Microsoft says “Fix an issue,” an upcoming troubleshooting feature in the Microsoft Edge browser, collects optional diagnostic data and Settings state only after you start a troubleshooting session and give consent. That’s spelled out in Microsoft’s Responsible AI FAQ for “Fix an issue” in Settings, which Neowin reported on on October 11, 2026. So is Edge secretly collecting your data through this feature? Not according to Microsoft. Its FAQ says collection is “scoped to the active troubleshooting session and is not continuous,” and that without your consent, Edge won’t collect the optional diagnostic and Settings state data for the feature. That’s Microsoft’s own description, and nobody has independently tested it yet. It also doesn’t cover Edge’s other diagnostic data, which separate settings control (more on that below).
What Happened
“Fix an issue” is a built-in troubleshooting tool for Edge. It’s meant to help you sort out browser problems without leaving Edge or digging through support forums. Early speculation framed it as broad data collection. Microsoft then explained how it works in a support FAQ, as reported by Neowin.
Microsoft’s FAQ states these points:
- It’s user-initiated. The feature only turns on when you start a troubleshooting session inside Edge.
- It asks first. It may collect optional diagnostic data and your browser’s current Settings state, but only after you consent.
- It’s session-limited. Collection is limited to the active troubleshooting session and the specific problem, and Microsoft says it isn’t continuous.
- It has a purpose. The data is used to explain the problem you’re seeing and suggest fixes.
- It stays out of work resources. Microsoft says the feature doesn’t access or use work-related resources.
- You can turn it off. Microsoft says you can turn off this data collection under Edge’s Settings > Copilot and AI section. That’s separate from the browser’s general diagnostics toggle.
Who this affects
This applies to the Microsoft Edge desktop browser. Coverage so far describes the feature in Edge’s settings without confirming which desktop platforms get it first, and Microsoft hasn’t said whether it will reach macOS. If you set up Edge for a parent, a spouse, or a small office, it affects the machines you manage too.
What isn’t confirmed yet
The available sources don’t verify several details, so don’t trust anyone who states them as fact:
- Version number. No minimum Edge version has been published for “Fix an issue.”
- Rollout date. Microsoft hasn’t announced when the feature reaches everyone in the Stable channel. Windows Report has tried it in Edge preview builds, but don’t assume it’s already on your PC.
- Platforms. Microsoft hasn’t confirmed whether the feature ships on both Windows and macOS.
- The feature’s own UI. We have no verified screenshots of the “Fix an issue” prompt or toggle. The screenshots below show the existing Edge settings areas, not the new feature.
- Default state. Microsoft’s FAQ doesn’t say whether the Copilot and AI control starts on or off.
Pricing
“Fix an issue” is part of Edge’s own Settings, and Edge itself is free to use.
How It Stacks Up
The biggest risk here is mixing up “Fix an issue” with Edge’s existing diagnostic data settings. They’re separate controls with different jobs.
Edge already has a general toggle called Send optional diagnostic data to improve Microsoft products. It lives under Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Privacy. Microsoft’s Edge diagnostic data documentation and Edge browsing data and privacy page list what that optional data can include. That covers feature usage, performance, site-load times, memory usage, and websites you visit. Required diagnostic data is what Edge sends to stay secure, up to date and performing as expected. Edge’s settings toggle only covers optional data. Organizations can turn off both kinds with the DiagnosticData policy, though Microsoft doesn’t recommend it.
“Fix an issue” is a one-off request for help with consent built in. The general optional diagnostics setting covers ongoing collection. Here’s how the options compare:
| Control | What it covers | When it collects | How you control it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Fix an issue” | Optional diagnostic data plus current Settings state for one problem | Only after you start troubleshooting and consent | Don’t give consent; turn it off under Copilot and AI | Microsoft Support |
| Optional diagnostic data | Feature usage, performance, site-load times, memory use, sites visited | Ongoing, if enabled | Windows 10/11: Windows Diagnostics & feedback setting; other platforms: Edge Privacy toggle | Microsoft Support |
| Required diagnostic data | Data needed for security and updates | Ongoing | No settings toggle; organizations can use the DiagnosticData policy | Microsoft Learn |
| InPrivate or Guest mode | Keeps browsing data from being saved after the window closes; not a diagnostics switch, since some usage information may still be collected depending on your settings | Per window or session | Open an InPrivate or Guest window | Microsoft Support |
Two points stand out from that table.
