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Deletes all instances of Microsoft's GDID and prevents minting of new ones
A PowerShell script (degdid.ps1) removes all local copies of Microsoft’s Global Device Identifier (GDID) and blocks the DeviceAdd service to stop new GDIDs from being minted.
GDID is a machine-level identifier that Windows can generate even for local-only accounts, and it is used by Microsoft services for device authentication and telemetry. Removing it prevents further device-level tracking but also disables or degrades Microsoft account sign-in, Store, OneDrive, Phone Link, and related identity features on affected machines. Engineers must weigh privacy gains against loss of functionality on personal, unmanaged Windows PCs.
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degdid.ps1 wipes existing GDID data from all local stores and blocks the network path that issues new GDIDs.
The tool runs only on unmanaged personal Windows 10 (22H2+) or Windows 11 (22000+), requires an elevated 64-bit PowerShell session, and refuses domain-joined, Entra, MDM-enrolled, or multi-profile systems.
Blocking GDID breaks or degrades Microsoft account sign-in, Store, OneDrive, Phone Link, and other services that rely on the identifier.
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The degdid.ps1 script implements a two-step protection: it first clears any GDID values stored in user.DEFAULT, and SYSTEM registry locations, then it installs a dual-stack hosts entry and firewall rule that blocks the DeviceAdd endpoint used by Microsoft’s server to issue new identifiers. The script verifies that the block is effective before reporting success, ensuring that no real-shaped GDID remains on the machine. This changes the default Windows behavior where a GDID is automatically minted on first network contact, even for local-only accounts.
Deploying the protection costs an administrator-level PowerShell session and a one-time execution of the script with the, Protect flag, followed by periodic status checks after major system changes (Windows updates, firewall modifications, or hosts-file edits). If a protected system later needs Microsoft services that depend on GDID, the, Unblock command can restore the network path, allowing a new GDID to be minted. The process does not alter any Microsoft-hosted records; it only removes local copies and blocks further issuance from the client side.
The protection is deliberately limited to single-profile, non-managed Windows installations. Machines that are joined to a domain, enrolled in Azure Entra, managed via MDM, or that host multiple interactive users are automatically rejected by the script. Additionally, builds older than Windows 10 22H2 or Windows 11 22000 receive warnings, and the script’s lab validation only covers Windows 11 25H2 build 26200, so behavior on other versions is undefined.
For software that relies on GDID as a stable device identifier, such as custom telemetry pipelines, licensing checks, or device-specific configuration services, the identifier will be missing, causing those components to fail or fall back to alternative identification methods. Developers should audit any dependencies on GDID and provide graceful degradation paths, as the script does not guarantee that Microsoft’s backend will stop associating historical GDIDs with the device.
Operationally, teams must incorporate the script into their hardening workflow for personal Windows PCs that require privacy from GDID tracking, while also documenting the expected loss of Microsoft account functionality. Testing should include verification of core services (MSA sign-in, Store, OneDrive) after protection is applied, and a clear rollback plan using the, Unblock command should be maintained for scenarios where those services become essential.
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