Windows Upgrade Help and more

Yeah this is common. I had this issue after my last big update. It reset a bunch of my privacy toggles and flooded my Start menu with suggestions. I just made it part of my routine to double-check the privacy settings right after any major upgrade now.

Has anyone else had privacy settings completely reset after upgrading to Windows 11? My microphone and camera access for all my apps got turned back on, and my advertising ID was re-enabled. I also got a bunch of new "Suggested" content in the Start menu. I’ve gone through the settings again, but it’s frustrating. Is there a way to stop this from happening during an upgrade, or a checklist to run through afterwards?

Yeah, that’s a known headache with major updates. Did you check if your Windows account sync settings might have pulled an old configuration?

Same here. This happened to me after the last feature update. I had to go back and turn off all the app permissions and telemetry settings again—it was a real pain.

You could also try disabling "Sync your settings" before the next update to see if that helps. Another option is to check for a specific Group Policy setting if you're on Windows Pro.

This. You could also run the built-in privacy troubleshooter by going to Settings > Privacy & security > Troubleshooting. Another option is to create a local account to see if the issue is tied to your Microsoft account sync.

Yeah, You could also try disabling "Sync your settings" before the next update. Another option is to check if a specific update, like KB5032288, is causing it and look for a known fix. Good luck!

Can confirm. I had the same problem after the last feature update. It felt like starting from scratch with all those toggles.

Can confirm. This happened to me too. I even had location services re-enabled, which was a real surprise.

Finally! Been struggling with this for days. Thanks!