How to Enable or Disable Collect Activity History in Windows 10
Starting with Windows 10 build 17040, Microsoft added settings that let you to view and manage your activity history, which Cortana uses to let you pick up where you left off.
Your collected activity history allows you to jump back into what you were doing with apps, docs, or other activities, either on your PC or your phone. To resume your activities, Windows needs to collect your PC activity.
If you like, you can enable or disable letting Windows collect User Activities.
If enabled, Store my activity history on this device will be turned on for all users, but users will still be able to turn this setting on or off for their account.
If disabled, Store my activity history on this device will be turned off for all users, and users will not be able to turn this setting on or off for their account.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Activity history settings to let Windows collect User Activities for all users in Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable online tips and help for the Settings app
Timeline requires the Windows Search service to be enabled, running, and set to Automatic (Delayed Start).
Starting in July 2021, if you have your activity history synced across your devices through your Microsoft account (MSA), you'll no longer have the option to upload new activity in Timeline. You'll still be able to use Timeline and see your activity history (information about recent apps, websites and files) on your local device. AAD-connected accounts won't be impacted.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Collect Activity History in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Collect Activity History using a REG file
EXAMPLE: "Store my activity history on this device" disabled in Settings
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option TWO below.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2 In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\OS Policies
3 In the right pane of OS Policies in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Allow publishing of User Activities policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Enabled (recommended), click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
Not Configured is the default setting.
7 When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
PublishUserActivities DWORD
0 = Disable
1 = Enable
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_Activity_history.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_Activity_history.reg
Download
4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 Sign out and sign in to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Enable or Disable Sync Activities from PC to Cloud in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Collect Activity History in Windows 10
- How to Clear Your Activity History from Cloud in Windows 10
- How to Clear Activities from Timeline in Windows 10
- How to Open and Use Timeline in Windows 10
- How to Enable or Disable Timeline in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Timeline Suggestions in Windows 10
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