Microsoft has put to rest concerns that its controversial Recall feature is being secretly installed on Windows PCs, reassuring users that it is an opt-in experience that can be fully uninstalled.

The feature, which creates screenshots of user activity on Copilot Plus PCs, has been mired in controversy since its announcement earlier this year. Security researchers had discovered that a pre-release version of the Recall database wasn't encrypted, prompting Microsoft to delay the feature and overhaul it with a focus on security.

Despite Recall not being available for testing on Copilot Plus PCs, rumors spread that Microsoft was secretly installing it on the latest version of Windows 11. However, Microsoft has clarified that the feature is not part of Windows 11, version 24H2, and that references to it in the operating system are related to making it easier for system admins to remove or disable it.

Windows watcher Albacore explained that Microsoft's removal of Recall over the summer led to bugs in how the feature appears and is controlled, causing confusion among users. Microsoft has reiterated that Recall is an opt-in experience and can be removed, with senior product manager Brandon LeBlanc stating that information shared in September remains true.

The clarification comes as Microsoft prepares to release Recall to Windows Insiders, promising to do so in October. The release will allow security researchers to test Microsoft's latest changes and evaluate the opt-in and uninstall processes. With just days left until November, Microsoft is cutting it fine to meet its deadline.