Disable Windows Timeline for All Users via Regedit

This guide explains how to completely disable the Windows Timeline and Activity History feature for all local user profiles on a Windows device using the Registry Editor. By applying policy changes under the local machine registry hive, you can permanently stop Windows from recording, storing, and syncing application history, opened files, and browsing actions across every account on the system.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

  1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type regedit and press Enter or click OK.
  3. When prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to grant administrative permissions.

Step 2: Navigate to the System Policy Key

In the Registry Editor address bar at the top, paste the following path and press Enter:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System

If the System key does not exist under Windows: 1. Right-click the Windows folder. 2. Select New > Key. 3. Name the new key System.

Step 3: Configure the Activity History DWORD Values

To disable all aspects of Timeline and Activity History globally, create and set three specific 32-bit DWORD values inside the System key.

  1. Disable Activity Feed:
    • Right-click an empty space in the right pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
    • Name the value EnableActivityFeed.
    • Double-click EnableActivityFeed, set its Value data to 0, and click OK.
  2. Disable Publishing User Activities:
    • Right-click an empty space, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
    • Name the value PublishUserActivities.
    • Double-click PublishUserActivities, set its Value data to 0, and click OK.
  3. Disable Uploading User Activities:
    • Right-click an empty space, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
    • Name the value UploadUserActivities.
    • Double-click UploadUserActivities, set its Value data to 0, and click OK.

Step 4: Apply Changes

Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer. Once the system reboots, Windows Timeline tracking and activity history recording will be disabled for all current and future local user profiles.