to apply or restore "Clear Visual Studio Application Insights logs" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the script name: Clear Visual Studio Application Insights logs
- Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
- 3
Run
Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.
- Apply
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:: Clear directory contents : "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\VSApplicationInsights"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$pathGlobPattern = "^""$($directoryGlob = '%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\VSApplicationInsights'; if ($directoryGlob.EndsWith('\*')) { $directoryGlob } elseif ($directoryGlob.EndsWith('\')) { "^""$($directoryGlob)*"^"" } else { "^""$($directoryGlob)\*"^"" } )"^""; $expandedPath = [System.Environment]::ExpandEnvironmentVariables($pathGlobPattern); Write-Host "^""Searching for items matching pattern: `"^""$($expandedPath)`"^""."^""; $deletedCount = 0; $failedCount = 0; $foundAbsolutePaths = @(); Write-Host 'Iterating files and directories recursively.'; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-ChildItem -Path $expandedPath -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-Item -Path $expandedPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; $foundAbsolutePaths = $foundAbsolutePaths | Select-Object -Unique | Sort-Object -Property { $_.Length } -Descending; if (!$foundAbsolutePaths) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no items available.'; exit 0; }; Write-Host "^""Initiating processing of $($foundAbsolutePaths.Count) items from `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""; foreach ($path in $foundAbsolutePaths) { if (-not (Test-Path $path)) { <# Re-check existence as prior deletions might remove subsequent items (e.g., subdirectories). #>; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path) (already deleted)."^""; $deletedCount++; continue; }; try { Remove-Item -Path $path -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop; $deletedCount++; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path)"^""; } catch { $failedCount++; Write-Warning "^""Unable to delete $($path): $_"^""; }; }; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted $($deletedCount) items."^""; if ($failedCount -gt 0) { Write-Warning "^""Failed to delete $($failedCount) items."^""; }"
:: Clear directory contents : "%PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft\VSApplicationInsights"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$pathGlobPattern = "^""$($directoryGlob = '%PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft\VSApplicationInsights'; if ($directoryGlob.EndsWith('\*')) { $directoryGlob } elseif ($directoryGlob.EndsWith('\')) { "^""$($directoryGlob)*"^"" } else { "^""$($directoryGlob)\*"^"" } )"^""; $expandedPath = [System.Environment]::ExpandEnvironmentVariables($pathGlobPattern); Write-Host "^""Searching for items matching pattern: `"^""$($expandedPath)`"^""."^""; $deletedCount = 0; $failedCount = 0; $foundAbsolutePaths = @(); Write-Host 'Iterating files and directories recursively.'; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-ChildItem -Path $expandedPath -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-Item -Path $expandedPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; $foundAbsolutePaths = $foundAbsolutePaths | Select-Object -Unique | Sort-Object -Property { $_.Length } -Descending; if (!$foundAbsolutePaths) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no items available.'; exit 0; }; Write-Host "^""Initiating processing of $($foundAbsolutePaths.Count) items from `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""; foreach ($path in $foundAbsolutePaths) { if (-not (Test-Path $path)) { <# Re-check existence as prior deletions might remove subsequent items (e.g., subdirectories). #>; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path) (already deleted)."^""; $deletedCount++; continue; }; try { Remove-Item -Path $path -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop; $deletedCount++; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path)"^""; } catch { $failedCount++; Write-Warning "^""Unable to delete $($path): $_"^""; }; }; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted $($deletedCount) items."^""; if ($failedCount -gt 0) { Write-Warning "^""Failed to delete $($failedCount) items."^""; }"
:: Clear directory contents : "%TEMP%\Microsoft\VSApplicationInsights"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$pathGlobPattern = "^""$($directoryGlob = '%TEMP%\Microsoft\VSApplicationInsights'; if ($directoryGlob.EndsWith('\*')) { $directoryGlob } elseif ($directoryGlob.EndsWith('\')) { "^""$($directoryGlob)*"^"" } else { "^""$($directoryGlob)\*"^"" } )"^""; $expandedPath = [System.Environment]::ExpandEnvironmentVariables($pathGlobPattern); Write-Host "^""Searching for items matching pattern: `"^""$($expandedPath)`"^""."^""; $deletedCount = 0; $failedCount = 0; $foundAbsolutePaths = @(); Write-Host 'Iterating files and directories recursively.'; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-ChildItem -Path $expandedPath -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-Item -Path $expandedPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; $foundAbsolutePaths = $foundAbsolutePaths | Select-Object -Unique | Sort-Object -Property { $_.Length } -Descending; if (!$foundAbsolutePaths) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no items available.'; exit 0; }; Write-Host "^""Initiating processing of $($foundAbsolutePaths.Count) items from `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""; foreach ($path in $foundAbsolutePaths) { if (-not (Test-Path $path)) { <# Re-check existence as prior deletions might remove subsequent items (e.g., subdirectories). #>; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path) (already deleted)."^""; $deletedCount++; continue; }; try { Remove-Item -Path $path -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop; $deletedCount++; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path)"^""; } catch { $failedCount++; Write-Warning "^""Unable to delete $($path): $_"^""; }; }; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted $($deletedCount) items."^""; if ($failedCount -gt 0) { Write-Warning "^""Failed to delete $($failedCount) items."^""; }"
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Help
How to apply or restore "Clear Visual Studio Application Insights logs" using commands
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Command Prompt
- Difficulty: Medium
- ≈ 3 instructions
- 1
Open Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt as Administrator. - 2
Copy code
Copy the code: - 3
Paste & run
Paste the commands into Command Prompt and press Enter to run.Some changes require a system restart to take effect
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About the Creators
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Reviewed By
This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:Expert review by undergroundwires
- Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
- Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
- Audited and verified using automated security tests
Public review by large community
- Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
- Millions of end-users tested across different environments
- Audited and verified using third-party security software
History
We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.