First, InPrivate won’t stop all diagnostics. Microsoft’s own material notes that some usage information may still be collected, depending on your settings. If you’ve been telling relatives “just use InPrivate,” that advice only goes so far.
Second, turning off “Fix an issue” won’t touch the broader optional diagnostics stream. If you want to send Microsoft as little as possible, your optional diagnostic data setting matters more. On Windows 10 and 11 that’s governed by Windows’ own Diagnostics & feedback setting; on a Mac it’s the toggle in Edge’s Privacy settings. For the full picture of what Edge collects, read Microsoft’s Edge privacy whitepaper and the Microsoft Privacy Statement. Those are the governing documents.
The Reaction
Public reaction to Microsoft’s clarification has been limited so far, so there’s no clear consensus to report.
What to Do Next
The most useful thing you can do is check your existing optional diagnostic data setting now. That setting controls far more ongoing data than “Fix an issue” will. Then look at Copilot and AI once the new feature reaches your build. Where you change the diagnostic setting depends on your platform, so follow the steps for yours.
On Windows
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Click Settings and more (
...) in the top-right corner, then click Settings. - Select Privacy, search, and services, then scroll to the Privacy section.
- Find Send optional diagnostic data to improve Microsoft products and set it the way you want. On Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft says this setting is determined by your Windows diagnostic setting. If you can’t change it in Edge, go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback in Windows 11 (or Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback in Windows 10).
- In the left menu, select Copilot and AI. That’s where reports place the “Fix an issue” control. If you don’t see a “Fix an issue” option yet, your build probably doesn’t have it.
To make sure you’re on the latest build, go to Settings and more (...) > Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge. Edge checks for updates there and offers Download and install if one is available.
On macOS
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Click Settings and more (
...) in the top-right corner, then click Settings. You can also open the Microsoft Edge menu in the macOS menu bar and choose Settings.
- Select Privacy, search, and services, then scroll to Privacy.
- Review Send optional diagnostic data to improve Microsoft products.
- Select Copilot and AI to check whether “Fix an issue” has arrived in your build.
The update check is the same as on Windows: Settings and more (...) > Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge. Microsoft hasn’t given a macOS rollout date for “Fix an issue.”
On the web (edge:// settings pages)
Helping someone over the phone? It’s faster to have them paste an address into Edge’s address bar than to click through menus.
- Type
edge://settings/privacyinto the address bar and pressEnterto jump to the Privacy settings. - For the Copilot and AI section, use the menu path above. Page labels can vary between Edge builds.
If you manage Edge for an office
Microsoft says “Fix an issue” doesn’t touch work-related resources. That’s good news for managed laptops. If you already control Edge diagnostics through Intune or similar tools, check Microsoft’s Edge data security settings catalog guidance. The sources we reviewed don’t include a specific policy for “Fix an issue.”
Our Take
Verdict: Don’t panic, and don’t disable things blindly. Decline the prompt if you’re unsure, and review your optional diagnostic data setting today.
By Microsoft’s description, “Fix an issue” is a narrowly scoped, opt-in tool. You start it, you approve it, and it covers one problem. That’s a long way from the “Edge is spying on me” framing in the early headlines. The bigger exposure is the long-standing optional diagnostics setting. If it’s on, it runs all the time and can include the websites you visit.
How worried should you be? Not very, about “Fix an issue” itself. Pay more attention to your existing diagnostic settings, especially on PCs you set up for less technical family members who never looked at them.
Two caveats keep this from being a clean bill of health. First, everything here rests on Microsoft’s own FAQ. Nobody has independently checked what the feature sends. Second, we don’t know the toggle’s default state or which build ships it. Until Microsoft publishes release notes, treat any specific version claim with suspicion.
Wrapping Up
According to Microsoft, “Fix an issue” asks before it collects, and its collection is limited to your troubleshooting session. That makes it a smaller concern than Edge’s always-on diagnostic settings. The setting that deserves your attention is Send optional diagnostic data to improve Microsoft products, and you can review it today: through Windows’ Diagnostics & feedback settings on Windows 10 and 11, or in Edge’s Privacy settings on a Mac.
| Step | Action | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Update Edge via Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge | Windows, macOS |
| 2 | Review optional diagnostic data (Windows Diagnostics & feedback; on Mac, edge://settings/privacy) | Windows, macOS |
| 3 | Check Copilot and AI for the “Fix an issue” control once it reaches your build | Wherever the feature ships |
| 4 | Decline the “Fix an issue” consent prompt if you don’t want to share session data | Wherever the feature ships |