Windows 10: Microsoft Account Privacy Activity Downloads

Hello,


I've just recently discovered the "Download your Data" within the Privacy settings of my account and I was able to successfully do just that. However, upon downloading the files I came across the issue that your directions do not actually provide the user any instructions on how to open a .json file. I was able to come across third party apps that would open the file for me, but realizing that the data I may be looking at is extremely personal how can I really trust some free app to have access to the information. So I didn't. I simply ended up opening the file using notepad as the viewer, but I am not 100% confident that I was looking at the data under the proper format, the same way that opening a Word file with notepad will get the job done, but it won't look as it was meant to.

My main observation, and the reason why I'm writing this, is that the browser history file that I received only went back about two months worth of browsing history while the browsing history on my actual browser can go back as much as a year back.

I had imagined that when the option to download my browsing history data was offered, I would be able to look at ALL MY browsing history attached to my screen name; or at least since the Data started being collected. Within the Privacy Options there is a link that states that if I would like to collect more data that is not shown in the report to simply click there; however, the link is dead.

Can you please let me know if there is a way for me to obtain the information that your servers have collected about me from as far back as possible. It would be great to look back and see what type of pornographic material I was looking at 10 years ago for starters; then sit back and compare to today's interest and be mesmerized by the immense differences or similarities. I would also like to review the type of job searches and other things I was interested in as well (I feel I have to say this to not seem awkward), but to be honest, I just want to have a good laugh.

Hope you can help and guide me to achieve this simple curiosity of mine.

Look forward to hearing from your team.

Thank you in advanced,

Manny

:)

 

Microsoft Account Privacy Activity Downloads

Hi,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

I understand that you want to get the information that is collected by the Microsoft server’s. However, for Microsoft customer’s privacy is important. You can refer the article
Microsoft Privacy Statement to know what data Microsoft collects.

If you have any privacy concern you can refer to the section How to contact us
from the above mentioned article.

Alternatively you can make a request regarding personal data about your Microsoft account from the link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/concern/privacyrequest-msa

Hope it helps.

Nikhar Khare

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

Windows 10 Activation through Microsoft Account Fails

Just for the record, what account you log in with has no effect on activation. The "Linked to your Microsoft account" is just an optional extra. If you switch to a local account it will just say "activated with a digital license". Switch to a Microsoft account and it will say "activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account". You could do a clean install using an account you have never used before and it will still activate. As long as there is a digital license for that device on the activation server matching the installed edition, it will activate. The account used has no bearing on that.

And deleting / removing a device from the list won't affect activation. You just won't see it listed. Reinstall Windows 10 again latter on, on that device and it will be back in the list. That list is just another optional extra.

 

Remove account


I suggest you backup your personalized files first before removing the account.
To delete an account, follow these steps:

1. Press WIN + X keys and click Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
2. Type the following command and press Enter. Replace test with the name of your sister's account. Code:
   
   Code:

   net user test /del