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win: fix language sync registry value #476
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The language sync feature was incorrectly disabled by setting the
registry value to `1` instead of `0`.

This commit fixes the value and adds comprehensive documentation.
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undergroundwires committed Dec 24, 2024
1 parent 560af95 commit 179fc77
Showing 1 changed file with 44 additions and 5 deletions.
49 changes: 44 additions & 5 deletions src/application/collections/windows.yaml
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -7684,17 +7684,56 @@ actions:
-
name: Disable "Language" setting synchronization
recommend: standard
docs:
- https://winaero.com/turn-on-off-sync-settings-windows-10/
- https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-configure-windows-10-sync-settings-using-registry-editor
- https://tuxicoman.jesuislibre.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/Windows10_Telemetrie_1709.pdf # from guide on confidentiality and privacy with Windows 10 distributed to the French police, previous version of guide: https://www.pmenier.net/dotclear/docext/win10/.Windows10-Presentation.pdf
docs: |-
This script disables the synchronization of language preferences and dictionary settings
across Windows devices using a Microsoft account.

By default, Windows syncs the following language-related data:

- Language profiles [1]
- Windows Display language [1] [2]
- Custom dictionary [1] [2]

Microsoft calls this data **language preferences and dictionary** [3].
Windows 11 includes this in its **Windows Backup** feature [3].

Disabling this synchronization prevents Windows from:

- Collecting your typing and handwriting patterns [4]
- Storing your language preferences in Microsoft servers [1]
- Creating a cloud-based user dictionary [1] [2]

This improves your privacy by storing language patterns and preferences only on your device, not in the cloud.
This setting is recommended by organizations focused on privacy, including the French Ministry of the Interior [5].

This may also improve system performance by:

- Reducing background network activity
- Decreasing cloud storage usage
- Minimizing synchronization processes

> **Caution:**
> After disabling this feature, your language preferences and custom dictionary will not sync between your Windows devices.
> You will need to set up these preferences separately on each device.

### Technical Details

The script disables language synchronization by setting this Windows Registry value to `0`:
`HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SettingSync\Groups\Language!Enabled` [2] [5] [6].

[1]: https://web.archive.org/web/20241221115131/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/devices/enterprise-state-roaming-windows-settings-reference "Windows roaming settings reference - Microsoft Entra ID | Microsoft Learn | learn.microsoft.com"
[2]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240718090201/https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4077-turn-off-sync-settings-microsoft-account-windows-10-a.html "Turn On or Off Sync Settings for Microsoft Account in Windows 10 | Tutorials | www.tenforums.com"
[3]: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/your-microsoft-account-your-data-your-choices-7efd7da0-9683-45f3-9e32-9e9dc90b8ebb#ID0EJBBBBDBBF-button "Your Microsoft account, your data, your choices - Microsoft Support | support.microsoft.com"
[4]: https://web.archive.org/web/20241221115023/https://www.windowsphoneinfo.com/threads/windows-10-inking-typing-personalization-toggle-ui-to-off-cmd.258461/ "Windows 10 - Inking & Typing personalization toggle UI to off cmd | www.windowsphoneinfo.com"
[5]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240121230959/https://tuxicoman.jesuislibre.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/Windows10_Telemetrie_1709.pdf "Windows 10 - 1709 (RS3) - Télémétrie | tuxicoman.jesuislibre.net"
[6]: https://web.archive.org/web/20241221115712/https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-configure-windows-10-sync-settings-using-registry-editor "Configure Sync Settings using Registry Editor in Windows 11 | www.thewindowsclub.com"
call:
function: SetRegistryValue
parameters:
keyPath: HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SettingSync\Groups\Language
valueName: Enabled
dataType: REG_DWORD
data: "1"
data: "0"
deleteOnRevert: 'true' # Missing by default since Windows 10 Pro (≥ 22H2) and Windows 11 Pro (≥ 23H2)
-
category: Configure programs
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