Microsoft says option to uninstall Recall feature is a bug
Microsoft has suggested that users cannot uninstall the forthcoming Recall feature, according to The Verge. This issue was first noticed by Deskmodder in the recent 24H2 build version of Windows 11, where users were able to remove Recall feature from their computers. Brandon LeBlanc, a senior product manager at Microsoft, confirmed this as an error and assured that it would be rectified soon.
Recall sparked controversy and security concerns
The Recall feature, which generates screenshots of most user activities on a computer, has been a subject of controversy. Initially scheduled to launch with Copilot+ PCs in June, its release was postponed due to security concerns raised by researchers. Despite these challenges, Microsoft plans to preview Recall with Windows Insiders on Copilot+ PCs in October after implementing significant modifications.
Security concerns and Microsoft's response
Security experts discovered that the Recall database, which stores computer snapshots every few seconds, was not encrypted. This lack of encryption could potentially allow malware to access the Recall feature. In response to these concerns, Microsoft is now making Recall an opt-in feature rather than a default one. The company also plans to encrypt the database and authenticate it through Windows Hello.
Uncertainty surrounds Recall's uninstall option
Microsoft has not clarified whether it will permit Windows users to completely remove Recall, despite its erroneous appearance in the Windows features list. There is speculation that Microsoft may need to include a Recall uninstall option in EU versions of Windows 11 to comply with the European Commission's Digital Markets Act (DMA). The tech giant has previously added an uninstall feature for Edge in EEA countries and allowed users to remove Bing-powered web search from the Start menu.
