Windows 11 generates a unique Advertising ID for each user profile on a device. This alphanumeric identifier is used by app developers and advertising networks (primarily within UWP apps downloaded from the Microsoft Store) to track user behavior, app usage, and preferences in order to serve targeted, “personalized” advertisements. In a corporate or strict privacy environment, permitting the operating system to facilitate cross-app behavioral tracking for the benefit of third-party advertising networks is unacceptable. It represents a subtle but continuous telemetry stream that violates strict data minimization policies.
This guide explains how to completely disable the Advertising ID system-wide using the Group Policy Editor in Windows 11, ensuring applications cannot track user behavior for targeted marketing.
Disable the Advertising ID via Group Policy
To enforce a strict block that revokes the API access to the Advertising ID for all applications and prevents users from opting back in, we must deploy an administrative template. Note that this requires Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions.
- Log into Windows 11 with an Administrator account.
- Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialogue box.
- Type
gpedit.mscand press Enter to launch the Local Group Policy Editor. - In the left-hand navigation pane, strictly follow this exact path:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > User Profile - In the right-hand pane, locate the policy named Turn off the advertising ID.
- Double-click the policy to open its configuration window.
- Select the radio button next to Enabled. (Note: You must Enable this policy to turn off the ID).
- Click Apply, then click OK.
Verify the Configuration Lockdown
To enforce the change immediately across the system without requiring a full reboot, open an elevated Command Prompt and execute gpupdate /force.
To verify the restriction is active, navigate to Settings > Privacy & security > General. The toggle switch for “Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID” will be forced to the Off position and greyed out, preventing any interaction. A message stating “Some of these settings are managed by your organization” will be displayed at the top of the window. Any application that queries the Windows API for the Advertising ID will now receive a blank string instead of a unique identifier, completely breaking cross-app ad tracking.