Office Settings & Configuration

How to Stop Microsoft 365 Privacy Screens at Startup

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to disable the repeated Microsoft 365 privacy notices and 'connected experiences' pop-ups that appear every time an Office application is launched.

How to Stop Microsoft 365 Privacy Screens at Startup

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Launching Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, or Outlook.
Observed behavior: Four sequential privacy screens and a restart prompt continuously appear at startup, and the issue persists even after restarting the computer.

Before you start

Before modifying your privacy settings, ensure you have closed all Microsoft Office applications except one. If you are using a company device, note that your organization's IT policies may override local settings and force these screens to reappear.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Optional Connected Experiences in Trust Center

This is the primary method to stop Microsoft 365 from repeatedly asking for privacy permissions at startup.

By turning off optional connected experiences, you prevent Office from attempting to initialize certain cloud-based features that often trigger these repetitive privacy prompts.

Open Trust Center Settings

Launch any Office application (such as Word). Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Options' at the bottom, and click on 'Trust Center' in the left pane. Then, click the 'Trust Center Settings' button.

Navigate to Privacy Options

In the Trust Center window, select 'Privacy Options' from the left menu, and click on the 'Privacy Settings' button.

Disable Connected Experiences

Scroll down to the 'Optional connected experiences' section. Uncheck the box labeled 'Turn on optional connected experiences'.

Apply and Restart

Click 'OK' to save your changes. Close all open Office applications and restart your computer to apply the settings.

Disable Optional Connected Experiences in Trust Center

Feature Limitations: Disabling this setting may turn off certain cloud features, such as 3D models and online picture insertion.

Solution 2

Perform an Online Repair of Microsoft 365

Use this solution if the privacy settings refuse to save and the restart loop continues despite changing Trust Center options.

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Switch to WPS Office for a Distraction-Free Experience

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3. Open Your Files: Drag and drop your existing .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files to continue working immediately without annoying pop-ups.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the 'Restart Required' message keep appearing after I change privacy settings?

This continuous loop often occurs due to cached account settings, conflicting organizational IT policies, or an incomplete Office update. If you are on a work computer, an IT administrator's group policy might be repeatedly reverting your settings.

What are the four privacy screens Microsoft 365 shows at startup?

The standard sequence includes 'Microsoft Respects Your Privacy,' 'Getting Better Together,' 'Personalize Office,' and 'Powering Office.' Microsoft displays these to inform users about data collection and ask for permissions regarding cloud-connected features.

Will reinstalling Microsoft 365 fix the repeated privacy pop-ups?

Sometimes. If the issue is caused by corrupted registry keys preventing your privacy choices from being saved, performing an Online Repair or a clean reinstallation from your Windows Settings can resolve the issue.

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