Almost all modern devices have a discreet option that decides whether the system It sends usage and diagnostic data to the company that manufactures it.It may seem like a simple technical detail, but it actually determines how much information about your mobile phone or computer usage ends up on the servers of Google, Microsoft, or Samsung.
If you're concerned about privacy or simply don't want your team to share more information than necessary, it's worth understanding what this data actually is. how they are shipped, what each company gains from them, and above all, how disable its delivery both on your Android phone (including Samsung) and on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
What are usage and diagnostic data and what are they used for?
When you accept the “usage and diagnostics” or “diagnostic data” options, your device begins to send anonymous technical information about how the system and applications workIt's not about your photos or documents, but about metrics like errors, battery consumption, or app crashes.
On Android mobiles and Windows, this data includes things like battery level, the frequency with which you open certain apps or the quality of the WiFi, mobile or Bluetooth connectionIt also records application crashes, system freezes, response times, and, in some cases, details of your hardware configuration.
Companies justify this collection of information by saying that it helps them to Improve stability, reduce errors, optimize battery life, and plan for future updatesSome of the data is statistically grouped and even shared with app developers to help them refine their products.
Although personal content such as the text of your documents is not supposed to be sent, in certain situations it may be. memory fragments in error reports (for example, in Windows) that accidentally include part of a file you were using when the failure occurred.
Usage and diagnostics on Android and Samsung mobiles
On Android, Google offers an option called “Use and diagnosis"which, if activated, allows the mobile phone send data to Google about what works and what doesn't in the systemAlthough the company insists that the information is treated anonymously, you decide whether you want to participate or not.
If you enable this option, the device can send data such as battery percentage at certain times, the application activity and stabilityas well as the quality of your mobile and Wi-Fi network connections. App errors or minor system glitches that you might not even notice are also reported.
Google says this data is used for improve Android, its official apps and the devices themselvesalways in accordance with their Privacy Policy. For example, they can detect which functions consume the most battery in order to optimize them or identify app crash patterns to correct them in future versions.
It is worth noting that, although most of this data is analyzed in an aggregated and anonymous way, You have every right not to send them if you are not interested in participating in this type of "permanent beta" of the operating system.
How to enable or disable Usage and Diagnostics on Android
To adjust the Usage and Diagnostics option on an Android phone with Google services, the usual way is through the Google account settings on the device. Following the path shown in the official guides, the process would be something like this:
First you open the application of Device settings and you enter the Google sectionInside, look for the option related to data usage, usually accessible through a submenu where "Usage and diagnostics" or a very similar name appears.
Once there, you'll see a switch you can easily change. If you leave it on, you'll continue sending Google technical information about usage and diagnosisIf you disable it, your phone will stop sending that data. This change does not affect information that other apps may collect on their own.
On devices with multiple user profiles, Any user with access to the settings can modify this settingIn other words, even if you disable sending, someone else using the same phone with their profile could activate it later.
The unique features of Samsung mobile phones
Samsung phones also have a unique setting that often goes unnoticed: the option to “send diagnostic data” which comes activated from the factoryIt is not always clearly explained and is hidden in the privacy menus.
To locate it, you normally go to Settings, then access the section of Privacy or Diagnostic Data and check the options for sending statistics to Samsung. Usually, there's a master switch you can turn off to prevent the device from sharing that information with the brand.
In many models you will also find the so-called “Android customization service” or a very similar function, designed to tailor suggestions and content to your phone usage. If you want to further minimize data collection, it's recommended to disable it as well.
Keep in mind that by making these changes you will still receive security and system updates, but Samsung will have less information about how you use the device and it won't be able to fine-tune certain "smart" functions based on your behavior as much.
Diagnostic data in Windows: levels, types, and uses
In Windows 10 and Windows 11, Microsoft clearly distinguishes between “Required diagnostic data” and “Optional diagnostic data”Both are used to keep the system updated and secure, but their scope is very different.
The required diagnostic data includes information about the device, its configuration, the installed components, and whether everything is working correctlyThis is the minimum that Microsoft claims it needs to detect general problems, distribute updates, and ensure a certain level of compatibility.
If you also activate the Optional diagnostic data, the system sends much more information: Additional details about hardware, application usage and features, and web pages you visit with certain Microsoft browsers and memory states when a block occurs, among other elements.
These expanded reports may include the state of the team's memory at the time of a crashThis sometimes pulls fragments of the file you had open. Microsoft indicates that this type of report helps locate errors that are difficult to reproduce, but from a privacy standpoint, it is considerably more invasive.
