Diagnostic data changes announced in Windows 10

Mar 8, 2020 04:45 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has announced a new series of changes in Windows 10 supposed to make telemetry collection a process that makes more sense going forward and to allow users make a better choice regarding the level they choose.

Right now, there are four settings for diagnostic data called Security, Basic, Enhanced, and Full. Microsoft is giving up on the Enhanced level and is renaming the other versions for a more simplified approach.

The Security level will be called “Diagnostic Data Off,” while the Basic configuration becomes “Required Diagnostic Data.” The Full level, which is the required choice for insiders to continue receiving builds in the Windows Insider program, is being renamed to “Optional Diagnostic Data.”

Switch to Full to get preview builds

“As part of this change, any device that was previously set to Enhanced will be defaulted to Basic. This will result in some devices not receiving flights as expected. Enabling Optional Diagnostic Data will set the device to diagnostic level 3 (formerly Full) and return users to flighting as expected,” Microsoft explains.

“If you are a commercial customer and choose to send Optional diagnostic data, in the future we will also be providing more granular Group Policy settings to configure the data that is collected within your organization.”

The changes come into effect with the release of Windows 10 build 19577 in the Windows Insider program, and Microsoft says everyone must enable the Optional Diagnostic Data to receive more builds.

On devices that are AAD joined or Domain joined with telemetry set to Enhanced, the only way to go is for administrators to set the diagnostic data policy to full, otherwise no new builds would be shipped in the Insider program.

The next public release for Windows 10 users is version 2004, which is expected in April or May as per Microsoft’s typical schedule for spring feature updates.