Create a portable privacy profile on multiple PCs with ShutUp10++

If you work with multiple computers and want them all to have the same level of privacy without going crazy fiddling with the registry and Windows Settings over and over again, O&O ShutUp10++ allows you to create a portable profile and apply it in minutes.The beauty of it is that it doesn't require installation; it runs on the fly and can save your settings to a file that you can then import to any Windows 10 or 11 PC.

However, putting privacy on the map can clash with daily comfort: Windows displays fewer warnings and “gives you more convenience” by sending a lot of dataCreating a balanced profile—one that doesn't break anything essential and minimizes telemetry—is possible, and here you'll see how to do it in a portable way, which options to adjust, and what precautions to take to avoid encountering blockers or messages like "this setting is managed by your organization."

What is O&O ShutUp10++ and why is it useful for a portable profile?

O & O ShutUp10 ++ It is a free utility aimed at Windows 10 and 11 that centralizes dozens of privacy, security and telemetry settings in a single windowIt doesn't install anything or download any extraneous components: you run it, change whatever you want, and exit. Plus, it's regularly updated to address new Windows features that affect privacy.

The tool features switches grouped by category and a color-coded recommendation system that guides you through your decision: green (recommended), amber (to evaluate) and red (not recommended). This way you avoid removing services that could break system or application functions such as Microsoft Edge, Office or Cortana.

A key advantage is that You can apply changes to the current user or the entire machine, which allows you to profile in a granular way. And best of all for our purposes: it supports exporting and importing your settings as a .cfg file, so you can take that “privacy profile” with you on a USB and reuse it on multiple computers.

What Windows collects and the balance between convenience and privacy

Windows 10 and 11 prioritize making everyday life simple, with fewer interruptions and security warnings, but This “simplicity” implies giving up more data than many would like.Microsoft uses this information to personalize your experience, such as reminding you to leave early for the airport based on traffic, which requires access to your calendar, email, location, and the internet.

Various ecosystem services can collect interactions, associate usage behaviors and even share network information or connect to public Wi-Fi automatically If that's what they're allowed to do. It's convenient, yes; it also carries risks. ShutUp10++ places all those privacy keys in front of you, so you're the one who decides the balance between convenience and control.

In theory, some of this data is processed anonymously, without being linked to your account, but The prudent thing is to review and deactivate what you don't needManually scanning through all the Windows menus is possible, although it's a long and tedious task. With ShutUp10++, you can do it from a single panel with clear explanations of each setting.

Categories and types of settings you can control

ShutUp10++ switches are grouped into areas so you can quickly find what you're interested in. Among the most important categories, you'll find options related to privacy, location services, and system behavior.

• Private
• Activity history
• App privacy
• Security, Microsoft Edge (Chromium)
• Microsoft Edge (Legacy)
• Microsoft Office
• Synchronizing Windows Settings
• Cortana
• Location services
• User behavior
• Windows update
• Windows Explorer
• Microsoft Defender and Microsoft SpyNet
• Lock screen
• Different

Each entry displays a description when you click on its name, along with the current status and the developer's recommendation. This contextual text helps to understand what exactly each toggle disables. and whether it may affect other system or application functions.

Some examples of what you can disable or adjust from the tool, always with its risk indicator, include System and Office telemetry, system tips, background tasks, or cloud integration:

• Remove tips, Tricks and suggestions from Windows itself
• Disable Timeline and Activity Log
• Block user activity from being sent to Microsoft and synchronization clipboard in the cloud
• Turn off Start menu suggestions
• Prevent apps from running in the background
• Disable operating system and Microsoft Office telemetry
• Limit web tracking in Microsoft Edge
• Turn off Cortana on the system and on the web
• Disable components such as Microsoft SpyNet, OneDrive or Windows Spotlight
• Delete notifications in the lock screen and the “fun facts” on that screen

With this range, it is possible to build a very strict privacy profile or a more conservative one, depending on what you need and what you are willing to sacrifice in comfort.

How to create a portable privacy profile for multiple devices

The key to the portable approach is that ShutUp10++ It does not require installation and allows you to export your configuration.To make it work as a replicable “profile” across machines, follow these guidelines when designing it on your base machine:

1. Download the tool only from its official website. Run the file directly (e.g. OOSU10.exe) and wait for the list of options to load. Since the app is portable, you can save it to a flash drive to take it to other devices.
2. Before touching anything, use the Actions menu itself to create a system restore pointIt's a lifesaver if a setting leaves you without a critical function or if a driver reacts poorly to a telemetry change.
3. Apply a first block with “Actions > Apply only recommended settings”. This activates the green switches (safe level), avoiding most common conflicts. Then, go through the categories and evaluate the amber-colored ones according to your needs.
4. Make sure to adjust the “Location Services,” “Settings Sync,” and “App Privacy” settings. They are the ones that generate the most friction if you work with apps that depend on location, timing, or notifications, but also the ones that reduce the data footprint the most when you limit them.
5. Once you are satisfied with the profile, go to “File > Export Settings” and save the .cfg. That file is your portable privacy profile.. Take it with you and apply it to other PCs using “File > Import Settings.”
6. On each destination computer, repeat the restore point precaution. Import the .cfg and reboot if the app suggests it., as some changes require a logout or system restart to take effect.

