Windows 11 Recall: Master App Exclusions for Enhanced Privacy & Control
Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs introduce a groundbreaking feature called Recall, designed to revolutionize how users interact with their digital content. Recall operates by taking snapshots of your screen every few seconds, creating a searchable visual history of your computer activity. This allows you to easily revisit past actions, conversations, or websites, effectively acting as a photographic memory for your PC. While Recall offers significant benefits in terms of productivity and information retrieval, users may have legitimate privacy concerns regarding certain applications or websites being captured in these snapshots. Understanding how to manage exclusions is crucial for tailoring Recall to your specific needs and maintaining control over your privacy.
Excluding Websites from Recall Snapshots in Windows 11¶
By default, Microsoft Edge’s InPrivate mode prevents Recall from capturing snapshots of your browsing activity within those sessions, primarily due to security and privacy considerations. However, consistently browsing in InPrivate mode may not be practical or desirable for all websites or browsing habits. For persistent exclusion of specific websites from Recall’s snapshot feature, Windows 11 provides a straightforward method. This ensures that sensitive or private web content is never recorded in your Recall history.
To effectively exclude websites from Recall snapshots, follow these step-by-step instructions:
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Access Windows Settings: Begin by opening the Settings application. The quickest way to do this is by using the keyboard shortcut Windows key + I. This action will immediately launch the Settings panel, providing access to various system configurations.
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Navigate to Privacy & Security: Within the Settings window, locate and click on the Privacy & Security option. This section groups together settings related to data privacy, security permissions, and various Windows features that interact with user data.
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Locate Recall & snapshot Settings: In the Privacy & Security settings, scroll down or use the search bar to find Recall & snapshot. Click on this option to access the dedicated settings page for the Recall feature. This is where you manage all aspects of Recall, including enabling/disabling, storage, and exclusions.
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Access Filter Lists: On the Recall & snapshot settings page, scroll down until you find the Filter lists section. This section is designed to manage exclusions for both websites and applications. Look for Websites to filter and click the Add website button located next to it.
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Enter Website URL: A dialog box will appear prompting you to Add a website to filter. In the provided field, carefully type or paste the complete URL of the website you wish to exclude from Recall snapshots. Ensure you enter the correct URL to avoid unintended exclusions. After entering the URL, click the Add button to confirm.
Once you have completed these steps, the specified website will be added to the exclusion list. Recall will no longer capture snapshots when you are browsing this particular website in any standard browsing mode (non-InPrivate) in Microsoft Edge. This ensures that your activities on the excluded website remain private and are not recorded in your Recall history.
Excluding Applications from Recall Snapshots in Windows 11¶
Similar to websites, there might be certain applications that you prefer to exclude from Recall snapshots. This could be due to the sensitive nature of the application’s content, performance considerations, or simply personal preference. Windows 11 allows you to easily specify applications that should be ignored by the Recall feature, ensuring that their activities are not captured in your Recall history.
To exclude specific applications from Recall snapshots, adhere to the following steps:
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Open Settings: Launch the Settings application. You can do this by searching for “Settings” in the Start Menu search bar and selecting the Settings app from the results, or by using the Windows key + I shortcut.
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Navigate to Privacy & security: Within the Settings window, click on the Privacy & security section. This section consolidates privacy and security settings for your Windows system.
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Find Recall snapshots Settings: In the Privacy & security settings, locate and select Recall & snapshot. This will bring you to the configuration page specifically for the Recall feature, where you can manage its various settings.
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Access Filter Lists for Apps: Within the Recall & snapshot settings, find the Filter lists section. This is the central area for managing both website and application exclusions. Locate Apps to filter and click on the Add app button positioned beside it.
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Select Application to Exclude: A list of installed applications will be presented in a dialog box titled Choose an app to filter. Browse through this list and select the application that you want to exclude from Recall snapshots. Once you have selected the desired application, click the Add button to confirm your choice.
After completing these steps, the selected application will be added to the exclusion list. Recall will no longer capture snapshots when you are using this specific application. This ensures that any sensitive data or activities within the excluded application remain private and are not recorded in your Recall history. If you need to exclude multiple applications, you will need to repeat these steps for each application individually.
Managing Existing Snapshots and Exclusions¶
It is important to note that excluding websites or applications only prevents future snapshots. If you have already used Recall and suspect that snapshots might have been taken of websites or applications you now wish to exclude, you should review and delete those existing snapshots.
To manage and delete existing Recall snapshots, follow these instructions:
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Return to Recall & snapshot Settings: Navigate back to the Recall & snapshot settings page within the Privacy & security section of the Windows Settings app.
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Access Delete snapshots Options: On the Recall & snapshot settings page, locate and click on the Delete snapshots button. This will open a section dedicated to managing and removing your existing Recall snapshots.
