Minecraft: Dream it, Build it!

"For these purposes, we combine data we collect from different contexts (for example, from your use of two Microsoft products). For example, Microsoft Store uses information about the apps and services you use to make personalized app recommendations. We also use data we collect through our interactions with you, through some of our first-party products, services, apps, and web properties (Microsoft properties), and on third-party web properties, for advertising on our Microsoft properties and on third-party properties."

Microsoft combines data across multiple products, services, and third-party web properties to build unified user profiles for personalization and advertising purposes.

"Location data. Data about your device's location, which can be either precise or imprecise. For example, we collect location data using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) (e.g., GPS) and data about nearby cell towers and Wi-Fi hotspots. Location can also be inferred from a device's IP address or data in your account profile that indicates where it is located with less precision, such as at a city or postal code level."

Microsoft collects both precise GPS location and imprecise location via IP address, cell towers, and Wi-Fi hotspots, using multiple tracking methods simultaneously.

"Contacts and relationships. Data about your contacts and relationships if you use a product to share information with others, manage contacts, communicate with others, or improve your productivity. Biometric data and identifiers. Data about you resulting from specific technical processing relating to your physical, physiological, or behavioral characteristics which allow or confirm unique identification. Other input. For example, data such as the buttons you press on an Xbox wireless controller using the Xbox network, skeletal tracking data when you use Kinect, and other sensor data, like the number of steps you take, when you use devices that have applicable sensors."

Microsoft collects contacts, biometric data, sensor data, skeletal tracking, images, voice clips, inking data, and installed app information — an extremely broad scope of device and personal data.

"We also share personal data among Microsoft-controlled affiliates and subsidiaries, including for the purposes described in this privacy statement. We also share personal data with vendors or agents working on our behalf for the purposes described in this statement. We may also disclose personal data as part of a corporate transaction such as a merger or sale of assets."

Microsoft shares personal data broadly with affiliates, subsidiaries, vendors, game publishers, and advertising partners, and may also disclose data in corporate transactions like mergers.

"Microsoft retains personal data for as long as necessary to provide the products and fulfill the transactions you have requested, or for other legitimate purposes such as complying with our legal obligations, resolving disputes, and enforcing our agreements. Because these needs can vary for different data types, the context of our interactions with you or your use of products, actual retention periods can vary significantly."

Microsoft provides no concrete retention periods for most data types, using vague 'as long as necessary' language that effectively allows indefinite retention.

"Microsoft Privacy Statement Last Updated: March 2026. This privacy statement explains the personal data Microsoft processes, how Microsoft processes it, and for what purposes. Microsoft offers a wide range of products, including server products used to help operate enterprises worldwide, devices you use in your home, software that students use at school, and services developers use to create and host what's next."

The privacy statement is updated periodically (indicated by 'Last Updated' and 'What's new?' sections) without describing any mechanism for obtaining user consent to changes — continued use of products implies acceptance.

"After you submit the request to close your child's account, we will wait 60 days before permanently deleting the account in case you change your mind or need to access something on the account before it is permanently closed and deleted. During the waiting period, the account is marked for closure and permanent deletion, but it still exists."

Microsoft imposes a 60-day waiting period before permanently deleting accounts, during which time all data is retained. While described for child accounts, this reflects Microsoft's general account closure process.