How to disable Microsoft Recall in Windows 11?

Should you disable or not disable Microsoft Recall in Windows 11? This is undoubtedly one of the most controversial features in Windows 11, designed to capture and store snapshots of your activity on your computer. While it's true that it can be useful for retrieving information or remembering important data, Many users see it as a threat to their privacy.If that's your case, this guide explains how to disable Microsoft Recall in Windows 11 step by step.

Why disable Microsoft Recall in Windows 11?

Want to disable Microsoft Recall in Windows 11? You're not alone. Although Microsoft assures that this function does not represent a risk For user security, many prefer to disable it. Initially, it was designed to improve the user experience by Provide access to a smart activity history in Windows 11But since its introduction, it has received continued criticism, forcing the company to delay its official launch.

Essentially, Microsoft Recall is a “photo memory” tool that saves screenshots of your activity in Windows 11. This way, you can Go back and see what documents or applications you opened, what websites you visited, or what settings you appliedYou can search chronologically or by keyword, which Microsoft's AI uses to provide the desired result.

It's clear that having a snapshot history to remember previous actions has its advantages, but at the same time raises some questionsDoes it affect the computer's performance? Is there a risk of unauthorized misuse of that data? Could it affect my privacy and security? Although Microsoft's responses attempt to reassure, some users have reservations about it. So, why disable Microsoft Recall in Windows 11? Some reasons include:

• Privacy: Since the data (some of it sensitive) is stored locally, unauthorized access could expose personal information.
• Performance: Keeping a usage history can consume a lot of system resources, especially on computers with limited storage.
• Safety: Although data is stored encrypted, no system is 100% invulnerable.

Ways to disable Microsoft Recall in Windows 11

Despite its benefits, you may still view Recall as a feature that compromises your privacy. In response to these ongoing user concerns, Microsoft is allowing deactivate Recall in Windows 11 temporarily and permanentlyThis process is simple and can be done in several ways, which we detail below.

Use Task Manager to stop the process

Let's start by looking at the process to temporarily disable Recall from the Task Manager. What you'll do here is stop the process until you restart or shut down your computer. But the next time you turn it on, the tool will activate again. Follow these steps:

1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. Look for the Microsoft Recall process (it may be called something like Recall.exe).
3. Right click on the process and select End task.

Disable Recall from Windows Settings

Another way to disable Microsoft Recall in Windows 11 is by going to System Settings. This method is also very simple and leave the door open in case you want to activate it again whenever you need it. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the Configuring Windows from the start menu or by pressing the Win + I keys.
2. In the Settings side panel, select the “Privacy & Security".
3. Search and select the option Activity history o Recall (depending on the version of Windows you have).
4. Change the switch to Disabled to disable Recall.
5. RSVP changes and voila.

Once you do this, Microsoft Recall will stop recording your activity, but it will still be present on your computer. Therefore, You can reactivate it at any time repeating these steps.

How to permanently disable Microsoft Recall

Microsoft also allows you to permanently disable the Recall tool on your computers. By removing it completely, you ensure that cannot be easily reactivated from the system settingsThis is the best option for those who are more sensitive to their privacy. Here are two ways to do it:

Disable Microsoft Recall in Windows 11 using the Windows Registry

An advanced method to permanently disable Microsoft Recall in Windows 11 is to modify the Windows Registry. By doing so you prevent the functionality from being activated again, but this can be reversed by editing the Registry again. However, remember that making changes to the Registry can cause system errors, so do so with caution:

1. Press Win + R, type regedit in the text field, and press Enter to access the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the following location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\RecallAI
3. In the right side panel, look for the value AllowRecall. If it is, double-click on it and change its value to 0.
4. If the value AllowRecall isn't there, you need to create it. To do this, right-click on the right side panel and choose New – DWORD (32-bit) Value. Then, open it and change its value to 0.
5. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Using the Group Policy Editor (for Pro/Enterprise versions)

If you have a Pro or Enterprise version of Windows 11, then you can Disable Microsoft Recall from the Group Policy EditorThis option is simpler than the previous one, but just as effective. Follow these steps:

1. To open the Group Policy Editor, press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Follow the path Computer Configuration – Administrative Templates – System – Data Policies.
3. Once there, look for the Recall option and set it to Disabled.
4. Save changes and restart your system to disable Microsoft Recall in Windows 11.

As you can see, there are several methods to disable Microsoft Recall in Windows 11. If you just want the utility temporarily stop working, close the process from Task Manager or disable it in Settings. But if you want a permanent deactivation, it is best to edit the Windows Registry or use Group Policies if available in your version.

To disable it or not to disable it? It's your decision. Microsoft Recall is a powerful but controversial featureIf you value your privacy more than convenience, disable it using one of the methods described. But if you're happy with Windows 11 keeping a usage history, you'll definitely get the most out of it.