Is your Windows 11 PC running slow or freezing at random times? One common cause may be Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry. This built-in Windows service often consumes high disk usage, leaving users frustrated and confused. In this guide, we’ll explain what Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry is, why it causes performance issues, and how you can safely fix high disk usage without harming your system.
Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry is a background service in Windows 11 that collects system data, including software and hardware information, app usage, and performance stats. This data is sent to Microsoft to help improve the user experience, enhance security, and resolve bugs faster.
While this process may sound helpful, it can sometimes use a large amount of system resources — especially disk usage — making your computer lag or freeze unexpectedly.
Here are the main reasons why this service might be using too much disk on your system:
It runs frequent background scans.
It collects and compresses a large volume of data.
It sends telemetry data to Microsoft over the internet.
It interacts with system updates and diagnostics tools.
When these actions happen simultaneously, it can result in high disk usage, often spiking up to 100% in Task Manager.
Yes, disabling or limiting Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry is safe for most users. However, doing so may slightly reduce the effectiveness of Microsoft’s feedback and troubleshooting systems.
If you’re a regular user and not part of the Windows Insider Program or enterprise environment, turning it off or limiting its activity should not affect your system’s stability.
This method is effective for users on Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise editions.
Steps:
Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
Navigate to:Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds
Double-click on Allow Telemetry.
Choose Disabled or Basic from the options.
Click Apply, then OK.
Restart your PC.
🎯 Result: This limits or stops the telemetry data collection completely.
If you’re using Windows 11 Home, use the Registry Editor instead.
Warning: Be careful while editing the registry. Creating a backup is recommended.
Steps:
Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
Navigate to:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection
If the AllowTelemetry key doesn’t exist, right-click, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it AllowTelemetry.
Double-click on it and set the value to:
0 to completely disable
1 for basic data
Click OK and restart your computer.
📝 Note: This works even if you’re on Windows 11 Home.
You can also stop this service by disabling its scheduled task.
Steps:
Press Windows + S, type Task Scheduler, and open it.
Go to:Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Application Experience
Right-click on Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and select Disable.
Repeat the same for:
ProgramDataUpdater
StartupAppTask
💡 Tip: These tasks trigger high disk activity. Disabling them helps performance.
This method is simple and doesn’t involve editing advanced settings.
Steps:
Open Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback.
Turn off all toggles like:
Send optional diagnostic data
Tailored experiences
Improve inking & typing
You can also click on Delete diagnostic data for extra privacy.
Limiting these options can help reduce how often your PC sends data, indirectly decreasing disk usage.
For advanced users, PowerShell can be used to stop telemetry services.
Steps:
Press Windows + X, then choose Windows Terminal (Admin).
Type the following commands one by one:
Press Enter after each command.
This disables services that handle data gathering and push notifications, reducing disk and CPU usage.
If you don’t want to disable the service entirely, here are other ways to improve system performance:
Press Windows + S, search for Disk Cleanup.
Select the system drive (usually C:).
Check all boxes and click OK to delete unnecessary files.
Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Disable background activity for apps you don’t use often.
Sometimes malware disguises itself as a Windows service.
Use Windows Security or a trusted antivirus to perform a full scan.
Outdated systems might have bugs causing unnecessary telemetry activity.
Check Settings > Windows Update and install any available updates.
To avoid issues like high disk usage in the future, follow these best practices:
Keep your system up to date.
Clean junk files regularly.
Monitor system resources using Task Manager.
Avoid installing unnecessary third-party optimizers.
Use built-in Windows features for system maintenance.
No, it’s a built-in service. But you can safely disable it using the methods above.
No. Telemetry and updates are different. Disabling telemetry does not stop updates.
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) > Check Disk column > Look for “Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry” or “CompatTelRunner.exe”.
It’s the executable file used by telemetry. It’s not a virus, but it can slow down your system.
Yes. All methods in this guide are reversible.
Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry in Windows 11 is designed to help Microsoft improve your system experience, but sometimes it ends up consuming excessive disk resources. Luckily, there are several safe and effective ways to control or disable it. Whether you prefer using the Group Policy Editor, Registry tweaks, Task Scheduler, or simply adjusting privacy settings, you can fix high disk usage without harming your computer. By following the steps in this guide, you’ll enjoy a smoother, faster, and more responsive Windows 11 experience. Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry can hurt your PC’s performance—but now you have everything you need to fix it. These methods, used by top Windows technicians and support companies like DigitalBulls, are safe, easy, and effective.
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