Learn about Disabling Recallfeature in Windows 11
Microsoft's latest addition to Windows 11, dubbed "Recall," is designed to make use of its AI capabilities by taking screenshots of your display at regular intervals. This new feature, exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, allows users to search through these images with the power of AI to retrieve specific information. While this may seem like a convenient tool, there are potential dangers associated with allowing Windows to have such access to your personal information.
Although the screenshots are saved locally on your device, there is no guarantee that they won't fall into the wrong hands. Cybercriminals could potentially break into your system and access these images. Although these screenshots are encrypted when your computer is locked, the encryption is lost as soon as you log in, making it easier for intruders to access the data. This essentially means that you're storing a collection of almost everything you do on your PC, including anything from passwords to financial data, sensitive company information, and private messages.
While Recall does have some limitations, such as being able to block certain apps and websites, it still leaves you vulnerable to data theft regarding any private activities you engage in on your computer. To learn more about the potential risks associated with this feature, refer to this article.
To disable Recall, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Recall & Snapshots. From here, toggle the "Save snapshots" button to disable the feature. If you've already taken screenshots you'd like to delete, you can do so using the "Delete snapshots" option beneath it.
Although you don't have to turn off Recall to make it safer to use, you can also choose to exclude specific applications or websites from being captured by it. However, it's important to note that these filters will only work with certain browsers, such as Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera, or Google Chrome. Additionally, you can disable Recall for entire browsers if you prefer.
Microsoft claims it will inform users of this feature during the initial setup of a Copilot+ PC and provide them with an opportunity to tweak its settings. However, it would be preferable to have the option to disable Recall from the beginning rather than having to manually do so after the fact.
Read also:
If you're concerned about the privacy implications of Microsoft's Recall feature and want to learn how to disable it, you might be interested in understanding how to disable the 'save snapshots' function. This process involves navigating to Settings > Privacy & Security > Recall & Snapshots and toggling the 'Save snapshots' button.
Now, let's delve into the technical aspect of disabling Recall for specific applications or websites. To do this, you'll need to utilize the settings within specific browsers, such as Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera, or Google Chrome. Unfortunately, the filtering option for specific apps or websites isn't compatible with all browsers.
