Store my activity history on this device

Purpose

Show registry keys (1)

• HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Privacy\ActivityHistoryEnabled

Setting this REG_DWORD value to 0 turns off local Windows activity-history storage for the current user. On Windows versions that honor the setting, Windows stops recording new supported activities in that user's local activity history. Such activities can include apps and services used, files opened, and websites browsed.

The setting does not erase activities that have already been stored. Clearing existing activity history is a separate operation.

Notes

Security

Disabling local activity-history storage reduces the amount of activity data from which someone with access to the user account might identify previously used applications, files, or websites. It is not a general security or auditing control and does not disable browser history or Windows diagnostic-data collection.

Possible side effects

Windows features that depend on local activity history can no longer use newly recorded activities. On Windows 10, this particularly affects Timeline and its ability to resume earlier activities. The Timeline user interface is not available on Windows 11.

Notes

This is a per-user preference value, not a documented Group Policy registry value. Microsoft does not document this specific value as a supported policy interface, so its effect can depend on the Windows version. Microsoft also states that activity history has been discontinued in newer Windows releases.

This value is distinct from the device-wide EnableActivityFeed, PublishUserActivities, and UploadUserActivities policy values under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System. Consequently, ActivityHistoryEnabled=0 should not be treated as an enforced prohibition on publishing or uploading user activities.

Microsoft documentation

Microsoft Support: Windows activity history and your privacy

Microsoft Learn: Privacy Policy CSP

See also

• Entry in the reference