What Microsoft collects and how it uses it
Using the Required data, Windows collects basic information such as Errors experienced by the device, the type of hardware, drivers, and installed apps and the results of the update processes. This helps determine if your system is ready for a major new version or if an update is causing problems with certain configurations.
Aggregate statistics are also recorded on How many systems experienced errors during an update, and at what phase did these errors occur? and how the system behaves after restarting. All of this allows Microsoft to pause or adjust the rollout of a specific update if it detects too many bugs.
In terms of overall stability, the company uses this data to detect conflicting hardware and software combinations, analyze process crashes and to study the performance of the diagnostic transmission system itself, in order to correct its own internal problems.
When you enable Optional data, things expand considerably: information is added about application activity, response times, battery status, detailed error reports, and memory dumpsMetrics on the impact of certain features on device battery life are also included.
Furthermore, Microsoft indicates that it can combine Windows telemetry with data from other company products If you have activated those options, it is with the aim of improving the overall reliability and performance of the entire ecosystem.
Sampling, changes, and event listing
Not all devices send the same volume of optional data. Microsoft applies a system of “samples” to minimize the total amount of informationso only a percentage of devices transmit certain advanced events.
If you use the official Diagnostic Data Viewer tool, you can see if your device is part of that sample and to check exactly what data is being sent at that momentHowever, the viewer displays real-time data and does not store a complete historical record.
The specific list of events and fields collected may change over time, as Microsoft wants to maintain flexibility. Add new data types when performance issues arise or new devices come onto the marketThat is why it maintains live documentation that details, in broad terms, what is collected at each level.
Change diagnostics and feedback settings in Windows
When you install Windows 10 or Windows 11 for the first time, the assistant asks if you want to send optional diagnostic data and activate personalized experiencesIf you happily accepted all the quick options, you're probably sharing more than you'd like.
Fortunately, you can modify these settings later from the Settings app. On both systems, the path goes through Home > Settings > Privacy or Privacy and Security and within that, the section for “Diagnostics and Comments” or a very similar name.
In the diagnostic data section you will see the option to choose the level of information that is sentOn some computers, this can be reduced to a minimum; on others, especially if the computer is managed by a company or organization, certain boxes will appear locked and you won't be able to disable everything you'd like.
The screen itself will warn you if “The organization hides or manages some configuration optionsIn this case, it means your IT department has imposed policies that enforce a specific level of telemetry.
Personalized experiences and other related settings
In the same diagnostics and comments menu, there is a specific section for calls “Personalized experiences”If you enable it, Microsoft uses diagnostic data to show you suggestions, recommendations, ads, and guidance on how to get more out of Windows.
At the Required level, customization is based on Information about your device, its settings, and whether everything is working properly.If you also send Optional data, this includes your app and function usage and more device status information.
It's important to know that Microsoft claims not to use the following for this customization: content from memory dumps, web history, voice, or handwritingEven if you have Optional data enabled. However, if you prefer not to see recommendations based on your usage, you can easily disable this option.
From this same screen you can also adjust the how often Windows asks you for feedbackAlways, occasionally, automatically, or never. If you're tired of the Feedback Hub pop-ups, just set it to "Never" and that's the end of it.
Finally, there are several options for View and delete diagnostic dataYou can activate the Diagnostic Data Viewer, access your Microsoft account's Privacy Dashboard on the web, and delete the information sent from that device directly from the settings. However, if your company uses services that rely on this data, the IT department may retain its own copies.
General privacy settings in Windows 10 and Windows 11
Beyond diagnostic telemetry, Windows includes a number of settings that affect your privacy from the very first boot. If you chose the Quick setup during installationYou probably gave permission for quite a few things without checking the details.
Among other things, you agreed that Windows send voice data to personalize recognition, share your location and your history, will use an advertising identifier to show personalized ads and collect extensive telemetry to protect you from malicious content on the web.
In practice, this means that Microsoft can learn quite a lot about how you write, what you say to Cortana or other assistants, where you've been, what websites you visit, and how you use the systemAnd, to make matters worse, Windows can use your computer as a node to distribute updates to other computers, consuming part of your upload connection.
The good news is that almost all of this is possible. Adjust or disable from the Privacy section of SettingsIt requires a bit of review, but it's worth it if you want to make the system a little less "talkative".
Generic privacy settings
To begin, you can go to Home > Settings > Privacy and review the General section. This section contains several key options, such as allowing apps to use your advertising identifier, sending information about your typing style to improve the keyboard, or letting websites adjust content based on your language list.
