Disabling personalized ads in Windows 11 prevents installed apps from using the system advertising identifier for ad targeting, reducing cross-app personalization tied to a single profile.
When the Windows advertising ID is enabled, apps that support it can read the identifier and combine it with in-app activity to select more targeted ads. Turning the advertising ID off blocks apps from using that identifier for ad personalization in the signed-in account.
Ads can still appear after disabling the advertising ID, and websites in a browser use separate tracking and ad settings outside of Windows. On organization-managed devices, the toggle may be hidden or locked by policy, and changes apply per user rather than system-wide.
Steps to disable personalized ads in Windows 11:
- Open Settings.
Win+I opens Settings directly.
- Select Privacy & security.
- Open General under Windows permissions.
- Turn off Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID.
This limits ad personalization inside apps that use the Windows advertising ID, not ads shown by websites in a browser.
- Confirm the advertising ID option remains set to Off.
Mohd Shakir Zakaria is a cloud architect with deep roots in software development and open-source advocacy. Certified in AWS, Red Hat, VMware, ITIL, and Linux, he specializes in designing and managing robust cloud and on-premises infrastructures.
