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AtlasOS prioritizes your privacy by eliminating Microsoft’s notorious tracking, pre-installed data collection mechanisms, and advertising features. With over 34 privacy-focused configuration files, AtlasOS makes Windows truly private.

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Telemetry Removal

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Complete Telemetry Disablement

AtlasOS completely blocks Windows telemetry and data collection at multiple system levels. 
title: Disallow Telemetry and Data Collection
description: Disallows telemetry and data collection to improve privacy
actions:
  # Stop DiagTrack service
  - !service: {name: 'DiagTrack', operation: stop}
  
  - !registryValue:
    path: 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection'
    value: 'AllowTelemetry'
    data: '0'
    type: REG_DWORD
    
  - !registryValue:
    path: 'HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection'
    value: 'AllowTelemetry'
    data: '0'
    type: REG_DWORD
    
  # Disable & clear logger
  - !registryValue:
    path: 'HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WMI\Autologger\Diagtrack-Listener'
    value: 'Start'
    data: '0'
    type: REG_DWORD
What gets disabled:
  • DiagTrack service (Connected User Experiences and Telemetry)
  • Event transcript logging
  • Mini trace slot
  • Device name inclusion in telemetry
  • Automatic logger
  • Diagnostic data collection

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Specific Telemetry Types Blocked

Configuration: privacy/telemetry/disallow-data-collection.ymlBlocks all Windows telemetry levels including:
  • Security telemetry
  • Basic telemetry
  • Enhanced telemetry
  • Full telemetry

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CEIP Disablement

The Customer Experience Improvement Program is completely disabled. Configuration: privacy/telemetry/disable-ceip.yml

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Diagnostic Tracing

All diagnostic tracing and logging mechanisms are disabled to prevent data collection. Configuration: privacy/telemetry/disable-diagnostic-tracing.yml

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Activity Tracking Prevention

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App Launch Tracking

Windows no longer tracks which applications you use most frequently. 
title: Disable App Launch Tracking
description: Prevents Windows from tracking applications you use the most
actions:
  - !registryValue:
    path: 'HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced'
    value: 'Start_TrackProgs'
    data: '0'
    type: REG_DWORD

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Activity Feed Disablement

The Windows activity feed and timeline features are completely disabled. Configuration: privacy/disable-activity-feed.yml Prevents tracking of:
  • App usage history
  • Browsing history
  • Document access patterns
  • Media playback history

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Device Monitoring

Device monitoring and tracking features are disabled to prevent hardware usage data collection. Configuration: privacy/disable-device-monitoring.yml

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Performance Tracking

Windows performance tracking that collects system usage data is disabled. Configuration: privacy/disable-perf-track.yml

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Windows Recall and Snapshots

Windows Recall is a controversial feature in Windows 11 24H2+ that takes regular screenshots of your activity.

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Recall Disablement

AtlasOS completely disables Windows Recall snapshots. 
title: Disable Recall Snapshots
description: Disables snapshots of Recall (24H2+)
builds: [ '>=22000' ]
actions:
  - !cmd:
    command: '"AtlasDesktop\3. General Configuration\AI Features\Recall\Disable Recall Support (default).cmd" /silent'
What this prevents:
  • Automatic screenshot capture
  • OCR processing of screen content
  • Storage of sensitive information
  • AI analysis of your activity

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Advertising and Marketing

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Advertising ID Removal

Your unique advertising identifier is disabled and cannot be used for targeted ads. 
title: Disable Advertising ID
description: Disables Advertising ID for privacy
actions:
  - !registryValue:
    path: 'HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AdvertisingInfo'
    value: 'Enabled'
    data: '0'
    type: REG_DWORD
    
  - !registryValue:
    path: 'HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\AdvertisingInfo'
    value: 'DisabledByGroupPolicy'
    data: '1'
    type: REG_DWORD

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Sync Provider Notifications

Advertising and promotional notifications from sync providers are disabled. Configuration: privacy/advertising/disable-sync-provider-notifs.yml

