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There is no single Windows Copilot privacy switch. The personal Copilot app, its experimental PC insights feature, and Windows 11 Recall have separate data controls. First identify which one you use—and whether you signed in with a personal or work/school account—then change the relevant settings.
Which Copilot feature are you managing?
“Windows Copilot” can refer to several different features. Microsoft’s privacy guidance for personal Copilot accounts does not cover work or school accounts managed through Microsoft Entra ID, or Microsoft 365 Copilot. Those products have separate policies and documentation. The controls you see can also depend on your app version, region, Windows release, and organization policy.
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| Feature | What may be in scope | How access is controlled | Storage or processing described by Microsoft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Copilot app | Chats and account activity, saved memories, personalization choices, web search, and—if enabled—imported Edge data. | App and account settings, including memory, shared experiences, web search, ad personalization, and browser-data import. | See Microsoft’s personal Copilot privacy controls for the applicable account and app version; these details should not be generalized to work or school Copilot. |
| PC insights in Copilot on Windows | Information about the device, system, or files relevant to a question. | Permission prompts; choose access for one session or ongoing access, and revoke it in settings. | Microsoft says the feature does not access work email, Teams chats, calendars, organizational documents, or other organizational data. See PC insights permissions and use. |
| Recall | Periodic screenshots (called snapshots) and related contextual information about what appeared on the PC. | Recall’s Windows privacy settings; the feature is opt-in and can be paused, filtered, cleared, or removed. | Microsoft says snapshots and associated data are processed and stored locally, encrypted, and not shared with Microsoft or third parties. These are Microsoft’s design claims, not an independent audit. See Recall privacy and control. |
Limit data in the personal Copilot app
Microsoft’s updated personal-app guidance, dated August 18, 2026, applies to the web, desktop, and mobile apps, subject to account and app-version availability. The labels and layout may differ in your installation.
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- Open the personal Copilot app and go to Settings > Personalization.
- Review the controls available for memory, shared experiences, web search, and personalized advertising.
- Manage or delete saved memories from that area if you do not want Copilot to retain them.
Deleting a saved memory is distinct from deleting a chat. Remove individual conversations from the chat list; use Microsoft’s activity-history controls for broader conversation history. The applicable FAQ says conversation activity is stored for 18 months by default, but that figure belongs to the FAQ’s product and account scope and should not be assumed to apply to every Copilot offering. See Microsoft’s Copilot privacy FAQ.
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Check Edge browser-data import
Copilot may offer to import Edge cookies, browsing history, payment information, passwords, and autofill data. Microsoft says this import feature is currently available to personal accounts based in the United States. In the newer app guidance, check Settings > Web browsing; the FAQ describes an applicable Browsing settings > Sync and Import path. Turn off browser-data import or sync if you do not want that information brought into Copilot. Availability and labels can vary by region and version, so check the controls actually shown in your account.
Control PC insights permissions
PC insights is an experimental feature that can answer questions about a device, its system, and relevant files. Microsoft says it asks before accessing relevant information. It is gradually rolling out, so it may not appear for everyone.
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- At a permission prompt, decline access if the question does not require PC information.
- If you do want to use the feature, choose permission for the current session rather than ongoing permission when that is offered.
- To change your choice later, open Copilot settings and revoke the permission.
Microsoft’s description of organizational-data exclusions is specific to PC insights; do not treat it as a general guarantee about every Copilot product or account.
Turn off or limit Recall snapshots
Recall is a separate Windows 11 preview feature for Copilot+ PCs. When enabled, it saves periodic screenshots and contextual information so you can search what appeared on your PC. Microsoft says it does not record audio or save continuous video. Access to Recall is protected with Windows Hello authentication.
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Choose whether Recall saves snapshots
- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots.
- Leave Save snapshots off if you do not want Recall to capture them. You can also pause Recall, set retention and storage-space limits, and delete saved snapshots in this area.
- If you want to remove Recall rather than merely stop snapshots, use Turn Windows features on or off. Managed-device policies may restrict or change the choices available.
Use app and website filters carefully
Recall can filter specific apps and sites. Microsoft says website filtering applies to foreground content in supported browsers; it does not hide your site access from websites, internet service providers, organizations, or other parties. Microsoft also says sensitive-information filtering is enabled by default, but that is not a guarantee that every sensitive item will be detected. Details are in Microsoft’s Recall filtering guidance and how Recall works with snapshots.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Review Windows diagnostic-data settings separately
Changing Copilot settings does not turn off Windows diagnostics as a whole. Microsoft’s FAQ distinguishes required diagnostic data from optional diagnostic data and directs users to Windows’ own controls. To review those options, open Settings > Privacy & security > Diagnostics & feedback. The label may appear as Privacy in older Windows guidance; use the options available in your installed release.
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What these controls do—and do not—cover
- Personal Copilot app settings govern app and account features such as saved memory, chat history, personalization, and Edge-data import.
- PC insights permission governs whether that feature can access relevant PC information for a question.
- Recall settings govern local snapshots, filters, retention, and deletion for Recall.
- Windows diagnostic-data choices are separate from all three Copilot control paths.
For work or school accounts, follow the policies and controls provided by your organization and the documentation for its Microsoft 365 Copilot or Entra-managed services. Personal-account settings are not a substitute.
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