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Choose Deletion Options: The Delete snapshots section provides various options for removing snapshots. You can typically choose to delete snapshots from:
- A specific timeframe: This allows you to select a date range and delete all snapshots taken within that period. This is useful if you know roughly when the unwanted snapshots were taken.
- All time: This option will delete all snapshots that Recall has ever taken. This is a more comprehensive approach if you want to ensure all potentially sensitive data is removed.
Select the deletion option that best suits your needs and confirm your choice. Windows will then proceed to delete the selected snapshots.
By regularly reviewing and managing your snapshots, along with utilizing the exclusion features for websites and applications, you can effectively control what Recall captures and maintain a balance between its productivity benefits and your privacy preferences.
Disabling Microsoft Recall¶
For users who have significant privacy concerns or simply prefer not to use the Recall feature at all, it is possible to disable it entirely. Disabling Recall will prevent it from taking any further snapshots and effectively turn off the feature system-wide.
To disable Microsoft Recall, follow these simple steps:
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Open Settings: Launch the Settings application using the Windows key + I shortcut or through the Start Menu.
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Navigate to Privacy & security: In the Settings window, click on the Privacy & security section.
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Access Recall & snapshot Settings: Locate and select Recall & snapshot within the Privacy & security settings.
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Disable Save snapshots Toggle: On the Recall & snapshot settings page, you will find a toggle labeled Save snapshots. By default, this toggle is likely enabled. To disable Recall, simply click on this toggle to switch it to the Off position.
Once you disable the Save snapshots toggle, Recall will be completely turned off. It will no longer capture screen snapshots, and your system will not maintain a Recall history. If you have previously used Recall and want to ensure all data is removed, it is recommended to also delete existing snapshots as described in the previous section after disabling the feature.
Frequently Asked Questions about Windows 11 Recall¶
Q: What happens when I exclude an app or website from Recall?
A: When you exclude an application or website from Recall, the feature will no longer capture snapshots when you are using that specific app or browsing that particular website in standard browsing mode (non-InPrivate). Your activities within the excluded app or website will not be recorded in your Recall history, enhancing your privacy for those specific contexts.
Q: Does excluding a website in Microsoft Edge also exclude it in other browsers?
A: No, the website exclusion feature in Windows 11 Recall is generally specific to the context of Microsoft Edge browsing (in standard, non-InPrivate mode). If you use other browsers (like Chrome, Firefox, etc.), Recall might still capture snapshots of your browsing activity in those browsers unless those browsers have their own privacy features that prevent snapshot capture or if Recall settings are designed to be browser-agnostic in future updates. It is advisable to check Microsoft’s official documentation for the most up-to-date information on browser compatibility and exclusions.
Q: If I disable Recall, are all my previously taken snapshots deleted?
A: Disabling Recall by toggling off the “Save snapshots” setting does not automatically delete previously taken snapshots. To remove existing snapshots, you need to explicitly use the Delete snapshots options within the Recall & snapshot settings page as described earlier. Disabling the feature only prevents future snapshots from being taken.
Q: Can I exclude specific pages within a website, or only the entire domain?
A: Currently, the website exclusion feature in Windows 11 Recall typically works on a domain level. When you add a URL to the exclusion list, it generally excludes the entire website domain. While you might enter a specific page URL during setup, the system often interprets this as an instruction to exclude the entire domain. For example, excluding www.example.com/specific-page will likely exclude all pages under www.example.com. For precise control over specific page exclusions, you should consult the latest Microsoft documentation or support resources to see if more granular options are available in newer versions or updates.
Q: Is it possible to temporarily pause Recall instead of permanently disabling it?
A: As of the current information available, Windows 11 Recall settings primarily offer the option to either enable or disable the “Save snapshots” feature. There is no explicitly stated feature to “pause” Recall temporarily without fully disabling it. If you need to stop snapshot capture for a short period, you would likely need to disable “Save snapshots” and then re-enable it when you want Recall to resume. Always refer to official Windows documentation for the most accurate and up-to-date feature details, as software features can evolve with updates.
Conclusion¶
Windows 11 Recall presents a powerful new way to interact with your digital history, offering a searchable visual timeline of your PC activities. However, managing privacy is paramount. By understanding and utilizing the app and website exclusion features, you can effectively tailor Recall to your personal preferences and ensure that sensitive or private content remains uncaptured. Regularly reviewing your Recall settings, managing existing snapshots, and making informed decisions about exclusions will empower you to harness the benefits of Recall while maintaining control over your digital privacy landscape.
We encourage you to explore the Recall feature and its exclusion capabilities to optimize your Windows 11 experience. Share your thoughts and experiences with managing Recall exclusions in the comments below! Are there specific apps or websites you prioritize excluding? What are your overall impressions of the Recall feature and its privacy controls? Let’s discuss!
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