Microsoft reveals what data Windows 10 is collecting

Clare Hopping Read more April 6, 2017

Microsoft has opened up about the data it collects from devices to help the company improve services, offer tailored products to users and keep Windows “up-to-date, secure, and operating properly”.

Microsoft reveals what data Windows 10 is collecting

The company revealed the information in documentation supporting its Creators Update, which is due to roll out to all Windows 10 users very soon.

The documentation is probably the most in-depth information Microsoft has ever released, carefully explaining the common data, device, connectivity and configuration data, product and service usage data, performance data, software setup and inventory data, content consumption data, browsing, search and query data, inking, typing, and speech utterance data and licensing and purchase data it collects across devices.

It details what each of these means, then how the company collects the information and goes on to use it to improve its services.

For example, for product and service usage data, Microsoft has broken down how it monitors app usage, the app or product state and login properties (such as if login was successful or not), with each section detailing exactly what Microsoft takes note of – from which features are in use, to how users navigate around the app and even whether they left feedback.

The new documentation will go some way towards appeasing customers who are a little concerned about how the company uses their data. By listing everything it reads, they can be reassured nothing is being recorded without their permission.

Microsoft said it won’t be producing similar documentation for older versions of Windows 10, Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.