What’s Do Not Track, and how do you enable it on your Windows 11 web browser?
You can make your browser more private with a one-single option.
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OnWindows 11, or virtually any platform, the “Do Not Track” (DNT) is a privacy feature available in most browsers (such asMicrosoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Brave, and others) that allows you to signal websites requesting them not to collect or share your browsing data.
When you open your preferred web browser, websites and third-party services can monitor and record your online activities. This tracking primarily aims to collect data about browsing habits, preferences, and interactions with websites for various purposes.
Some tracking types includecookies and web beaconsthat store a modest amount of data specific to you and the site (such as login, personalization, movements on the site, etc.).Third-party trackingusually refers to those services that collect information to understand you and show targeted ads.Fingerprintingis a more advanced tactic that gathers information about your device to create a unique identifier, making it harder to clear your browsing data to prevent websites from still knowing you. Then there’s alsoIP trackingandbehavioral tracking.
When the “Do Not Track” privacy feature is turned on, the browser sends a “Do Not Track” header with every web request, letting websites and services know that you refuse to get tracked online. The only caveat is that the DNT is not a foolproof solution, since websites and services are not obligated to respect requests. While some may comply, many others disregard it.
Also, it’s important to note that DNT mainly focuses on third-party trackers, not the websites you visit directly. They can still collect your browsing history within their domain. The bottom line is that there’s no harm in turning this feature on your browser as it will, at some level, improve your online privacy.
In thishow-to guide, I’ll walk you through the steps to enable DNT on your browser on Windows 11.
How to enable DNT on Microsoft Edge
To enable Do Not Track on Edge, use these steps:
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How to enable DNT on Google Chrome
To enable Do Not Track on Chrome, use these steps:
How to enable DNT on Mozilla Firefox
To enable DNT on Firefox, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the web browser will signal to websites that you don’t want your online activities (such as browsing habits, preferences, and interactions with websites) to be tracked.
Alternatives and other measures:
More resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
