Why have you sneaked recall onto my PC without providing an option to turn it off?

Question

Why have you hidden the recall feature on peoples computer so they can't disable it? Especially for non techie users

Why are you invading my privacy so much?

What if I was coding for new software and you are taking snap shots of my code?

What about private information and chats?

What about on government sensitive information? NHS documents on people? Sensitive business data? Police Records?

Why are you turning into the most vile untrustworthy company on Earth?

Luckily I have figured out a way to disabled this, 99% of users won't know how to do it.

This is the biggest advertisement for Linux ever. You absolute blithering.

Answer 1

Hi Roger,

I'm Sumit, here to answer your query at the Microsoft Community.

Apologies for any inconvenience you are experiencing. We are happy to help you.

Every data on the Recall is saved Locally on the device. This is a common misinformation on the Internet. I also don't see an option you provided in the screenshot, and copilot is only available on Copilot+ PCs.

Via

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/pri...

To help provide you with that "photographic" memory, Windows saves snapshots of your screen periodically. You can quickly search your snapshots to find things on your Copilot+ PC. For example, content you've seen in apps, websites, images, and documents. Recall doesn't record audio or save continuous video.

You're always in control of what's saved as a snapshot. You can disable saving snapshots, pause temporarily, filter applications, and delete your snapshots at any time.

To help maintain your privacy, Recall processes your content locally on the Copilot+ PC and securely stores it on your device. This page will help you understand how you can control your Recall experience.

During setup of your new Copilot+ PC, and for each new user, you're informed about Recall and given the option to manage your Recall and snapshots preferences

You can turn on or off saving snapshots at any time by going to Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots. You can also pause snapshots temporarily by selecting the Recall icon in the system tray on your PC and selecting the pause option.

We built privacy and security into Recall's design from the ground up. With Copilot+ PCs, you get powerful AI that runs locally on your device. No internet or cloud connections are required or used to save and analyze snapshots. Your snapshots aren't sent to Microsoft. Recall AI processing occurs locally, and your snapshots are securely stored on your local device only.

Snapshots are encrypted by Device Encryption or BitLocker, which are enabled by default on Windows 11. Recall doesn't share snapshots with other users that are signed into Windows on the same device. Microsoft can't access or view the snapshots.

Hope that helps, and rely on us for any further inquiries. All the best.

Answer 2

Absolutely not.

First the image I provided is from Settings > Privacy & security and as you can see there is no Recall & snapshots option for me, but it was still installed on my PC.

And it took me a long time to research how to disable as the their was no option in Privacy & Security regarding.

I don't want snap shots taking any images of my private stuff and storing it on my PC, I don;t want it on my PC at all.

And that is just corporate waffle for the most part, it is a massive and insidious invasion of privacy and you can not be trusted.

And you can;t be trusted because every time I uninstall One Drive, you constantly re-install it, forcing me to have uninistall it again.

I don't want edge on my PC, but you refuse to let me uninstall it.

I don't want defender on my PC, I am happy with a 3rd part software. Can;t get rid of it.

I paid for my copy of Windows, yet you want to invade my privacy to steal my data and give me nothing back in return apart from filling up my PC with bloat and junk that I don't want because you are trying to force your Eco-sysyem down my throat.

Stop it.

I don't want it, I just want an OS that just works and can be tailored to how I like it without you undoing all my changes every time you install and update.

I am the one using my PC, not you... Do you understand this basic concept? As it seems to me that Microsoft has lost site of this. Since Windows 7, everything has be utter garbage. I want to use my PC my way, I know what is best for me, not you.

Make a good OS, it's not hard, it just takes time and people who put user experience first.

Answer 3

Sorry, but I didn't see Recall in the image you posted.

Does your computer have NPUs (neural processing units)? They are needed to make Recall work. Not many PCs have that, because it's a very recent feature.. If your computer has them, then your PC would have been advertised as a "Copilot + PC". Were you aware of that when you bought the computer?

Answer 4

Thank you, Roger. Very fair points - I agree there should be more cusomtizablity depending on user needs. There is surely a gap I agree.

A good advantage of Windows is you can delete stuff if you want - it isn't possible on certain Operating Systems. For example on iPhones or Mac, you can't remove the inBuilt browser Safari. On Windows, it is possible to remove Edge.

If you ever have any thoughts or suggestions, feel free to share your feedback with Microsoft. Just a heads-up, this forum is a space where users help each other out, and it’s not directly affiliated with Microsoft.

Answer 5

It was installed but hidden.

Open CMD as an administrator and run this command - Dism /online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"Recall"

It will uninstall recall that his hidden in your PC.

Enjoy watching it unload from 24H2.

I built the PC myself, I don't buy over priced rip offs. I also know what has gone exactly into my PC. Which is why I hate Microsoft forcing me to install and use stuff I don't want.

I just want a good operating system I can I use and customize to me needs. I don't need 8000 things running in the background I don't need or will ever use or potentially invade my privacy.