Windows activity history

Hi Coyote. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, here to help you.

If the choice has been removed it's probably under the organization's Group Policy. You'd need to contact the IT Admin to ask about it, but they will rarely change Group Policy for individual users because they are applied across the whole organization.

This is a good reason NOT to have a Work or School account on your personal PC, or if you do install Windows on a second partition to use exclusively for this so it doesn't affect your personal Windows install.

Especially if you want to protect your privacy, I would not have a Work or School account on my personal device. There is more here about how to protect your privacy on a personal Windows device:

https://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-configu...

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3025709/h...

Feel free to ask back any questions. Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Hi Greg,

If the choice has been removed it's probably under the organization's Group Policy. You'd need to contact the IT Admin to ask about it, but they will rarely change Group Policy for individual users because they are applied across the whole organization.

Q1. I just reinstalled Windows 10 Pro on my home desktop, so that makes me the IT Admin (in name only). I opened it up gpedit, but don't know how to find the value that needs to be changed. Do you know how to change the group policy?

Q2. Is there a way to change the status back from a IT Admin controlled machine back to me?

Thanks.

If there is no Work or School account then the next suspect is an overactive antivirus. I would uninstall any 3rd party antivirus in Settings > Apps > Apps & Features and instead run built-in Defender which gives adequate protection, best Windows performance, least issues, and is from Microsoft who knows how to protect their OS best.

If none of those are responsible then the cause is almost always account corruption. This is initially proven by it not happening in the built-in hidden Administrator account.

Test further for account corruption by creating a new Local Admin account in Settings > Accounts > Family & Other Users > Other Users to see if the problem goes away. Make it an Admin account:

https://www.digitalcitizen.life/change-type-use...

Sign into the new account, test it works correctly, if so move files over, test all apps work or reinstall any that don't. Then when ready delete the old account in Settings > Accounts > Family & Other Users.

You can also try to Repair the old account by running a Repair Install from the new account, steps here: https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/fix-windows...

You can change it to your Microsoft account in Settings > Accounts > Your Info > Sign in with a MS Account Instead.

Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Background

1. I purchased Windows 10 Pro and installed it on a iMac about 5 years ago. The installation has no connection to a school, business or any another entity that can act as an administrator. Also, I did look at the group policy.
2. My login account has administrative privileges, but I get "see your local administrators to make changes", type of messages. So I don't have complete control of my account and system. The administrator that the warning messages reference does not exist.
3. I activated the administrator account and logged in. I then followed the instructions below. In this case the check box was visible to the administrator's account.

From the Microsoft site:

To stop sending the activity history for your work or school account to Microsoft

1. Do one of the following:
   • In Windows 10, select Start , then select Settings > Privacy > Activity history.
   • In Windows 11, select Start , then select Settings > Privacy & security > Activity history.
2. Clear the Send my activity history to Microsoft check box.

4. It seems that although my account is an administrative account it is restricted from changing some values.

New Questions:

Q1: Where do we go from here?

Q2: Will reinstalling Windows Pro againsolve my problem?

Q3: Are there registry hacks that give my account full administrative control?

If you're not connected to a School or Work account in Settings > Accounts > Access Work & School, then there should be no reason to set or edit Group Policy since it's only those account that Would impose it.

If you have accounts listed there and want to get rid of them, right click to Disconnect first to be able to then Remove.

For Group Policy on setting telemetry level in WIndow 10 see here:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/enterprise-thr...

Feel free to ask back any questions. Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.