Many users decide disable almost everything in that tabExcept perhaps for the SmartScreen filter if you use apps from the Store, as this filter helps detect potentially dangerous content by sending data about visited URLs.
In the Location, Camera, and Microphone sections, you can determine which apps They have permission to know your location or access your video and audio.On a desktop computer, many people turn them off completely, while on a laptop it can be more useful to leave some specific apps authorized.
Other sections such as Notifications, Account Information, Contacts, Calendar, Call History, Email, Messages, Other Devices, and App Diagnostics also deserve a look. Each user controls whether the apps can access additional personal data or interact with other devices via Bluetooth and similar functions.
Voice, handwriting, and keyboard
Windows offers advanced voice and typing features that, in return, They analyze how you speak and how you write To improve recognition and suggestions. If this idea makes you uncomfortable, you can fine-tune what is sent and what isn't.
In the Voice section of the privacy settings you can disable the online voice recognition integrated into the systemThis prevents the device from constantly monitoring your voice commands and from sending audio data to the cloud.
In the area of ​​Handwriting and Typing Personalization, Windows builds a personal dictionary with your most used words, searches and expressionsThis allows it to suggest terms that match your speech, but it also means keeping a fairly detailed record of what you type.
If you're not convinced, you can disable this customization and, if you wish, delete the history that has already been collectedYou'll still have the standard Windows dictionary for basic corrections, but it will stop learning from your specific habits.
Activity history and camera
Within Privacy, the Activity History section controls whether Windows It keeps a record of what you do on the computer. (applications used, documents opened, etc.) and whether it syncs with your Microsoft account.
If you don't want that kind of trace, you can disable the option to store history on the device and use Microsoft's web-based account activity management tools to delete data that is already stored in the cloud.
In the Camera section, the first thing to decide is whether the system itself can access it. With a simple button you can block camera use for all apps of the device, without affecting mechanisms such as Windows Hello, which have their own access management.
Below you'll see a list of apps that have permission to use the camera. From there you can activate or deactivate access for each one individuallyThis is very useful to ensure that only trusted programs can turn it on.
Minimize the sending of diagnostic data in Windows
If you want to go a little further with privacy, in addition to adjusting the diagnostic levels in Settings you can This involves modifying internal system services, the Windows registry, and even the hosts file. to block connections to certain Microsoft servers.
It's important to understand that some changes are advanced and should be implemented carefully, especially if the computer is critical to your work or is part of a managed network. Even so, many people prefer this approach to minimize any unnecessary automated communication.
Adjust the diagnostic data level
From Settings, under Privacy or Privacy and Security, the section of Diagnostics and comments allows you to choose between different levels of dataWhen the option is offered, if you are concerned about privacy, it is reasonable to leave it at the lowest available level (the equivalent of "Basic").
The official description makes it clear that the team It will remain equally safe regardless of the levelWhat changes is how much additional information is sent: in full mode, data is collected about the websites you visit with Microsoft browsers, how you use apps and features, and more details about the state of your computer.
In this same menu you can decide if you want Use diagnostic data for personalized experiences or not, delete the telemetry associated with the device and configure the frequency with which the system asks you for ratings and comments.
Deactivate diagnostic services
If you want to cut off the tap even further, you can enter the system services console and disable diagnostic services that are responsible for collecting and sending telemetry.
From a Run window (Win+R keys), you can launch services.msc to open the Windows services listThere, it's a matter of locating those related to diagnostics, opening their properties, changing the startup type to "Disabled," and applying the changes.
This blocks its automatic start, although it's worth noting that Some system updates may reset the settingsTherefore, it's a good idea to check from time to time whether it has returned to its original state.
Control from the Windows registry
Some users prefer to directly modify the log to force telemetry to a minimum. First of all, it's It is essential to back up the registry or create a restore pointin case something goes wrong.
The idea is usually to go to the collection data policy key, create a 32-bit DWORD value called and set AllowTelemetry to 0This tells the system to limit telemetry as much as possible, according to what the Windows edition and applied policies support.
It's a setting more for advanced users and in some business environments. This may conflict with the configuration imposed by the IT department.So it's best to use it only if you know what you're doing.
Windows Defender and sample submission
If you use Microsoft's built-in antivirus, it's worth taking a look at its privacy settings. From the Windows Security Center, in Antivirus and threat protectionYou have the option to manage advanced settings.
There you'll find cloud-based protection and the automatic sending of samples to MicrosoftAlthough presented as mechanisms to improve detection, they imply that files can be sent from your computer to the company's servers.
