If there's one thing Microsoft seems to have made clear with its data collection in Windows 11, it's that it doesn't use it to improve the operating system. The Feedback Hub is full of complaints that are thoroughly ignored, and the few changes we see are very basic or include useless features. So why not put an end to it? While it's impossible to avoid data collection in Windows 11 100%, there are apps like DoNotSpy11 that help us disable multiple telemetry and privacy parameters.
Panos Panay, current CPO of Windows and Devices, announced last January that Windows 11 has the highest satisfaction index among all Windows versions. Whatever you say, Panos. Meanwhile, users have to keep working with the operating system despite its whims and regressions. That means restoring missing features, modifying its behavior, and limiting communication with the mothership.
This latter is possible thanks to tools like DoNotSpy11, whose build 1.0 was released recently. Anyone trying to avoid data collection in Windows 11 and improve their privacy profile will find they must manually enter each settings section, going back and forth through the entire menu. Instead, DoNotSpy11 brings those options together in one place and reduces the whole process to a few clicks.
DoNotSpy11: A Tool to Avoid Data Collection in Windows 11
The DoNotSpy11 interface lets you explore all options at once, or filter by enabled and disabled. Its classification uses four colors: blue for "safe" parameters, yellow for those that require reading their description (click on them), red for cases where it's recommended to touch nothing, and gray to identify values that changed since the last time DoNotSpy11 was run. As always, we suggest creating a restore point before making any changes, and you can use the shortcut in the Actions menu for that.
Other than that, there's not much more to highlight about DoNotSpy11. Its profile support is limited to the Pro edition, but in practice we don't need it. Most settings are applied dynamically and don't require a restart, however, a reboot is always a good habit in these cases. Finally, we must remember that these apps aren't perfect, and that Redmond can change everything overnight, but if the plan is to avoid data collection in Windows 11, or alternatively limit its scope, DoNotSpy11 will serve you.
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