Windows 11 users recently noticed an option to uninstall the Recall feature, an AI tool designed to take periodic screenshots of user activities. This option appeared in the “Turn Windows features on or off” section of the Control Panel after a recent update, leading to speculation that Microsoft was allowing users to disable the feature.
However, Microsoft has clarified that this option was a bug, not an intentional feature. In a statement to The Verge, Brandon LeBlanc, a senior product manager for Windows, explained, “We are aware of an issue where Recall is incorrectly listed as an option under the ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ dialogue in Control Panel. This will be fixed in an upcoming update.”
The Recall feature, initially set to launch with Copilot Plus PCs in June, faced criticism for lacking encryption and potentially allowing malware access to stored screenshots. In response, Microsoft delayed the rollout, made the feature opt-in rather than default, and announced plans to introduce encryption and Windows Hello authentication for added security.
Despite user interest in uninstalling the Recall feature, Microsoft confirmed that the uninstall option was not intentional. The company has not indicated whether such an option will be available in the future, though it may become mandatory under the European Commission’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The Recall feature is currently in preview and is expected to roll out in October with Copilot Plus PCs.
