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Microsoft has introduced the option to uninstall its most controversial feature, Recall, but there’s a big catch you need to be aware of.
As reported by Deskmodder, Microsoft has added a way to uninstall Recall with the optional update KB5041865. You can remove Recall by opening the Control Panel, going to Programs and Features > Turn Windows Features On or Off, and then unchecking the Recall option.
However, it’s important to note that Deskmodder is a German website, and this change was spotted in a German build of Windows 11. European versions of Windows often include slightly different features compared to those available in other regions. These differences are due to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which mandates specific features in European versions of Windows. It’s possible that Microsoft introduced the Recall uninstall option to comply with these regulations.
Also, we rarely see a tech company making a change that was forced by the DMA available to the rest of the world. There is a high possibility that the option to uninstall Recall will remain an EU-exclusive feature.
A Recall of the Recall Feature
The Recall feature was introduced in Windows 11 to periodically capture snapshots of your device activity and use AI to identify the content for future reference. You could ask your computer to find what you were doing in the past using natural language. For instance, you could ask questions like, “What was that nature-related video I was watching on YouTube yesterday?”
However, many Windows users were uncomfortable with this feature, as it allowed AI to continuously monitor their computing sessions. Things got even worse for Microsoft when cybersecurity researcher Alexander Hagenah showcased a tool that could access all the data saved by the Recall feature. This was possible as Recall stored all the data in an unencrypted SQLite database. After facing significant backlash, Microsoft announced that it would address all the privacy concerns, leading to a delay in its release.
Recently, Microsoft stated that it had resolved these privacy concerns and will make the feature available to the Windows Insider Program in October. The feature is expected to be widely available on Copilot+ PCs, likely starting early next year.
Recall will now be disabled by default, and users will need to manually enable it if they wish to use it. Additionally, thel feature will only function when Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) is active, and the snapshots taken by the feature will remain on the user’s PC.
