Ultimate Tech
Windows

Enable Hidden EU Privacy Settings on Windows 11 Using a Simple PowerShell Script

3 min

I ran into this because I noticed my Windows 11 privacy settings looked… incomplete. Some toggles I saw online just weren’t there for me. Turns out Windows hides certain privacy options based on your region.

This guide walks through exactly how I unlocked those EU privacy controls safely, using a PowerShell script I built after testing it myself. Nothing fancy, no guesswork, just a clean step by step flow.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have the following:

  • A Windows 11 machine (any edition)
  • An internet connection
  • Administrator access on your PC
  • PowerShell 5.1 or newer (this is already installed on Windows 11 tho)

That’s it. No extra tools needed upfront.

Understand what this actually does

Windows uses a registry key called DeviceRegion to decide which privacy options to show. If this key exists and points to a non-EU region, Windows hides GDPR-related privacy toggles.

The script does four things, in this order:

  • Temporarily switches your Windows region to an EU country
  • Removes the DeviceRegion registry key
  • Restores your original region
  • Opens Privacy Settings so that DeviceRegion registry can be added back but with EU key
  • Also, you can see the unlocked options in Privacy Settings.

Nothing permanent, no background services, no data collection.

Special thanks to: ThioJoe

I watched his video and he’s the one who gave me this idea to create.

How to do it?

Step 1: Open PowerShell as Administrator

This part matters. Without admin rights, the script will fail.

Do this:

  1. Press Win + X
  2. Click Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin)
  3. Approve the UAC prompt

You should now see a PowerShell window with admin privileges.

Step 2: Run the script

In the admin PowerShell window, paste this command and press Enter:

irm https://wineu.hsinghhira.me | iex

What this does:

  • irm downloads the script
  • iex executes it directly in memory

Nothing is saved permanently unless you choose the automatic mode later.

TIP

If this feels scary, you can inspect the script source first on GitHub before running it.

Step 3: Choose your mode

Once the script starts, you’ll see two options.

  1. Option 1: Manual Mode
  2. Option 2: Automatic Mode

Here’s how I decide.

Manual Mode:

  • Best if it’s your first time
  • No antivirus issues
  • You delete the registry key yourself with guidance

Automatic Mode:

  • Faster
  • Uses a trusted open source privilege tool
  • Windows Defender may complain
TIP

If you just want zero drama, pick Manual Mode.

Step 4: Follow the on screen instructions

Manual Mode flow:

  1. The script switches your region to Ireland
  2. Registry Editor opens automatically
  3. You navigate to the DeviceRegion key
  4. You delete the key or its values
  5. You return to PowerShell and continue

Automatic Mode flow:

  1. The script handles permissions for you
  2. Deletes the registry values automatically
  3. Restores your original region
  4. Cleans up downloaded files
WARNING

In Automatic Mode, Windows Defender may block the tool. If that happens, follow the prompts exactly and re-enable protection afterward.

Step 5: Restart Windows

This step is technically optional, but I recommend it.

Restarting ensures:

  • Windows refreshes privacy settings
  • All toggles appear correctly
  • No cached region data sticks around

Step 6: Verify the result

Things I usually check:

  • Diagnostic data options are expanded
  • App permission controls look more detailed
  • Extra privacy toggles are available
NOTE

Your region will still show your original country. That’s expected.

What to do if something fails?

If the registry key won’t delete in Manual Mode:

  • Right-click the key
  • Open Permissions
  • Change the owner to your user
  • Try again

Alternative:

  • Delete all values inside DeviceRegion instead of the key itself

If antivirus blocks Automatic Mode:

  • Temporarily disable real-time protection
  • Allow the blocked file
  • Re-enable protection immediately after
TIP

If this feels annoying, switch back to Manual Mode. Same result, less stress.

That’s the full process.

To conclude

This started as a random experiment after watching a YouTube video, and now it’s part of my regular Windows setup. It’s not a hacky workaround, it’s just Windows being very region-opinionated.

If Windows updates undo it someday, I’ll just rerun the script and move on. No big deal.

Windows 11 PowerShell