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How to Disable (and Enable) Windows Error Reporting on Windows 10/11

Adam LaFoute

To disable Windows Error Reporting on Windows 11 or 10, you have three options: the Services app (services.msc), Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc, Pro and Enterprise only), or Registry Editor (regedit). All three work without a reboot and can be reversed at any time. This guide walks through each method, plus PowerShell commands if you prefer the terminal.

Works on Windows 10 and 11
3 methods covered
PowerShell included

What You Need to Know

  • Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) is only available on Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education. Home users should use Services or Registry Editor.
  • Disabling WER does not cause crashes or harm Windows. Your crash logs stay visible in Event Viewer. Nothing is hidden from you locally.

What Is Windows Error Reporting?

Windows Error Reporting (WER) is a built-in feature that watches for app crashes, freezes, and system errors. When something goes wrong, it collects details about what happened, such as which program crashed, what was running at the time, and basic system information, then sends that data to Microsoft over the internet. Microsoft uses this to identify bugs and push fixes through Windows Update. You might want to disable it if you are on a slow or metered connection, work with sensitive data, or simply prefer not to send anything to Microsoft automatically.

Video: How to Disable Windows Error Reporting

Watch this walkthrough to see all three methods in action on Windows 10 and 11, including the Services app, Registry Editor, and Group Policy steps shown below.

Should You Disable Windows Error Reporting?

Good reasons to disable it

  • You want to limit what data leaves your PC
  • You are on a metered or slow connection
  • Your PC handles sensitive business or personal data
  • You run an offline or air-gapped system

Reasons to leave it on

  • You want Microsoft to receive data that helps fix bugs
  • You use it to troubleshoot crashes on your own PC
  • Your IT team uses WER for internal diagnostics
  • You are unsure. Leaving it on causes no harm.

How to Disable Windows Error Reporting

Pick the method that fits your Windows edition.

1

Services App (services.msc)

Works on all Windows editions, including Home

This is the quickest method. You are stopping the Windows Error Reporting Service so it no longer runs.

  1. Step 1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog. Type services.msc and press Enter.
  2. Step 2. Scroll down the list and find Windows Error Reporting Service.
  3. Step 3. Right-click it and select Properties.
  4. Step 4. In the Startup type dropdown, select Disabled.
  5. Step 5. Click Stop to stop the service immediately if it is currently running.
  6. Step 6. Click Apply, then OK. Done.

Note: Setting the startup type to Disabled prevents the service from starting again after a reboot. If you only click Stop without changing the startup type, WER will restart the next time you reboot.

2

Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)

Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education only. Not available on Home.

Group Policy gives you centralized control over WER. On a single PC this method works the same as the registry, but it is cleaner to manage and easier to audit.

Home edition users: If you type gpedit.msc and get an error saying it cannot be found, your Windows edition does not include Group Policy Editor. Use Method 1 or Method 3 instead.

  1. Step 1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Step 2. In the left panel, navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Error Reporting.
  3. Step 3. In the right panel, double-click Disable Windows Error Reporting.
  4. Step 4. Select Enabled (this enables the policy that disables WER. The wording can be confusing).
  5. Step 5. Click Apply, then OK. The change takes effect immediately, no reboot needed.

Tip: The policy name says “Disable Windows Error Reporting” and you set it to “Enabled.” This is standard Group Policy wording. “Enabled” means the policy rule is active, which in this case means WER is disabled.

3

Registry Editor (regedit)

Works on all Windows editions, including Home

Registry warning: Editing the registry incorrectly can cause system problems. Follow these steps exactly. If you are unsure, use Method 1 (Services) instead. Consider exporting a backup of the key before making changes: File > Export in Registry Editor.

  1. Step 1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control.
  2. Step 2. In the address bar at the top, paste this path and press Enter:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting
  3. Step 3. In the right panel, look for a DWORD value named Disabled. If it does not exist, right-click an empty area in the right panel, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it Disabled.
  4. Step 4. Double-click Disabled. Set the value data to 1 and click OK.
  5. Step 5. Close Registry Editor. The change takes effect immediately, no reboot required.

What happens after you disable WER?

  • Crashes still happen and are still logged in Event Viewer. Nothing is hidden from you locally.
  • No crash data is sent to Microsoft.
  • You will not see the “We’re sorry for the inconvenience” dialog after most crashes.
  • Windows will not suggest automatic fixes based on your crash reports.
  • Your PC performance is not affected at all.

How to Enable Windows Error Reporting

Changed your mind or need it back on for troubleshooting? Use the same method you used to disable it.

1

Via Services App

  1. Step 1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
  2. Step 2. Find Windows Error Reporting Service and double-click it.
  3. Step 3. Set Startup type to Manual (this is the Windows default).
  4. Step 4. Click Start to run the service now.
  5. Step 5. Click Apply, then OK.
2

Via Group Policy Editor (Pro/Enterprise only)

  1. Step 1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, press Enter.
  2. Step 2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Error Reporting.
  3. Step 3. Double-click Disable Windows Error Reporting.
  4. Step 4. Select Not Configured or Disabled.
  5. Step 5. Click Apply, then OK. WER is active again immediately.
3

Via Registry Editor

  1. Step 1. Press Win + R, type regedit, press Enter.
  2. Step 2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting
  3. Step 3. Find the Disabled DWORD value in the right panel.
  4. Step 4. Double-click it and set the value to 0. Alternatively, right-click and delete the value entirely. Both restore WER to its default state.
  5. Step 5. Close Registry Editor. No reboot needed.

