Microsoft provides numerous methods to disregard the recall for Copilot+ on PCs
Microsoft, initially excited about its "photographic memory" Recall feature on Copilot+ PCs, is now actively informing users on how to avoid using it altogether. When first booting up a Copilot+ Windows 11 PC, users are presented with a chance to opt-out of the feature by hitting "No, don't save" in a splash screen. If Recall has already been enabled, users can disable it through the "Optional Features" settings in Windows 11 or pause screenshot saving with an icon in the system tray.
The tech giant reassured users that Recall will not store screenshots when using privacy modes in popular browsers such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera. Moreover, it will limit the amount of sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers captured by content filtering and allow blocking specific apps and websites from screengrabs, but this feature is only available for Chrome-based browsers.
Options for managing Recall data include disabling it through privacy settings and excluding specific apps and websites from being included in snapshots. Consumer privacy is a major concern, and Microsoft addressed this by stating that all screenshots and related data are now secured behind a biometric sign-in using Windows Hello Enhanced and that the feature will only work on Copilot+ certified PCs that utilize recent Qualcomm, AMD, or Intel processors.
Recall's key functionality is analyzed through the semantic index, which allows users to search through screenshots using simple text prompts. Previously, security experts had pointed out concerns regarding unsecured AI-generated text descriptions, but Microsoft has since enhanced security measures to safeguard this data.
Privacy settings, policy configurations, and the use of Group Policy Editor allow both users and IT administrators to manage Recall effectively. IT administrators can control whether the feature is available to users and restrict which apps and websites are included in Recall snapshots, while users can choose whether to save snapshots and use the feature to find past content.
waiting to get their hands on the feature in October. On Friday, Microsoft’s VP of OS security, David Weston, shared the company’s most detailed explanation of how Recall will work.
As users await the full release of Recall after the initial Windows Insiders testing, Microsoft reassures users and administrators that security, privacy, and copilot integration continue to be priorities. More information about Recall and other features can be found in the enrichment data below.
Enrichment Data:
Overview:
Ensure proper management of Microsoft's Recall feature on Copilot+ PCs by considering these options. Users and IT administrators can employ settings to disable it entirely or fine-tune its usage as necessary.
For Users
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- Privacy Settings: Users have the power to manage Recall through privacy settings, which determines if they allow Recall to save snapshots and search past content. Adjust settings in the Privacy & security window on your Windows device.
- Exclude Apps and Websites: Users can specify which apps and websites should be excluded from Recall snapshots by accessing Recall's settings and including those apps and websites in a deny list.
- Disable Recall: Users can disable Recall altogether if desired by adjusting privacy settings, although organizational policies might restrict this option in some cases.
For IT Administrators
- Policy CSP - AllowRecallEnablement: Administrators can control Recall availability to users through the policy. Set this policy to 0 to disable Recall, and 1 to permit its use.
- Policy CSP - DisableAIDataAnalysis: Administrators can configure the policy to regulate whether user activity data is saved for Recall.
- SetDenyAppListForRecall and SetDenyUriListForRecall: Administrators can create lists of apps and URIs to be excluded from Recall snapshots by utilizing these policy settings.
- Group Policy Management: IT administrators can modify policies related to Recall through the Group Policy Editor, thus enforcing the settings across the organization.
Additional Considerations
- Security and Privacy: Recall's initial rollout raised concerns regarding security and privacy, but Microsoft has since resolved these issues by introducing encryption and enhanced authentication requirements.
- Copilot Integration: While Recall is a component of the Copilot experience, users and administrators have the option to enable or disable Copilot based on their preferences or policies.
User and IT administrators can effectively manage and disable the Recall feature on Copilot+ PCs using the methods outlined in this enrichment data.
- Microsoft acknowledged that Recall, its 'photographic memory' feature on Copilot+ PCs, will not save screenshots when using privacy modes in incognito windows of popular browsers like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera.
- To avoid using Recall altogether, users can choose to opt-out during the initial setup of their Copilot+ Windows 11 PC by hitting "No, don't save" in the splash screen.
- Microsoft uses Qualcomm, AMD, or Intel processors in Copilot+ certified PCs, ensuring that all screenshots and related data are secured behind a biometric sign-in using Windows Hello Enhanced.
- Recall's technology allows users to search through screenshots using simple text prompts, but Microsoft has since enhanced security measures to safeguard the generated text descriptions.