Windows 11 has no single switch that turns off every AI feature or controls all the data it can use. Recall, Click to Do, Windows Search’s semantic indexing, and Copilot have separate settings and data flows. Some features require a Copilot+ PC, and Copilot privacy controls depend on whether you use a personal or work or school account.
How to manage Recall snapshots
Recall is a preview experience for eligible Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft says saving snapshots is off by default for a new user until they opt in. To manage it, open Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots. Changes to Recall settings and opening Recall require Windows Hello confirmation.
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- Turn saving on or off: Use the snapshot-saving control in Recall & snapshots. To stop saving temporarily without changing the setting, use Recall’s system-tray control to pause it.
- Exclude activity: Add apps and supported websites to the filter list. Microsoft says sensitive-information filtering is enabled by default and can filter snapshots when it detects potentially sensitive material, such as passwords or credit-card information. It is a filter, not a guarantee that every sensitive item will be detected.
- Remove saved data: Delete saved snapshots in Recall & snapshots. You can also set a maximum storage size and retention duration; when the storage limit is reached, the oldest snapshots are deleted automatically.
Microsoft says Recall snapshots and associated data are processed and stored on the device, encrypted, and not shared with Microsoft or third parties. That does not mean Windows sends no data of any kind: diagnostic data may be provided according to your Windows privacy settings, and submitting feedback can send Recall data, including screenshots attached to feedback. Microsoft also says Recall does not record audio or continuous video. See Microsoft’s Recall privacy and control guidance.
What Recall filters do—and do not do
A website filter affects whether content in a foreground tab may appear in Recall. It does not conceal a visit from the browser, website, internet service provider, or an organization that monitors the device or network. Specified-site filtering depends on browser support: Microsoft lists Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Chrome for filtering specified sites and private browsing. Other Chromium-based browsers version 124 or later are described as filtering private browsing, but not specified sites.
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Recall eligibility and missing controls
Microsoft’s Recall requirements page specifies a Copilot+ PC meeting the Secured-core standard, an NPU rated at 40 TOPS, 16 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, at least 50 GB of free space to enable Recall, encryption through Device Encryption or BitLocker, and Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security with a biometric sign-in option. Snapshot saving automatically pauses if free storage falls below 25 GB. These are Recall requirements, not general PC-buying recommendations.
Microsoft says Recall is removed by default in managed commercial and education environments until administrators allow it. If Recall or its controls are missing, check device eligibility, Windows version, and organizational policy; not every Windows 11 PC has the feature.
How to disable Click to Do
Click to Do is a separate Copilot+ PC feature, so switching off Recall does not switch it off. To disable it, open Settings > Privacy & security > Click to Do and turn the feature off. Microsoft says it cannot be removed. With it disabled, its common keyboard and touch shortcuts no longer open it, although other entry points may remain visible and show an error.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsClick to Do can act on selected text or images. Choosing Ask Copilot places the selected content in Copilot’s prompt; that is a user-initiated handoff, not just local screen processing. In a managed work or school environment, the corresponding action may be Ask Microsoft Copilot and requires a Microsoft 365 license under the organization’s privacy policies. In Recall, Click to Do can also act on a selected snapshot; Microsoft says content is temporarily saved when you choose an action that sends it to an app such as Notepad or Paint.
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How to limit Windows Search semantic indexing
On Copilot+ PCs, semantic indexing works alongside traditional Windows Search indexing. To manage indexed locations and file types, open Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows > Advanced indexing options. Supported document types include TXT, PDF, DOCX, DOC, RTF, PPTX, PPT, XLS, and XLSX; supported images include common formats such as JPG/JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, and ICO.
Microsoft says data gathered through semantic indexing is stored locally, is not stored by Microsoft, and is not used to train AI models. That statement concerns this indexing feature; it does not establish how unrelated cloud files, apps, or services handle their data.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What about AI features in Settings and other on-device components?
Microsoft describes improved natural-language search in Settings and an agent in Settings as Copilot+ PC features. The agent can suggest fixes and, with your permission and at your initiation, carry out settings changes. Microsoft’s reviewed guidance does not establish a separate general privacy switch for these capabilities. If a device is managed, its organization may also set controls.
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Keep Windows controls separate from Copilot account privacy
Windows feature settings do not replace privacy controls for your Copilot account. Microsoft’s current Copilot privacy guidance for individuals applies to personal Microsoft accounts using the updated Copilot app on the web, desktop, or mobile. It excludes work, school, and organizational accounts, and distinguishes the updated app from guidance for the previous version. Identify the app version and account you are using before following Copilot privacy instructions.
For a work or school account, use the organization’s Microsoft 365 Copilot or enterprise data-protection guidance. Your administrator’s policies and the account in use determine which controls apply; a local Windows setting is not a substitute for those account-level controls.
Choose the control that matches the data you want to limit
Start with the feature that handles the content you are concerned about: Recall concerns screen snapshots, semantic indexing concerns supported files in indexed locations, and Click to Do acts on content you select. Then use that feature’s own settings to disable it, narrow its scope, pause it where available, or delete saved data. Treat any action that sends selected content to Copilot or another app as a separate handoff to review. If a setting is unavailable, verify hardware eligibility, Windows version, account type, and organizational policy before concluding the control does not exist.
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