Microsoft has officially denied accusations that a new background tracking service has been introduced in Windows 11. The controversy began when a user on X noticed a service named "Windows Health and Optimized Experiences" that automatically starts on system boot, reportedly monitoring CPU thermals and sending data every 15 minutes.

According to Microsoft VP Scott Hanselman, this feature is not new and serves diagnostic purposes. Windows 11 can record performance traces when it detects slow behavior, which can then be sent to Microsoft via the Feedback Hub. These traces are saved locally in a temporary directory and are only sent back if the user opts to submit a report. The service has been available for over a year, appearing in the Windows 11 Canary build in May 2025.

While past Windows versions have included background tracking services, Microsoft's current focus is on improving the operating system's performance, particularly for devices with 8 GB of RAM, rather than introducing new AI or telemetry services.