301 lines
9.9 KiB
Markdown
301 lines
9.9 KiB
Markdown
# Windows 11 Privacy Settings
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Go to Settings.
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## System
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#### Notifications
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- Additional settings >
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- Show the Windows welcome experience after updates and when signed in to show what's new and suggested: Off
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- Suggest ways to get the most out of Windows and finish setting up this device: Off
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- Get tips and suggestions when using Windows: Off
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#### Nearby sharing
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- Off (Enable this only when needed. Remember to turn it off when no longer required.)
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#### Remote Desktop
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**This feature is not available in Home editions**
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- Off (Enable this only when needed. Remember to turn it off when no longer required.)
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- Require device to use Network Level Authentication to connect: On
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## Bluetooth & devices
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#### Mobile devices
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- Phone Link : Off (use something else like [KDE Connect](https://kdeconnect.kde.org/), [LocalSend](https://localsend.org/), etc.)
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#### AutoPlay
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- Use AutoPlay for all media and devices: Off
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## Network & internet
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#### Ethernet
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- DNS server assignment > Edit >
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- Edit DNS settings: Manual
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- IPv4: On
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- Preferred DNS: enter IPv4 address of a provider from [this list](https://www.privacyguides.org/en/dns/#recommended-providers)
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Example: For Quad9, enter 9.9.9.9
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- DNS over HTTPS: On (automatic template)
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- Fallback to plaintext: Off
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- Alternate DNS: enter alternate IPv4 address of the same provider as above or a different provider
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Example: For Quad9, enter 149.112.112.112
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- DNS over HTTPS: On (automatic template)
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- Fallback to plaintext: Off
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- IPv6: On
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- Preferred DNS: enter IPv6 address of a provider from [this list](https://www.privacyguides.org/en/dns/#recommended-providers)
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Example: For Quad9, enter 2620:fe::fe
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- DNS over HTTPS: On (automatic template)
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- Fallback to plaintext: Off
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- Alternate DNS: enter alternate IPv6 address of the same provider as above or a different provider
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Example: For Quad9, enter 2620:fe::9
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- DNS over HTTPS: On (automatic template)
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- Fallback to plaintext: Off
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Click `Save`
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#### Wi-Fi
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- Random hardware addresses: On
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- Hardware properties > DNS server assignment > Edit
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- Edit DNS settings: Manual
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- IPv4: On
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- Preferred DNS: enter IPv4 address of a provider from [this list](https://www.privacyguides.org/en/dns/#recommended-providers)
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Example: For Quad9, enter 9.9.9.9
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- DNS over HTTPS: On (automatic template)
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- Fallback to plaintext: Off
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- Alternate DNS: enter alternate IPv4 address of the same provider as above or a different provider
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Example: For Quad9, enter 149.112.112.112
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- DNS over HTTPS: On (automatic template)
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- Fallback to plaintext: Off
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- IPv6: On
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- Preferred DNS: enter IPv6 address of a provider from [this list](https://www.privacyguides.org/en/dns/#recommended-providers)
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Example: For Quad9, enter 2620:fe::fe
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- DNS over HTTPS: On (automatic template)
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- Fallback to plaintext: Off
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- Alternate DNS: enter alternate IPv6 address of the same provider as above or a different provider
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Example: For Quad9, enter 2620:fe::9
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- DNS over HTTPS: On (automatic template)
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- Fallback to plaintext: Off
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Click `Save`
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## Personalization
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#### Lock screen
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- Personalize your lock screen
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- select `Picture` or `Slideshow`
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- Get fun facts, tips, tricks and more on your lock screen: Off
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#### Start
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- Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps and more: Off
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#### Device usage
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- Turn everything off
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## Apps
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#### Installed apps
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Uninstall anything you don't use like XBox, candy crush, some other preinstalled apps/games etc.
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Be sure not to uninstall anything important. If you have doubts about any app, search the net.
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## Accounts
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#### Your info
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**This section is applicable only if you've signed in with a Microsoft account**
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Delete your account picture and set it to default as mentioned below:
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- Choose a file > Browse files
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- Go to `C:\Users\JohnDoe\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\AccountPictures` and delete your picture. (Replace `JohnDoe` with your username)
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- Go to `C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\User Account Pictures` and select `guest.png`.
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NOTE: `AppData` is a hidden folder by default. To enable: in file explorer on top click `View` > Show > select `Hidden items`.
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#### Sign-in options
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- Show account details such as my email address on the sign-in screen: Off
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## Time & language
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#### Typing
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- Show text suggestions when typing on the physical keyboard: Off
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- Typing insights: Off
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## Privacy & security
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#### Windows Security
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- Virus & threat protection > Virus & threat protection settings > Manage settings > All protections on (Except automatic sample submission)
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- Firewall & network protection > Firewall should be on for domain, public and private networks.
