How do I Delete Data from Microsoft?

You can delete data from Microsoft by accessing your Microsoft privacy dashboard. Here's a breakdown of how to do it:

Accessing Your Microsoft Privacy Dashboard

1. Go to the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard: Navigate to https://account.microsoft.com/privacy/ in your web browser. This is your central hub for managing your Microsoft data.
2. Sign in to Your Microsoft Account: You'll need to sign in with the Microsoft account (email address, phone number, or Skype name) that you want to manage data for.

Reviewing and Deleting Your Data

Once you are signed in, the privacy dashboard provides access to various types of data associated with your Microsoft account. You can review and delete data in the following categories:

• Browsing History: View and clear your browsing history collected by Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer when you're signed in with your Microsoft account.
• Search History: View and clear your search queries made using Bing when you're signed in with your Microsoft account.
• Location Activity: Review and clear location data collected when you use Microsoft services that request location permissions (like Cortana or the Windows Maps app).
• Notebook Activity: Manage and delete data stored in OneNote notebooks.
• Voice Activity: Review and delete voice recordings collected when you use voice-activated Microsoft services like Cortana.
• Media Activity: Review and delete data related to media consumption on Microsoft platforms.
• Apps and Services: This section allows you to review the apps and services connected to your Microsoft account and manage their permissions. You can also delete data associated with specific apps and services.

Steps to Delete Specific Data

The exact steps will vary depending on the type of data you want to delete. Generally, you'll:

1. Navigate to the relevant section within the privacy dashboard (e.g., "Browsing History," "Search History," etc.).
2. Review the data displayed.
3. Select the data you want to delete. There will typically be options to delete individual items or all items.
4. Confirm the deletion. You may be asked to confirm that you want to permanently delete the selected data.

Important Considerations:

• Deletion is Permanent: Once you delete data from your Microsoft account, it is generally permanently removed. Be sure you are certain before deleting anything.
• Data Retention Policies: Even after you delete data, Microsoft may retain some information for a period of time for legal, compliance, or business purposes. Refer to the Microsoft Privacy Statement for details on their data retention policies.
• Closing Your Microsoft Account: If you want to delete all data associated with your Microsoft account, you can close your account. However, this will also prevent you from accessing Microsoft services that require a Microsoft account (e.g., Outlook.com, OneDrive, Xbox Live).

By accessing your Microsoft privacy dashboard and following the steps outlined above, you can effectively manage and delete your data from Microsoft.