Permanently Disable Activity History in Windows 11: A Comprehensive Guide

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Windows 11 and Windows 10 incorporate a feature designed to enhance user workflow continuity across multiple devices. Initially known as Windows Timeline, this functionality enables users to seamlessly resume tasks across various Windows computers, as well as devices operating on iOS and Android platforms. This cross-device capability was integrated into the Microsoft Launcher and Microsoft Edge applications for Android devices, and exclusively into Microsoft Edge for iOS devices.

To facilitate this feature, users were required to transmit either Basic or Full diagnostic data from their machines to Microsoft. This data synchronization, facilitated through cloud technology, allowed for the consistent tracking of user activities across devices. All gathered data is stored both locally on the user’s Windows PC and within their Microsoft account, providing convenient access and enabling users to resume their work where they left off. This entire system is collectively referred to as Activity History.

Previously, we have explored the process of viewing and clearing Activity History data. In this guide, we will delve into the methods for permanently disabling Windows Activity History using both Group Policy and the Windows Registry.

Disable Activity History permanently in Windows 11/10¶

Before proceeding with any modifications, it is highly recommended to create a System Restore Point. This precautionary measure allows you to revert your system to a previous state should any unforeseen issues arise during the process. We will explore three distinct methods to achieve the permanent disabling of Activity History:

1. Windows Settings
2. Using the Registry Editor
3. Using the Group Policy Editor

Windows Settings¶

This is the most straightforward method to disable Activity History, suitable for all users. The steps differ slightly between Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Windows 11¶

1. Begin by opening the Settings application. This can be done by clicking on the Start button and selecting Settings, or by pressing the Win + I key combination.
2. In the Settings window, locate and select the Privacy & security section from the left-hand navigation panel.
3. On the right-hand side of the Privacy & security page, find the Activity history tile and click on it to access its configuration options.
4. Within the Activity history settings page, scroll down until you locate the option labeled Store my activity history on this device. Uncheck the box next to this option. This action will prevent Windows 11 from storing your activity history on the local device.

Windows 10¶

Windows 10 provides granular control over Activity History, allowing you to manage both local storage and synchronization with Microsoft. Disabling Activity History in Windows 10 is a two-step process: first, disable the storage of activity history, and then clear any existing history.

1. Open the Settings application in Windows 10. Navigate to Privacy and then select Activity history from the left-hand menu.
2. Within the Activity history settings, uncheck the box labeled Store my activity history on this device. This setting prevents Windows 10 from recording future activities on the local machine.
3. To remove any previously recorded activity history, click the Clear button. This ensures that past data is removed from your device.

Windows 10 also presents an additional option: Send my activity history to Microsoft. Disabling this setting prevents your activity history from being uploaded to Microsoft’s servers. Even if you choose to keep Timeline enabled locally, unchecking this option will stop Activity History from syncing across multiple Windows 10 devices.

Using the Registry Editor¶

The Registry Editor offers a more direct method to disable Activity History, particularly useful for applying the setting across multiple machines or for advanced users. Modifying the registry requires caution, so ensure you have created a System Restore Point as advised earlier.

1. Open the Registry Editor. Press the Win + R keys simultaneously to open the Run dialog. Type regedit and press Enter.

2. Navigate to the following registry key using the left-hand pane:

   Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
   

3. Within the System key, check if a DWORD (32-bit Value) named PublishUserActivities already exists. If it does not, you will need to create it.

4. To create the DWORD, right-click in the empty space on the right-hand side of the Registry Editor, select New, and then choose DWORD (32-bit Value). Name the new DWORD PublishUserActivities.
5. Double-click on the PublishUserActivities DWORD to modify its value.
6. To disable Activity History, set the Value data to 0 (zero). To enable it, set the value to 1. Ensure that the Base is set to Hexadecimal.
7. Click OK to save the changes and close the Registry Editor.
8. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect. This step is crucial for the registry modification to be applied by the system.

Using the Group Policy Editor¶

The Group Policy Editor provides a centralized management interface for system settings, particularly useful in corporate or managed environments. However, it is important to note that the Group Policy Editor is not available in Windows 10/11 Home editions. This method is only applicable to Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

1. Open the Group Policy Editor. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

2. In the Group Policy Editor window, navigate to the following path in the left-hand pane:

   Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\OS Policies
   

3. On the right-hand side, locate and double-click on the policy setting named Allow publishing of User Activities to open its configuration window.

4. The configuration window for “Allow publishing of User Activities” provides the following description:

   This policy setting determines whether User Activities can be published. If you enable this policy setting, activities of type User Activity are allowed to be published. If you disable this policy setting, activities of type User Activity are not allowed to be published. Policy change takes effect immediately.

5. To disable Activity History, select either Disabled or Not Configured. Both of these options will prevent the publishing of User Activities. Selecting Enabled would, conversely, allow publishing.

6. Click OK to save your selection and close the policy setting window.
7. Close the Group Policy Editor.
8. Restart your computer for the Group Policy changes to be fully applied. This ensures that the system recognizes and implements the new policy setting.

Disabling Activity History through Group Policy effectively stops the synchronization of activities across devices and disables the Timeline feature on the local computer.

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Important Note¶

It is essential to understand the interrelation between Windows Settings, Registry modifications, and Group Policy settings concerning Activity History. They are fundamentally linked, offering different interfaces to control the same underlying system functionalities.

Specifically, concerning policies related to Activity History:

• Enable Activity Feed: This policy, while seemingly relevant, does not directly control the enablement or disablement of Timeline activities and roaming across devices. Disabling this policy alone will not effectively disable Activity History.
• Allow Publishing of User Activities and Allow Upload of User Activities: These two policies, along with their corresponding registry entries, are the primary controls for enabling or disabling the Timeline feature. Modifying these policies or registry entries directly impacts the Activity History privacy settings accessible through Windows Settings.

For users who prefer registry modifications, or those using Windows Home editions without Group Policy access, the DWORD values PublishUserActivities and UploadUserActivities in the registry offer a direct way to configure Activity History behavior.

Microsoft’s Privacy Policy¶

Companies like Microsoft, along with others in the tech industry such as Google, place significant emphasis on user privacy. They invest in developing tools and policies aimed at protecting and safeguarding user data. The data collected by these companies is generally utilized to enhance product design, improve user experiences, and formulate policies that empower users while boosting productivity.

Data Deletion with Microsoft Account Closure¶

Closing a Microsoft account has significant consequences regarding access to Microsoft services and data. Upon account closure, you will lose the ability to sign in to and utilize any Microsoft products and services associated with that account. Furthermore, all services linked to the account will be permanently removed, including:

• Outlook.com email accounts and associated emails.
• OneDrive service access and stored files.
• Xbox Live profiles, games, and subscriptions.
• Microsoft 365 subscriptions linked to the account.
• Digital licenses associated with the account.

Therefore, it is crucial to carefully consider the implications before proceeding with a Microsoft account closure, ensuring that any essential data is backed up and alternative arrangements are made for services previously accessed through the account.

If you have any further questions or insights regarding disabling Activity History in Windows, feel free to share your thoughts or questions in the comments below.