Have you recently noticed that the latest Windows 11 version seems to give you the option to uninstall the AI-powered Recall feature? You’re not alone. Many users were surprised to find this option in the Windows Features section. However, Microsoft has clarified that this is just a glitch and not an actual feature.
Windows senior product manager Brandon LeBlanc addressed the confusion, stating in a statement to The Verge, “We are aware of an issue where Recall is incorrectly listed as an option under the ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ dialog in Control Panel.” “This will be fixed in an upcoming update.”
So, if you’re seeing Recall listed as removable, don’t worry—Microsoft is working on correcting this error.
Also read: After backlash, here’s what Microsoft did to fix the controversial ‘Recall’ AI feature
The Recall feature, which is designed to create screenshots of almost everything you do on your computer, was initially set to launch with Copilot Plus PCs in June. However, the rollout was delayed due to security concerns raised by researchers. These experts initially found that the Recall database, which stores snapshots taken every few seconds, was not encrypted, making it vulnerable to potential malware attacks.
The tech giant is now making it an opt-in feature rather than enabling it by default. The company is also adding encryption to protect the database and authenticating through Windows Hello.
Also read: Microsoft’s new Recall feature lets you easily find & remember what you’ve seen on your PC
When asked about the possibility of fully uninstalling Recall, as its presence in the Windows features list might imply, Microsoft only confirmed this was just “incorrectly listed” for now.
It’s possible that Microsoft may need to add an uninstall option for Recall in Windows 11 for EU users to meet the requirements of the European Commission’s Digital Markets Act. The company previously added an uninstall option for Edge in the European Economic Area (EEA) countries and allowed the removal of Bing-powered web search in the Start menu.
Stay tuned for updates from Microsoft, and rest assured that the option to uninstall Recall you’re seeing now is nothing more than a bug.
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