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Turn off automatic learning

This computer-scoped policy turns off automatic learning for Microsoft handwriting-recognition personalization.

since 0.9.8.11

Purpose

Show registry keys (2)
  • HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\InputPersonalization\RestrictImplicitTextCollection
  • HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\InputPersonalization\RestrictImplicitInkCollection

This computer-scoped policy turns off automatic learning for Microsoft handwriting-recognition personalization. Automatic learning collects text information and ink input so that recognition can adapt to users’ vocabulary and handwriting styles.

According to Microsoft, the text processed for personalization includes outgoing messages from Windows Mail and MAPI-enabled email clients, together with URLs from Internet Explorer browsing history. The resulting personalization data includes word frequencies and words not already known to the recognition engines, such as proper names and acronyms. Ink entered through the Input Panel is also stored.

The policy uses RestrictImplicitTextCollection and RestrictImplicitInkCollection together. Both are REG_DWORD values:

  • When both values are 1, automatic learning from text and ink stops.
  • When both values are 0, automatic learning is enabled.
  • When the policy is not configured, users can choose whether to use automatic learning, provided that the corresponding Windows interface is available.

Notes

Additional effects

Microsoft states that enabling the policy deletes previously stored automatic-learning data. Users can no longer change the setting through Control Panel. Explicitly disabling the policy also prevents users from changing it, but enables automatic learning instead.

Security

The policy prevents handwriting personalization from continuing to collect content-derived text information and ink in its local personalization data store. For example, it prevents new terms from supported email clients and URLs from Internet Explorer history from being added to that store. This can be relevant when those sources contain confidential names, addresses, or specialized terminology.

This setting is not a general control over keyboard input, inking features, email access, browser data, diagnostic data, or data transmission to Microsoft. Its scope is limited to the automatic-learning component used for handwriting recognition.

Possible side effects

Without automatic learning, Microsoft handwriting recognition cannot adapt from collected input to an individual user’s vocabulary and handwriting style. Personalized recognition accuracy may therefore be reduced.

Notes

Automatic learning for text and ink is not available for every language. Handwriting personalization applies only to Microsoft handwriting recognizers, not to third-party recognition software.

The ADMX policy always writes both registry values together using the same value. Microsoft does not document a reliable overall policy behavior for mismatched or incomplete combinations of these values.

Microsoft documentation

Microsoft Learn: ADMX_Globalization – Turn off automatic learning (ImplicitDataCollectionOff_2)

See also