You may soon view and delete diagnostic data in Windows 10
Recent Insider Builds of the upcoming Windows 10 version 1803 suggest that the system includes options to view and delete diagnostic data.
Microsoft's stance on privacy has been criticized by privacy advocates and part of the Windows user base since the company released the first version of Windows 10 to the public.
A lack of transparency in regards to what is collected and for what reason, and no option to turn the collecting of diagnostic data off need to be mentioned explicitly.
Microsoft released information on basic and full Telemetry on Windows 10 in 2017 but did not add an option to Windows 10 that would allow users to view the collected data.
View and delete diagnostic data in Windows 10
The most recent Windows 10 Insider Builds, released in December 2017 and January 2018, show two placeholders on the Diagnostic & feedback Settings page.
Open the Settings application with the shortcut Windows-I, and navigate to Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback.
There you may need to scroll down to find "diagnostic data viewer" and "delete diagnostic data" listed as options.
These have no function at the time but since Microsoft included them already, it appears that these will be part of the next feature update.
We don't know exactly what the viewer will do, but it is likely that it will provide users with a list of collected diagnostic data. Whether that listing will offer a snapshot of the data only or the full data remains to be seen.
The delete diagnostic data button removes the collected data from the system. Microsoft needs to provide an explanation on how that works when it releases the feature. Can users delete data before it is sent to Microsoft, or only after the fact? How long is the data kept anyway on the device, and what reason would one have to delete the data after it has been submitted to Microsoft?
Closing Words
I'm still waiting for an opt-out option to disable the collecting and sending of Telemetry data to Microsoft. Adding options to view the collected diagnostic data is certainly appreciated as it lifts the curtain somewhat and improves transparency.
Related articles
- Comparison of Windows 10 Privacy tools
- Microsoft: Privacy improvements in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update
- Windows 10 PC's phone home even after privacy hardening
- Windows 10 version 1803: privacy improvements
Is this “diagnostic data” saved in Event Viewer, and would clearing the log files there regularly limit what MS collects?
I clear all the logs in Event Viewer once daily automatically via Task Scheduler. Am I accomplishing anything here?
I also use Crazy Max’s Windows Spyblocker, though I’m not entirely sure if this thwarts all of MS’s snooping, either……
no this is different.
@suretheyhave – This is what I was thought when I first read this story for the first time.
My conclusion is not much different. A
Are MS now developing an OS with settings to delete and view something that is of no concern?
Actually according to them, its harmless and anonymous, and furthermore helps build a better OS.
In other word MS have made something to take away something, that does not need to be taken away!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where’s that USB stick. Time download a distro! MS you and I after 30 years are saying bye bye!
How come you can view and delete “anonymous” data? Has MS been lying all the time?
You are only viewing what MS want you to view.
@suretheyhave – This is what I was thought when I first read this story for the first time.
My conclusion is not much different.
Are MS now developing an OS with settings to delete and view something that is of no concern?
Actually according to them, its harmless and anonymous, and furthermore helps build a better OS.
In other word MS have made something to take away something, that does not need to be taken away!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where’s that USB stick. Time download a distro! MS you and I after 30 years are saying bye bye!
Martin writes…
I’m still waiting for an opt-out option to disable the collecting and sending of Telemetry data to Microsoft.
I agree. Until then, MS has lost me as a customer.
Yes, me too. Although they lost me, personally, as a customer over 10 years ago. My workplace, however, still requires me to use Windows (and Win 10, even. Ugh.)
Don’t get fooled. Microsoft shows us what we are allowed to see. They’ll continue collecting undisclosed data.
Yep. Keep Windows 10 only inside VirtualBox on Linux if you don’t game. Almost all Windows programs work perfectly fine in VirtualBox. If you do game, you can use Wine or GPU passthrough.
Too little, too late.
M$-Win 10 already lost all my trust. What about you.?
Absolutely ! I’m on XP x64, 7 x64 and some Linux dists…. Microsoft can keep their malware to themselves !