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Diagnostic Data Viewer: What does Microsoft know about you?

Microsoft

If you use Windows 10, you may have noticed that Microsoft collects some data about your device and your use of its products and services. This data is used to improve the performance, reliability, and security of Windows 10, as well as to provide personalized experiences and recommendations. But what exactly does Microsoft know about you? And how can you control what data is collected and shared?

Microsoft
Microsoft

In this blog post, we'll explore Diagnostic Data Viewer, a tool that allows you to view and manage the diagnostic data that Microsoft collects from your device. We'll also explain the different levels of diagnostic data you can choose to send to Microsoft and how to change your settings at any time.

What is Diagnostic Data Viewer?

Diagnostic Data Viewer is a Windows 10 app that you can download from the Microsoft Store. Allows you to view the diagnostic data that your device sends to Microsoft, such as device information, system settings, performance data, error reports, app usage, and browsing history. You can also export the data to a file for further analysis or sharing.

The Diagnostic Data Viewer is designed to give you more transparency and control over your data. You can use it to:

– See what data Microsoft collects and how it is used to improve Windows 10 and other products and services.

– Review your data before sending it to Microsoft and delete any data you don't want to share.

– Change your diagnostic data settings at any time and choose the data level you are comfortable with.

How to use Diagnostic Data Viewer?

To use Diagnostic Data Viewer, you must download it from the Microsoft Store and enable it in your Settings. These are the steps to follow:

1. Go to the Microsoft Store and search for “Diagnostic Data Viewer”. Click on the app and select “Get” to download and install it on your device.

2. Go to Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & Feedback. Under “Diagnostic Data”, make sure “Full” is selected. This will allow you to see all the data that Microsoft collects from your device.

3. Under “Diagnostic Data Viewer”, turn on the switch to enable the app. You will see a message that says “Diagnostic Data Viewer is enabled.”

4. Launch the Diagnostic Data Viewer application from the Start menu or taskbar. You will see a list of categories on the left side of the app, such as device connectivity and settings, product and service performance, product and service usage, browsing and ink writing history, and speech expression.

5. Click any category to view details of the data that is collected in that category. You can also use the search box at the top of the app to search for specific data items by keywords or filters.

6. To export the data to a file, click the “Export” button in the upper right corner of the application. You can choose to export all data or only the filtered data. The exported file will be in JSON format, which you can open with any text editor or JSON viewer.

7. To delete any data you do not want to send to Microsoft, click the “Delete” button in the top right corner of the app. You can choose to delete all data or just the filtered data. You will see a confirmation message that says "Are you sure you want to delete this diagnostic data?" Click “Delete” to confirm.

How to change your diagnostic data settings?

You can change your diagnostic data settings at any time in your Settings. These are the steps to follow:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & Feedback.

2. Under “Diagnostic Data” you can choose between two levels of data: Basic or Full.

– Basic: This level sends only the minimum amount of data necessary to maintain Windows 10 safe, updated and working correctly. This includes data about your device, its settings and capabilities, and whether you experience any problems.

– Full: This tier sends all the data that is collected in the Basic tier, plus additional data that helps Microsoft improve Windows 10 and other products and services. This includes data about how you use your device and its apps, such as how often and for how long you use them, how they work, and what features you use most.

3. Select the data level you prefer and click “Apply”. You will see a message that says “Your diagnostic data settings have been updated.”

4. If you want to stop sending diagnostic data to Microsoft, you can turn off the switch under "Optional Diagnostic Data." This will disable some features and services that rely on this data, such as Cortana, Windows Update, Windows Defender, and personalized ads.