An important note: with Windows updates it is normal that some settings may be reverted or new options may appear. Reapply the .cfg file after major updates and check for a newer version of ShutUp10++ that addresses the system changes.

Good practices to avoid breaking anything (and avoiding scares)

When it comes to privacy, it's best to go from less to more. Start with the green options, Test your usual workflow and then evaluate the amber settings.Options marked in red typically affect basic functions or other apps; only touch that color if you know why you're doing so.

If you share a PC or have multiple user profiles, decides whether to apply to the “Current User” or the “Local Machine”. A typical portable profile applies to the entire team to be consistent between machines., but in environments with different accounts you may prefer to adjust per user.

Regarding Edge and Office, be careful not to disable all telemetry altogether if you use cloud services or smart features. Turning off OneDrive and Spotlight, for example, reduces noise and data, but also removes suggestions and featured content.. Consider what your real needs are for each PC.

If you are concerned about performance, reducing background apps and system suggestions helps, but check essential notifications (email, calendar, messaging) so you don't miss important informationWhenever in doubt, check the description of each setting by clicking on its name.

The classic problem: location is blocked and “your organization manages it”

A typical consequence of tightening policies with ShutUp10++ is that Windows shows that certain sections are “managed by your organization”It's not like you've magically become a company PC: the tool writes system policies (just like an administrator would), and that's why you see that warning.

If after applying recommendations you start seeing constant notifications from location services or your location is grayed out, check “Location Services” within the app. Re-enable location from ShutUp10++ and not from Settings, since the policies that dictate the blocking are right there. Then, check if the app requesting your location (for example, a browser) has the appropriate permissions.

It may also happen that hardened browsers (with profiles like arkenfox) or privacy-oriented forks like LibreWolf collide with Windows location policies and multiply requests or errorsIn these cases, first adjust the location blocking level in ShutUp10++, and if it persists, check your browser's geolocation settings.

If you get stuck and it won't let you revert from Windows, remember that ShutUp10++ can undo changes or reset settings to factory state from the Actions menu. And, of course, you always have restore the system restore point that you created at the beginning.

Key menus and sections of the tool

File: here you can Import settings (load your .cfg), Export settings (create your profile .cfg) and exit the applicationThis is the basis for the portability we seek.

Actions: concentrates massive changes. You have buttons for Apply the recommended options, the recommended ones and the “to consider” ones, or even all of them (This last option is not recommended unless you are clear about the impact.) It also includes “Undo all changes,” “Reset to factory settings,” and “Create a restore point.”

View: allows Regroup or ungroup categories, change the appearance of switches (blue/gray) and select a language. The app offers several: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Russian.

Help: integrate a Short guide within the window itself, online version check and access to the change logThe “About” button displays information about your system (edition, version, type) and the developer company.

Download safely and ensure your privacy

Download ShutUp10++ only from its official website to avoid “stuffed” installers with unwanted software. This utility does not need the Internet to work nor does it collect data that you disable., which reinforces its privacy proposition compared to more intrusive solutions.

When you update your profile with new versions of the app, Export the .cfg file again to incorporate newly added optionsIf you manage multiple computers, it's helpful to keep a small version control of the profile (e.g., v1, v2, etc.) to keep track of what each one includes.

Who's behind O&O and its ecosystem of tools?

ShutUp10++ is part of the catalog of O&O, a German company with over two decades of experience developing software for Windows. Its solutions are present in clients in more than 140 countries and are common in large companies., including many from the DAX index and international benchmark lists.

In its portfolio there are utilities such as Defrag, DiskImage, DiskRecovery, SafeErase, SSD Migration Kit or CleverCache. They are focused on maintenance, backups, recovery or secure deletion., and cover different areas of Windows system administration.

In addition to being freeware, ShutUp10++ includes no ads or extras. If you like the tool, the company itself suggests supporting them with a nice detail: “inviting” their office dog, Frida, to a bone.It's not mandatory, of course, but it's a nice way to support a useful project.

Practical tips for profiling, exporting, and reusing without surprises

• Create two profiles: one “stable” with only green settings and another “strict” adding the amber ones that suit you. This way you can choose what to apply depending on the team or user. without editing switch by switch each time.
• After major Windows updates, reopen ShutUp10++ and check for new switches. Update your .cfg and re-export it to keep your profile up to date.It is normal for the system to reset some values ​​after a version change.
• If you are going to deploy the profile on many PCs, document the changes and Test on a “guinea pig” machine before launching into productionYou'll avoid last-minute surprises, especially in environments where Edge, Office, or UWP apps are critical.
• A USB with the app and your .cfg is enough to apply the profile on any compatible device. Run, import, apply and restartOn shared computers, remember to choose between “current user” or “local machine.”

Although ShutUp10++ simplifies the task greatly, Each environment is a world in itself and it is advisable to adjust wiselyThe goal of a good portable profile is to replicate a consistent privacy standard, without ruining the experience or turning your desktop into a jungle of ads.

All of the above shows that you can have a Windows that is much more respectful of your data without giving up the essentials: With ShutUp10++ you can configure, export and deploy a portable profile in a matter of minutes., knowing that the tool guides you with recommendations, that you can undo changes, and that you'll always have the restore point at hand as a safety net.