How to Turn Off Let Apps Use My Advertising ID Per App

What Causes This?

Windows assigns your user account an advertising ID so apps from the Microsoft Store can show more personalized ads. If the setting “Let apps use my advertising ID” is turned on, supported apps can access that ID individually for ad targeting and profiling. This usually happens because the default privacy settings were left enabled, or because a Windows update or account sync restored the preference.

Common Symptoms

• Apps show ads that seem tailored to your interests or recent activity
• You want to reduce app-level tracking in Windows
• Privacy settings show advertising ID is enabled
• Microsoft Store apps appear to personalize content or promotions
• You are auditing Windows privacy permissions and want to lock them down

How to Fix It Manually

1. Open Windows Settings

   • Press Windows + I to open Settings.

2. Go to Privacy settings

   • On Windows 11, click Privacy & security in the left sidebar.
   • On Windows 10, click Privacy.

3. Find the General privacy options

   • In Windows 11, under Windows permissions, click General.
   • In Windows 10, stay on the General page if it opens there automatically. If not, click General in the left pane.

4. Turn off the advertising ID setting

   • Look for Let apps use my advertising ID to make ads more interesting to you based on your app activity.
   • Switch it Off.

5. Review related privacy settings

   • While you are on the same page, consider disabling other tracking-related options if you do not want personalized suggestions, such as:
     • Show me suggested content in the Settings app
     • Let websites show me locally relevant content by accessing my language list
   • These are optional, but they help reduce personalization.

6. Restart affected apps

   • Close any Microsoft Store apps that were open when you changed the setting.
   • Reopen them so they pick up the updated privacy preference.

7. Sign out and back in if the setting does not stick

   • If the toggle turns back on or does not seem to apply, save your work and restart your PC.
   • You can also sign out of Windows and sign back in to refresh account-based privacy settings.

8. Check for organization or policy restrictions if needed

   • If the setting is grayed out, your PC may be managed by a workplace or school.
   • Open Settings > Accounts > Access work or school to see if the device is connected to an organization.
   • On managed PCs, some privacy settings can only be changed by an administrator.

If you want to confirm the change, go back to the same General privacy page after restarting and make sure the advertising ID toggle is still Off. Turning this off does not remove ads entirely, but it stops apps from using your Windows advertising ID for per-app ad personalization.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

Kudu can scan your Windows privacy settings, flag options that allow unnecessary app tracking, and help you turn them off without hunting through multiple menus. It is a simple way to audit app permissions and privacy-related settings in one place, especially if you want a faster checkup after Windows updates.

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