Manage WER with PowerShell

PowerShell gives you a fast way to check and change WER without opening any settings window. These commands work on Windows 10 and 11. Run PowerShell as Administrator for the commands that make changes.

Check current WER status

Shows whether WER is currently enabled or disabled.

Get-WindowsErrorReporting

Check the WerSvc service status

Shows whether the Windows Error Reporting Service is running and how it is configured to start.

Get-Service -Name WerSvc | Select-Object Name, Status, StartType

Disable WER via the built-in cmdlet

The cleanest PowerShell method. Sets the registry Disabled value to 1. Returns True on success.

Disable-WindowsErrorReporting

Enable WER via the built-in cmdlet

Reverses the above. Sets the Disabled registry value back to 0. Returns True on success.

Enable-WindowsErrorReporting

Disable WER via the service (stops and disables WerSvc)

Stops the service immediately and prevents it from starting on next boot.

Stop-Service -Name WerSvc -ForceSet-Service -Name WerSvc -StartupType Disabled

Enable WER via the service (restores WerSvc to default)

Sets the service back to Manual startup (the Windows default) and starts it.

Set-Service -Name WerSvc -StartupType ManualStart-Service -Name WerSvc

Disable WER via the registry directly

Sets the Disabled DWORD value to 1 using the registry path directly.

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting" -Name "Disabled" -Value 1 -Type DWord

Enable WER via the registry directly

Sets the Disabled value back to 0 to re-enable reporting.

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting" -Name "Disabled" -Value 0 -Type DWord

Check current registry config

Shows the current values in the WER registry key so you can see exactly what is configured.

Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting"

Windows Server note: On Windows Server, use the Disable-WindowsErrorReporting cmdlet from the WindowsErrorReporting PowerShell module. The module is available by default on Server 2016 and later.

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts for This Task

These shortcuts open the tools you need directly without clicking through menus.

Shortcut What It Opens Use It For
Win + R Run dialog Opens services.msc, regedit, or gpedit.msc
Win + X Quick Access menu Fast access to Device Manager, Event Viewer, PowerShell (Admin)
Win + I Windows Settings Access Privacy and Diagnostics settings
Win + S Windows Search Search for Services, PowerShell, Event Viewer by name
Win + Pause System properties Quick way to check your Windows edition (Home vs Pro)
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Task Manager Check if WerSvc or WerFault.exe is running

Quick Reference: Method Comparison

Method Works on Home? Reboot needed? Skill level Best for
Services (services.msc) Yes No Beginner Most users
Group Policy (gpedit.msc) No (Pro/Enterprise only) No Intermediate Managed PCs, IT admins
Registry (regedit) Yes No Intermediate Granular control
PowerShell Yes No Intermediate Scripting, remote management

Tips for Getting This Right

1

Check your Windows edition before choosing a method

Press Win + Pause or search for “About your PC” in Settings. If it says Home, skip Group Policy and use Services or Registry instead.

2

Export a registry backup before editing regedit

In Registry Editor, navigate to the WER key, then go to File > Export. Save the .reg file somewhere safe. If anything goes wrong, double-click the file to restore it.

3

Run PowerShell as Administrator or the commands will fail

Right-click the Start button and choose Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin). Registry and service changes require admin rights.

4

Use Event Viewer to see crash logs even with WER disabled

Press Win + X and select Event Viewer. Go to Windows Logs > Application and filter by Error or Critical. Your crashes are still logged there locally.

5

Re-enable WER temporarily if you are troubleshooting a crash

If an app keeps crashing and you cannot figure out why, turn WER back on for a day or two. The full crash report, including the dump file, can help you or the app developer identify the cause.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling Windows Error Reporting affect PC performance?
No. WER only runs briefly after a crash to collect and send data. Disabling it has no effect on day-to-day speed, gaming, or app performance.
Can I partially configure WER instead of fully disabling it?
Yes. The registry key at HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting has several values you can adjust. Set DontSendAdditionalData to 1 to send minimal data, or set Consent\DefaultConsent to 1 to make Windows ask before sending anything. This lets you keep error logging without automatic uploads.
Does Windows 10 Home support Group Policy Editor?
No. Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) is only available on Windows 10 and 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. If you are on Home edition, use the Services app or Registry Editor instead. Both work on all editions and give you the same result.
What is the WerSvc service and is it safe to disable?
WerSvc is the Windows Error Reporting Service. It is the background service that collects crash data and sends reports to Microsoft. Disabling it stops all error reporting. It is safe to disable on personal PCs. Enterprise environments may want to leave it running for diagnostic purposes.
Can I re-enable Windows Error Reporting at any time?
Yes. All three methods in this guide are fully reversible. In Services, set WerSvc back to Manual and start it. In Group Policy, set the policy to Not Configured or Disabled. In the Registry, set the Disabled value back to 0 or delete it entirely. None of the changes require a reboot to take effect.
Does disabling WER affect gaming on Windows?
Rarely. Some anti-cheat systems check that Windows services are in a default state. If a game flags WerSvc as disabled, you may see a warning or be unable to launch. Re-enable it before playing that title and disable it again afterward if needed. Most games are not affected.
Where are Windows Error Reporting logs stored?
WER logs are stored locally even when reporting is disabled. Open Event Viewer (Win + X > Event Viewer), then go to Windows Logs > Application and look for Error or Critical entries. The local dump files are saved to %LOCALAPPDATA%\CrashDumps by default. You can paste that path into File Explorer to open it directly.

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