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Cloud and Online Features

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Settings Sync Disablement

Your Windows settings are no longer synced to Microsoft’s cloud. Configuration: privacy/cloud/disable-setting-sync.yml Prevents syncing of:
  • Theme and personalization
  • Passwords and credentials
  • Language preferences
  • Ease of access settings
  • Other Windows settings

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Setup Suggestions

Suggestions to complete Windows setup and link Microsoft accounts are disabled. Configuration: privacy/cloud/disable-suggest-ways-to-finish-setup.yml

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Message Cloud Sync

Cloud synchronization of messages and SMS is blocked. Configuration: privacy/cloud/disallow-message-cloud-sync.yml

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Experimentation and A/B Testing

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Microsoft Experimentation

AtlasOS prevents Microsoft from using your computer for feature testing. 
title: Disable Experimentation
description: Disallows Microsoft from using your computer as a test for certain features
actions:
  - !registryValue:
    path: 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\System\AllowExperimentation'
    value: 'Value'
    data: '0'
    type: REG_DWORD
Blocks:
  • A/B feature testing
  • Experimental feature rollouts
  • Usage-based modifications
  • Feature flighting

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App Permissions and Privacy

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Default App Permissions

Default permissions for all apps are configured to minimize privacy invasion. Configuration: privacy/config-app-permissions.yml
Apps cannot access your camera by default without explicit permission.
Microphone access is blocked by default for all apps.
Location tracking is disabled and apps cannot access your location.
App notification permissions are minimized to reduce data collection.

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Online Speech Recognition

Cloud-based speech recognition is disabled to prevent voice data transmission. Configuration: privacy/disable-online-speech-recognition.yml

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Lock Screen Camera

Camera access from the lock screen is disabled for privacy. Configuration: privacy/disable-lockscreen-camera.yml

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Third-Party Application Privacy

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NVIDIA Telemetry

If NVIDIA drivers are installed, their telemetry is automatically disabled. Configuration: privacy/apps/disable-nvidia-telemetry.yml

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Office Telemetry

Microsoft Office telemetry and data collection are disabled. Configuration: privacy/apps/disable-office-telemetry.yml

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System Privacy Features

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Program Compatibility Assistant (PCA)

The Program Compatibility Assistant is disabled to prevent usage tracking. Configuration: privacy/disable-pca.yml

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Privacy Experience

The Windows privacy experience and setup wizards are disabled. Configuration: privacy/disable-privacy-experience.yml

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RSOP Logging

Resultant Set of Policy logging is disabled to prevent policy tracking. Configuration: privacy/disable-rsop-logging.yml

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Windows Media Player Privacy

Media player usage tracking and online features are disabled. Configuration: privacy/config-windows-media-player.yml

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Privacy Impact Summary

Data Collection

100% blocked - No telemetry or diagnostic data sent to Microsoft

Activity Tracking

Completely disabled - Your app usage and behaviors are not monitored

Advertising

Eliminated - No advertising ID or targeted marketing

Cloud Sync

User controlled - Settings and data stay on your device

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Privacy Configuration Files

AtlasOS includes 34 dedicated privacy configuration files organized by category: 
privacy/
├── advertising/         # Advertising and marketing
├── apps/               # Third-party app telemetry
├── cloud/              # Cloud sync features
├── telemetry/          # All telemetry types
└── [root configs]      # Core privacy features

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Verifying Privacy Settings

After installation, verify your privacy settings:
1

Check DiagTrack Service

Open Services (services.msc) and verify DiagTrack is stopped and disabled
2

Review Privacy Settings

Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security and review all categories
3

Monitor Network Activity

Use tools like Wireshark or GlassWire to verify no unexpected connections to Microsoft servers
For maximum privacy, combine AtlasOS with DNS-level blocking (Pi-hole, AdGuard DNS) and a privacy-focused browser.

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Privacy vs Functionality Trade-offs

Some disabled features may affect functionality:
  • Timeline disabled - Cannot view activity history across devices
  • Cortana limited - Voice assistant functionality reduced
  • Sync disabled - Settings don’t sync between devices
  • Cloud features limited - OneDrive and cloud integration reduced
These trade-offs prioritize privacy over convenience. Most users find the privacy benefits outweigh the functionality loss.

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