If you're interested in reducing that data flow, you can disable both options. The system warns that if a file might contain personal information, it will ask for your permission before sending it, but Many prefer not to leave that decision to the antivirus's automatic discretion..
Block telemetry servers using the hosts file
An even more aggressive approach to reducing data transmission involves Edit the Windows hosts file and redirect to 127.0.0.1 a long list of domains used by Microsoft for telemetry, diagnostics, and advertising.
The hosts file acts as a small local name resolution table. If you add a line that says "such and such domain points to 127.0.0.1", your computer It will attempt to communicate with itself when it wants to contact that server, so the actual connection never goes out onto the Internet.
To do this, you need to open Notepad with administrator privileges, go to the path of C: \ Windows \ System32 \ drivers \ etcSelect “All Files” in the dialog box and open the hosts file. Then simply paste the list of domains you want to block (telemetry.microsoft.com, various Vortex subdomains, Watson, ad services, etc.) at the end and save.
This method can be effective, but it is not foolproof: An update can change the domains Microsoft uses or even overwrite part of the file.Additionally, blocking certain hostnames could affect some functionality, especially if you drastically cut off services related to updates or support.
Windows Recall and new privacy fronts
On PCs certified as PC Copilot+, Microsoft has introduced a much-discussed feature called Windows Recall, designed to record virtually all your computer activity.
Recall captures periodically It takes screenshots of what you're doing, processes them, and stores them locally.and then allow you to search for “things you did or saw” as if it were an expanded system memory. The idea is powerful, but obviously raises huge privacy and security concerns.
When you first get a Copilot+ system, you'll be asked if you want to activate Recall. If you decline, Those captures will not be saved and the feature will not be activatedIf you initially agreed and now regret it, you can go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, and find the Recall and Screenshots section to turn it off.
Those who don't want to disable it completely can adjust filters so that Recall Ignore certain private apps, pages, or content typesIt's better than nothing, but if your priority is strict privacy, the most sensible option is to have the feature disabled.
Third-party tools to limit Windows “spying”
If you don't feel like wading through dozens of menus and manually editing the registration, there are numerous options. specialized applications for reducing telemetry and disabling Windows spyware featuresSome are classic programs and others function as advanced scripts.
Although they are not official, many of them have become popular because They group dozens of settings into a single interface that you would otherwise have to adjust one by one.However, it's advisable to use them wisely and, if possible, create a restore point before starting.
Most popular desktop programs
One of the oldest tools is DoNotSpy 10, which offers a A single list with dozens of checkboxes to activate or deactivate functions related to advertising, system apps, Edge, Defender, telemetry, or updates.
W10Privacy follows a similar philosophy, but Organize the options into themed tabs It allows you to easily select the privacy settings you want to tighten. Many of its features are specifically designed for Windows 10, although it also supports earlier versions.
Windows Privacy Tweaker groups its controls into three main sections: Services, Task Scheduler, and Registry. Mark in red anything I consider potentially dangerous to your privacyfrom autologgers to scheduled tasks that send data in the background.
Other utilities such as Win10 Spy Disabler, Disable WinTracking, or Win10 SpyStop focus on Disable telemetry, block tracking domains, remove pre-installed apps, and adjust diagnostic servicesThey usually have a short learning curve and in a few minutes you can make the settings much more restrictive.
Portable scripts and tools
In the field of scripts, Debloat stands out, a set of PowerShell instructions that automate disabling tracking servicesIt cleans bloatware and fine-tunes privacy settings. It's very powerful, but requires knowing what you're running.
Among portable tools, WPD is a little gem: without installation, it allows you Tap on privacy, firewall, apps, and settings with simple switches and clear instructions. All this without advertising and with backward compatibility from previous versions of Windows.
O&O ShutUp10 is also portable and very popular. It features a list of options divided by categories and It allows you to apply recommended security profiles To disable Windows and Office telemetry, location services, data synchronization, and more, in both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Finally, Blackbird adopts a scripting approach that It applies changes all at once to autologgers, scheduled tasks, services, telemetry, and features like OneDrive.It's very radical, ideal if you want to make the system as quiet as possible in a matter of minutes.
Given all this, it's clear that both Android phones (including Samsung) and Windows 10 and 11 offer many options for deciding how much you want to share: from limiting the Usage and diagnostics, adjusting diagnostic data levels, disabling services, blocking domains, and using specialized toolsThe balance between convenience, smart features, and absolute privacy depends on each person, but at least now you know where to tap to make your device reveal less about you.
