Telemetry is the software that collects user behavior data to improve the functionality of the product, but may involve privacy issues. It records function usage, crash reports, performance metrics and hardware information, etc., and is commonly found in operating systems, browsers, development tools and free applications. To disable telemetry, you can turn off diagnostics and feedback in Windows settings, disable telemetry options in VS Code, turn off usage reports and crash reports in Chrome, and some Linux distributions can be achieved by disabling specific services or modifying configuration files. In addition, some open source tools, cloud editors and mobile applications may also enable telemetry by default, and require in-depth settings or reading the privacy policy to be completely turned off.
Software telemetry is data collected by applications or operating systems to track how users interact with them. This includes things like feature usage, crash reports, performance metrics, and sometimes even hardware details. The goal for developers is usually to improve the software — but if you value privacy, it can feel intrusive.

If you're wondering what telemetry is and how to stop it, here's a straightforward breakdown.

What exactly does telemetry do?
Telemetry helps software companies understand how their products are used in real environments. It might log:
- Which features get used most
- How long sessions last
- When crashes occur
- System specs (like RAM or OS version)
- Interaction patterns (eg, clicks, navigation paths)
This data isn't always malicious — it's often means to help fix bugs or prioritize updates. But some people don't want their behavior tracked at all, especially if they're using personal devices or sensitive tools.

Common places telemetry shows up
You'll find telemetry in more places than you might expect. Here are a few common examples:
- Operating systems : Windows, macOS, and Linux distros may collect usage stats.
- Browsers : Chrome and Edge have extensive tracking features enabled by default.
- Development tools : Visual Studio Code, JetBrains IDEs, and others use telemetry to improve UX.
- Games and apps : Many free apps monetize through data collection rather than ads.
Each of these has different ways to disable telemetry — which brings us to the next point.
How to opt-out of telemetry (general steps)
Depending on where telemetry is running, your options will vary. Here's how to handle some of the most common cases:
-
Windows 10/11 :
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Diagnostics & feedback
- Set diagnostics to "Basic" and turn off optional diagnostic data
- Disable “Tailored experiences” under Privacy
-
Visual Studio Code :
- Open settings (
Ctrl ,
) - Search for
telemetry
- Uncheck
Telemetry: Enable Crash Reporter
andTelemetry: Enable Telemetry
- Open settings (
-
Google Chrome :
- Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Sync and Google services
- Turn off “Usage reporting” and “Crash reports”
-
Linux (some distros) :
- Look into disabling packages like
whoopsie
or editing config files like/etc/default/apport
- Look into disabling packages like
Sometimes, especially in enterprise software, turning off telemetry might require registry edits or group policy changes. Always check the official documentation if unsure.
Watch out for sneaky telemetry
Some apps don't make it obvious that telemetry is on by default. For example:
- Some open-source tools send anonymous data unless explicitly told not to
- Cloud-based editors (like GitHub Codespaces) might log activity across sessions
- Mobile apps often bundle telemetry with permissions — you have to go into app-specific settings to disable it
In those cases, reading the app's privacy policy or checking its settings deeply can reveal hidden tracking.
Opting out of telemetry takes a bit of digging, but it's usually possible. You just need to know where to look — and now you do.
Basically that's it.
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