How ​​to Clear and Disable Activity History on Windows 11

Windows 11 records and stores your Activity History, allowing you to track past actions on your device. However, many users want to clear or turn off their activity history to maintain privacy. In this guide, we will explain the steps to Clear and Disable Activity History in detail.

What is Activity History and how does it work?

Activity History in Windows 11 is used to track the activities you perform, such as apps opened, websites browsed, and documents edited. This data can sync to the Microsoft cloud, so you can access it on other devices as well. But if you prioritize your privacy, turning it off is a good option.

Benefits of Clearing and Disabling Activity History

Privacy Protection: Your data will not be shared with Microsoft or other individuals.

System Performance Improvement: Less data storage can make your device faster.

Personal Data Control: You can decide what information is stored and what is not.

How ​​to Clear Activity History in Windows 11

1. Go to Settings

1. Open Settings by pressing the Windows Key or search for “Settings” from the Start Menu.

2. Click on the Privacy & Security section.

3. Then select the Activity History option.

2. Clear Activity History

1. Find the “Clear Activity History” button in the Activity History section.

2. Click on this button.

3. Windows will ask you to confirm. Click Confirm.

4. Your Activity History will be cleared immediately.

How ​​to Disable Activity History in Windows 11

1. Turn off the Activity History option in Settings

1. Go to the Privacy & Security section.

2. Click on Activity History.

3. Uncheck the “Store my activity history on this device” option.

4. If the “Send my activity history to Microsoft” option is visible, then Disable it as well.

2. Turn off Activity Sync from Microsoft Account

1. Open the Accounts section in Settings.

2. Go to the “Sync your settings” option.

3. Turn off Activity Sync.

3. Use Group Policy Editor (for Windows Pro and Enterprise users)

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run window.

2. Type “gpedit.msc” and press Enter.

3. Go to Local Group Policy Editor:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > OS Policies

4. Set “Allow upload of activity” to Disabled.

5. Click Apply and then press OK.

Disable Activity History using Registry Editor

If you are an advanced user, you can turn off Activity History through Registry Editor.

Steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R and type regedit.

2. In Registry Editor go to the following path:

`HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System`

3. Create a DWORD file named AllowActivityFeed and set its value to 0.

4. Repeat the same procedure for PublishUserActivities and UploadUserActivities.

5. Restart the computer.

Clear Activity History using Command Prompt

If you prefer to use commands, follow the following steps:

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin) by pressing the Windows Key.

2. Type the below command and press Enter:

“`bash

del /q /f “%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\*”

“`

3. This command will delete your recent activities instantly.

Additional Tips to Manage Activity History

Log out of Microsoft Account: If you want to keep your data separate from Microsoft, disconnect your account from the device.

Use VPN: This makes your online activities more secure.

Clear Browser History and Cache: Your online activities can also be tracked on your browser.

Conclusion

Clearing and disabling Activity History in Windows 11 not only secures your privacy but also makes your system more efficient. You can do this task easily by following the steps mentioned above.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about clearing and disabling Activity History on Windows 11

Q1: ​​What is Activity History in Windows 11?

Answer: Activity History is a feature that records the actions taken on your device, such as apps opened, websites browsed, and other activities. This data can be synced to the Microsoft cloud.

Q2: What will happen by clearing Activity History?

Answer: Clearing Activity History deletes all your recorded activities. It is also cleared from Microsoft servers and your device.

Q3: Is it safe to disable Activity History?

Answer: Yes, it is completely safe to disable it. This increases your privacy, and your data is not uploaded to Microsoft servers.

Question 4: How can I clear Activity History?

Answer:

1. Open Settings.

2. Go to the Privacy & Security section.

3. Click on Activity History.

4. Press the “Clear Activity History” button.

Question 5: Can I disable Activity History on my device only?

Answer: Yes, you can disable History on the device only by unchecking the “Store my activity history on this device” option.

Question 6: How to use Group Policy Editor?

Answer:

1. Press Windows Key + R and type gpedit.msc.

2. Open Local Group Policy Editor.

3. Set “Allow upload of activity” to Disabled.

4. Save the settings and restart the computer.

Question 7: How to use Registry Editor to disable Activity History?

Answer:

1. Open Registry Editor.

2. Go to `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System`.

3. Set the DWORD value 0 for AllowActivityFeed, PublishUserActivities, and UploadUserActivities.

4. Restart the computer.

Question 8: Does clearing and disabling Activity History affect system performance?

Answer: Yes, it can improve system performance because less data storage helps the system work faster.

Question 9: Should I also clear browser history?

Answer: Yes, clearing browser history and cache makes your online activities more secure.

Question 10: Is it necessary to sync Activity History?

Answer: No, it is completely optional. If you prefer privacy, you can turn off Activity Sync.

Question 11: Is it possible to clear Activity History from Command Prompt?

Answer: Yes, use the following command in Command Prompt:

“`bash

del /q /f “%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\*”

“`

Question 12: Can Activity History be retrieved after deleting it?

Answer: No, once Activity History is deleted it is not possible to retrieve it.

Question 13: What are the other ways to disable Activity History in Windows 11?

Answer:

Log out of Microsoft Account.

Use VPN.

Turn off the Sync your settings feature.

Question 14: Is it beneficial for every user to clear and disable Activity History?

Answer: If you prioritize your privacy and don’t want to share data with Microsoft, it is beneficial.

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