How to Disable Windows Advertising ID and Personalized Ads

What Causes This?

Windows creates a unique advertising ID for each user account and lets apps use it to personalize ads and track app activity across experiences. This setting is enabled by default on many systems, especially after a fresh install or major Windows update. Other related privacy options can also stay turned on, which means Windows tips, suggested content, and app-based ad personalization may continue even if you only change one setting.

Common Symptoms

• You see more personalized ads in Windows apps or the Microsoft Store
• Suggested content, tips, or promotions appear in Start, Settings, or notifications
• Apps seem to remember your interests across sessions
• Privacy scans show that ad personalization is still enabled
• You want to reduce tracking but are not sure which Windows settings control it

How to Fix It Manually

1. Turn off the Windows advertising ID

   1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
   2. Go to Privacy & security.
   3. Click General under Windows permissions.
   4. Turn off Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID.

2. Disable related Windows content personalization settings In the same Privacy & security > General section, review these options and turn off any you do not want:

   • Let websites show me locally relevant content by accessing my language list
   • Let Windows improve Start and search results by tracking app launches
   • Show me suggested content in the Settings app

3. Reduce diagnostic-based personalization

   1. In Settings, go back to Privacy & security.
   2. Click Diagnostics & feedback.
   3. Set Send optional diagnostic data to Off if it is enabled.
   4. Turn off Tailored experiences to stop Microsoft from using diagnostic data for personalized tips, ads, and recommendations.

4. Check notification and Start recommendations

   1. Open Settings > System > Notifications.
   2. Scroll down and turn off extra suggestions or tips if shown on your version of Windows.
   3. Then go to Settings > Personalization > Start.
   4. Turn off options such as Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more.

5. Sign out and restart apps

   1. Close any Microsoft Store apps that were open while you changed the settings.
   2. Restart your PC from Start > Power > Restart.
   3. After restart, open a few apps and confirm personalized ads and suggestions have been reduced.

6. Optional: reset the advertising ID by toggling the setting If you previously had the advertising ID enabled for a long time, turning it off stops future use, but some users prefer to reset it first:

   1. Turn Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID on.
   2. Wait a few seconds.
   3. Turn it off again. This can force Windows to generate a new ID and then disable access to it.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

Kudu can scan your Windows privacy settings, detect when the advertising ID and related personalization options are still enabled, and switch them to safer defaults automatically. It saves time by checking the extra settings Windows spreads across multiple menus, so you do not have to hunt through them one by one.

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