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#### Find my device
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- Find my device: Off
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#### General
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- All off
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#### Recall & Snapshots
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**This feature is available only on some devices**
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- Save Snapshots: Off
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- Delete Snapshots >
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- Delete all snapshots: Delete all
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#### Speech
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- Online speech recognition: Off
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#### Inking & typing personalization
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- Custom inking and typing dictionary: Off
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#### Diagnostics & feedback
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- Diagnostic data > Send optional diagnostic data: Off
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- Improve inking & typing: Off
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- Tailored experiences: Off
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- Delete diagnostic data: Delete
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- Feedback frequency: Never
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#### Activity history
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- Send my activity history to Microsoft: Off
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#### Search permissions
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- Cloud content search
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- Microsoft account: Off
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- Work or School account: Off
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- More settings
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- Show search highlights: Off
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#### App permissions
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- Review each permission and disable accordingly (choose which apps can have access to location, camera, microphone, notifications etc. If any app doesn't need something, turn it off.)
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- App diagnostics > App diagnostic access: Off
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## Windows Update
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#### Advanced options
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- Delivery Optimization > Allow downloads from other PCs: Off
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---
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---
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## Disable ads in file explorer
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Open file explorer. Click 3 dots menu on top > Options >
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- Click `View` on top of the new popup >
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- Uncheck `Show sync provider notifications`
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- Click `Apply`
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- Also click "Apply to Folders" on top (if available)
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## Disable telemetry service
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Press `Win key + r` > type `services.msc` > press enter
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- Double-click on `Connected User Experiences and Telemetry` >
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- Service Status: Stopped (Click on `Stop`, if service is running)
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- Startup Type: Disabled
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- Click `OK`
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## Block & uninstall Quick Assist
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Press `Win key + r` > type `powershell` > press `ctrl + shift + enter` > Yes
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- Type (or copy paste) the following in the powershell window & press enter:
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```
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notepad C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
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```
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- In this hosts file add the following line at the bottom & save it:
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```
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0.0.0.0 remoteassistance.support.services.microsoft.com
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```
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- To uninstall, type (or copy paste) the following in the powershell window & press enter:
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```
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Get-AppxPackage -Name MicrosoftCorporationII.QuickAssist | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers
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```
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## Block all Microsoft telemetry
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Press `Win key + r` > type `powershell` > press `ctrl + shift + enter` > Yes
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- Type (or copy paste) the following in the powershell window & press enter:
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```
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notepad C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
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```
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- Add everything from [this list](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hagezi/dns-blocklists/main/hosts/native.winoffice.txt) at the bottom of the hosts file & save it.
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The list is updated regularly, so remember to check back often & replace old entries in the hosts file with the most recent ones.
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Windows updates will function normally even with these additions.
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## Disable trending searches & web search in search bar
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Press `Win key + r` > type `regedit` > press enter > Yes
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- Navigate to `Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search`
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- In the left navigation window, right click on `Search` > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value > name it `BingSearchEnabled`
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- Double click it and make sure `Value data` is set to `0`
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- Open Task Manager > Processes > select `Windows Explorer` > Right click > Restart
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## Disable Copilot
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Press `Win key + r` > type `regedit` > press enter > Yes
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- Navigate to `Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows`
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- In the left navigation window, right click on `Windows` > New > Key > name it `WindowsCopilot`
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- Right click on `WindowsCopilot` > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value > name it `TurnOffWindowsCopilot`
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- Double click it and set `Value data` to `1` > OK
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- Open Task Manager > Processes > select `Windows Explorer` > Right click > Restart
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---
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---
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## Fresh install
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#### Block preinstalled third-party bloatware
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- In the installation media setup wizard, select `Time and currency format` as `English (World)`.
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- Once the device restarts, an error (`Something went wrong`) will be displayed. Click on `Skip` & continue with the rest of the setup.
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- After the whole setup completes & the device boots into Windows 11, go to Settings > Time & language > Language & region > Country or region: select your country/region
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#### Bypass Microsoft account requirement
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After the installation media setup wizard completes & the device begins to restart, disconnect your internet connection (even if you're unable to disconnect for any reason, keep following the process).
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<br>After the device restarts, it'll reach the country or region selection screen.
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- Press `Shift + F10`. On some devices you may require to press `Fn + Shift + F10`.
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- In the command prompt, type the following & press enter:
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```
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oobe\bypassnro
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```
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Your device will restart.
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- If for some reason you were unable to disconnect from the internet earlier, press `Shift + F10` or `Fn + Shift + F10` again. In the command prompt, type the following & press enter:
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```
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ipconfig /release
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```
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- Select `I don't have internet` & continue with the local account creation.
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- If you used `ipconfig /release` command previously, once the whole setup process is complete:
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- Press `Win key + r` > type `cmd` & press enter.
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- In the command prompt, type the following & press enter:
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```
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ipconfig /renew
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``` |