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Microsoft Recall’s sensitive-information filter is not a guarantee. Independent tests on several preview builds captured Social Security numbers, passwords, payment details and identity documents in situations where the filter missed the context. But the claim that Recall cannot be stopped is wrong: on eligible Copilot+ PCs, you can turn off snapshot saving, delete existing snapshots and remove the optional Windows feature.
Recall remains an opt-in Windows 11 feature. Microsoft says snapshots are processed and stored locally, protected by Windows security controls, and not routinely sent to Microsoft. Local storage still creates a privacy risk if malware, remote-access software, another authorized user or a compromised account can reach the unlocked PC.
What the testing found
Recall periodically saves images of the active screen, including when the active window changes. It indexes those snapshots with OCR so you can search for text and revisit activity. It is not a continuous video or audio recorder.
Microsoft says sensitive-information filtering is enabled by default and is intended to reduce storage of passwords, national identification numbers and credit-card numbers. Independent tests show why that should be treated as a heuristic safeguard, not a security boundary.
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| Scenario | Reported result |
|---|---|
| SSN entered in a loan-application PDF | Captured in Tom’s Hardware testing |
| Username and password typed in Notepad | Captured |
| Payment details in a custom HTML form | Captured |
| SSN preceded by “My SS#” | Filtered in later testing |
| Same number preceded by “Soc. #” | Captured in that testing |
| Plain-text list of usernames and passwords | Captured when the wording did not clearly identify passwords |
| Standard payment pages and some password managers | Blocked in some tests |
| Passport image | Behavior varied; a partially obscured image was captured in later testing |
These observations came from specific Insider or preview builds tested in December 2024, April 2025 and August 2025. They demonstrate recurring failure modes, not a guarantee that every current Windows build, language, app or device will behave identically. Sources include Tom’s Hardware, Ars Technica, Tom’s Guide and WinBuzzer.
Why the filter misses secrets
Recall has to classify what is on screen. A clearly labeled checkout field or password-manager interface may be recognized, while the same data in a PDF, Notepad file, spreadsheet, image, custom web page or unusual layout may not be. Abbreviations, missing labels, partially hidden documents and embedded content make classification harder.
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- Compatible Models: Width: 13 9/16" (13.5 inch/344 mm), Height: 7 5/8" (7.6 inch/194 mm), Diagonal: 15.6" (396.24 mm) widescreen laptops which have a 16:9 aspect ratio. Not touchscreen compatible !!! Not fit for 16:10.Do NOT rely solely on your laptop’s diagonal size when ordering. Use a ruler to measure your screen’s visible area (excluding the black bezels). If the width reads 344mm and height reads 194mm, this filter is a perfect match for your device.
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Filtering is also different from app or website exclusion. A browser rule may apply to the foreground tab but not necessarily to an embedded frame, pop-up, PDF viewer, history view or another application showing the same information. Microsoft documents these limitations in its Recall privacy controls.
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What Recall stores—and what it does not
Recall stores periodic screen snapshots and associated searchable data on the device. Microsoft says the data remains local rather than being uploaded as part of normal Recall operation. Device encryption or BitLocker helps protect it when the computer is locked or offline, and Windows Hello authorizes access to Recall.
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Those protections do not prevent collection. Encryption does not stop a compromised, unlocked session from exposing a captured SSN, and Windows Hello does not eliminate risks from malware, remote-support software, an already authorized account or another person using the active session. One independent test reported viewing Recall through remote-control software after using the Windows Hello PIN; that is a reported test result, not a universal bypass.
How to stop Recall from creating snapshots
1. Turn off saving
On a supported Copilot+ PC, open:
Settings → Privacy & security → Recall & snapshots → Save snapshots → Off
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- 【Superior Privacy】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful UV and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- The Laptop Privacy Screen Filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports, and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】- Each package includes a magnetic privacy screen filter, magnetic stickers, a webcam privacy cover, a storage folder, and a cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
Windows may require Windows Hello authorization. You can also pause saving from the Recall icon in the system tray, but pausing is temporary and depends on remembering to do it.
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Turning off future saving is not the same as deleting the archive already on the PC. Return to the Recall controls and use the available deletion options, such as deleting snapshots by time range or source. The exact controls vary by Windows build. Confirm that the snapshots and any listed associated data are gone; do not assume the Off switch automatically erases everything.
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- 【Two Attachment Options】- Installs in minutes. Option 1 uses clear adhesive strips that securely attach to any screen. Option 2 uses slide mount tabs that easily stick to the display frame, allowing you to slide the filter on and off the screen as needed.
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- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- Our computer screen privacy filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports and public areas.
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3. Remove the optional feature
For a stronger consumer-level response, Microsoft documents removing Recall with an elevated PowerShell session:
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Recall" -Remove- Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell as administrator.
- Run the command.
- Restart if Windows requests it.
- Recheck Settings → Privacy & security → Recall & snapshots.
- Delete any snapshots that remain visible.
Feature removal can vary by Windows edition, build and organizational management. On a work-managed PC, policy may control whether you can change or remove Recall.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Controls for organizations
Microsoft provides Windows AI policy controls to turn off saving snapshots, along with application and URI filtering. Enterprise deployments can integrate a data-loss-prevention provider that allows, warns, audits or blocks capture based on policy. Sensitivity labels and supported screen-capture protection can add stronger controls for compatible applications and remote-desktop scenarios. See Microsoft’s Recall management documentation, Windows AI policy CSP and DLP provider API.
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Who should disable Recall?
- People handling tax files, medical records, customer data, employee records or payment information.
- Anyone who keeps credentials in Notepad, documents or spreadsheets.
- Users of shared, remotely administered or malware-prone PCs.
- People who cannot reliably remember to pause snapshotting.
- Anyone who does not need searchable visual history.
If you keep Recall, exclude browsers, password managers, banking and work applications where possible, use a password manager instead of plain-text credential files, enable device encryption and regularly review and delete snapshots. None of those steps proves that a secret was never captured.
Verdict
Recall is not an unstoppable recorder, and it does not save every screen by default. It is an opt-in feature that can be paused, disabled, erased and removed. The serious problem is narrower and more defensible: its automatic filter can miss sensitive information when labels, layouts or applications differ from the cases it recognizes. If a secret must not become part of a local screen archive, disable saving, delete existing snapshots and remove Recall rather than trusting the filter.
Quick Recap
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