How to Disable Connected Experiences in Microsoft 365

What Causes This?

Microsoft 365 includes Connected Experiences, which are cloud-powered features that send some content and usage data to Microsoft to enable things like online templates, design suggestions, translation, and co-authoring help. These settings are often turned on by default when you sign in with a Microsoft account, work account, or school account. In managed PCs, your organization may also enforce or hide these options through Group Policy or Microsoft 365 admin settings.

Common Symptoms

• Microsoft 365 apps show cloud-based suggestions, templates, or design recommendations
• Word, Excel, or PowerPoint process content online for features like Editor or Translator
• Privacy-conscious users notice Microsoft 365 sending optional diagnostic or usage data
• The Connected Experiences setting is enabled and you want tighter privacy controls
• The option is grayed out because it is managed by your organization

How to Fix It Manually

1. Open a Microsoft 365 app

   • Start with Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
   • You only need to change the setting once for your Microsoft 365 account in most cases.

2. Go to the Privacy settings

   • In the app, click File in the top-left corner.
   • Select Account on the left.
   • Click Manage Settings under Account Privacy.
   • On some versions, you may need to go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Privacy Options.

3. Turn off Connected Experiences

   • Look for options related to:
     • Experiences that analyze your content
     • Experiences that download online content
     • All connected experiences
   • Switch these Off if available.
   • Read the descriptions carefully, since Microsoft separates some features into different privacy categories.

4. Restart the Office app

   • Close Word, Excel, or PowerPoint completely.
   • Reopen the app and return to File > Account > Manage Settings to confirm the changes stayed off.

5. Check your privacy settings in Windows

   • Press Windows + I to open Settings.
   • Go to Privacy & security.
   • Review related settings such as Diagnostic & feedback and turn off optional data sharing if you want stricter privacy controls on the PC overall.
   • This will not replace Microsoft 365 app settings, but it helps reduce extra telemetry.

6. If the setting is grayed out, check for work or school management

   • Press Windows + I and go to Accounts > Access work or school.
   • If your device is connected to an organization, they may control Microsoft 365 privacy settings.
   • In that case, contact your IT admin if you need the feature disabled.
   • If this is your personal PC and you no longer need the work account, disconnecting that account may restore control, but only do this if you understand the impact on email, files, and sign-in access.

7. Update Microsoft 365 if the menu looks different

   • Open any Office app.
   • Go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.
   • Newer builds sometimes move privacy controls, so updating can make the setting easier to find.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

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