Turn off Windows 10 phoning home to Microsoft services

[xpclient]

If anyone uses Microsoft Windows Bob 10 , they might find this guide useful: Manage connections from Windows operating system components to Microsoft services It covers the official s*** that tries to phone home to provide "enhanced services" half of which you may have no use for.

Edited August 30, 2016 by xpclient

[NoelC]

Nice link - thanks.

>"enhanced services" half of which you may have no use for.

Half?  Does Microsoft have ANYTHING useful to offer?  I think the only thing, now that the Anniversary Update dust has mostly settled here, is that I let Windows Defender contact Microsoft for definitions updates.  I guess I do occasionally check for Win 10 Windows Updates, but not often.  I tried setting up a VM that would support Apps, but I found running Windows with UAC off unacceptable.

Some things I've found useful in the "Windows, STFU" arena:

• O&O ShutUp10
• Sphinx Windows 10 Firewall Control (version 8, now available as a beta, really rocks)
• Dual DHCP DNS Server (open source)
• My own Windows 10 ReTweaker script

-Noel

Edited September 23, 2016 by NoelC

[vinifera]

sphinx firewall control, is good (tho i use older version)
but only Pro version allows blocking of system processes, while free one passes them through

[zolotron]

@NoelC the link in your post above to your own tweaking tool goes to the Dual DHCP DNS Server instead of your tool

[NoelC]

Oops - thanks for letting me know.  I've just corrected it.

-Noel

[sonikdart1990]

May I also suggest Group Policy edits that can also rein in Telemetry?

Disclaimer: Following my advice will render Feedback Hub unusable, and can be used even with Home which is why I'll show both methods for the same switch.

If you are a Windows Insider, please do not follow through. If Insiders wish to stem Telemetry, you should disenroll from the Insider program first.

Registry method: All Windows types

Group Policy Method: Professional/Enterprise, Education & Ultimate

0 - Nothing

1 - Basic

2 - Enhanced

3 - Full (Insiders must select this option to contribute feedback or Feedback Hub will tell you to leave.)

Edited July 23, 2017 by sonikdart1990
Forgot to define parameters

[NoelC]

Configuring overt settings is fun, but it needs more to be completely shut up online.

I've gotten the OS quiet, long-term, but a few applications - e.g., Visual Studio - do try to send telemetry regardless.  For that I have DNS blacklists and the firewall in place.

-Noel

[sonikdart1990]

1 hour ago, NoelC said:

Configuring overt settings is fun, but it needs more to be completely shut up online.

I've gotten the OS quiet, long-term, but a few applications - e.g., Visual Studio - do try to send telemetry regardless.  For that I have DNS blacklists and the firewall in place.

-Noel

You have a point. Telemetry is often on a per app basis, although I feel the OS collects the most data given it lords over every app anyway.