What the advertising ID is for
Windows assigns every user account a unique identifier, the advertising ID. Apps can use it to show you ads based on how you use apps and to link your behaviour across different apps.
Turning off the advertising ID does not remove ads. Apps will, however, stop showing you ads tailored to your activity and will not be able to use this identifier.
How to turn it off
The steps may differ slightly between Windows 11 versions, but the principle is the same:
- Open Settings (Windows key + I).
- Choose Privacy & security and then General.
- Turn off the option that lets apps show you personalized ads by using your advertising ID.
When it is worth keeping in mind
The setting may revert after a major Windows update or an account change. It is worth checking from time to time. BirdGuard watches for such a change as part of its privacy check and proposes a reversible fix.