HDOct 16, 2024

Fuck Microsoft and Fuck Nadella.

As expected, the 24H2 update installed 'Recall', it can't be uninstalled.

To disable the Microcoft spyware, run this as admin

C:\Windows\System32>Dism /Online /Disable-Feature /Featurename:Recall

Can't vouch that all the people you share your screen, code, IP, private details, will disable theirs. consider NOT sharing anything ever again.

Show threadBrettOct 17, 2024

@hareldan

Just adding this in, it’s now a dependency for File Explorer itself. If you remove it it literally deletes the Windows 11 File Explorer.

Although most of us know this but something disabled like this will definitely be turned back on without warning in a future update.

Show threadHDOct 17, 2024

@bflipp I read about the file explorer thing previously, mine seems to still function correctly, but will surely be a factor in me tossing this laptop out if it does.

As for them re-enabling things, oh yes, after every update I go and uninstall and disable everything I can. Recall can't be disabled in the typical methods, but the check is also simple (for now at least)

Show threadBrettOct 17, 2024

@hareldan

You didn’t remove Recall. You just disabled it. I’m talking about deleting it. If you delete it File Explorer will break and/or kick you back to a cut down version similar to Windows 10’s explorer.

Show threadCassandrichOct 17, 2024
@bflipp @hareldan Don't threaten us with a good time.
Show threadCassandrichOct 17, 2024
@bflipp @hareldan (Could you point to any instructions on how to actually delete it?)
Show threadvriska, thief of light Oct 19, 2024
@dalias @bflipp @hareldan the functionality itself is disabled by default and currently only possible to enable on arm64 devices. as for removing it completely it's shipped as a Feature on Demand with the explicit goal of making it able to be uninstalled, the command in the OP is one of several ways to do so (i don't have a device on 24h2 to confirm but i don't know why it wouldn't also be in the Optional Features page in Settings if dism works)
manually messing with system files breaking things is unsurprising. presumably it's seeing that the feature is installed, trying to access related files based on this, and failing
Show threadvriska, thief of light Oct 19, 2024
@dalias @bflipp @hareldan oh, found the source on it being "impossible to uninstall", it seems like the actual issue is that if you manually rip out the files from the installation iso it produces a subtly broken installation. the installer probably shouldn't do that no but that seems to squarely be a bug in the installer and not anything to do with recall itself
Show threadCassandrichOct 19, 2024
@leo @bflipp @hareldan I'm guessing like every other stupid thing on Windows there's a fix to really delete it without breaking anything.
Show threadvriska, thief of light Oct 19, 2024
@dalias @bflipp @hareldan yes, I'm fairly sure that's just uninstalling the feature as described in the op? this is explicitly described in official materials as a way to uninstall it completely if you aren't happy with it just being disabled https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2024/09/27/update-on-recall-security-and-privacy-architecture/
Update on Recall security and privacy architecture

Overview As AI becomes more integral to Windows, Microsoft is doing more with AI on the edge with the power of a 40+ TOPS Neural Processing Unit on Copilot+ PCs. This enables lower latency, better battery life for AI intense tasks, use of AI

Windows Experience Blog
Show threadCassandrichOct 19, 2024
@leo @bflipp @hareldan OP's commands were to disable not uninstall.
Show threadvriska, thief of light 
@dalias @bflipp @hareldan oh, just add the /Remove flag to the end. note that on client editions of windows it can't reclaim the disk space bc doing a factory reset will need the data, i don't know if there's a way to override that but i don't think it matters that much?
Oct 19, 2024 at 2:58amWeb
Show threadvriska, thief of light Oct 19, 2024
@dalias @bflipp @hareldan you should also be able to do this via the GUI from Optional Features in Settings but I don't have a machine on 24H2 to verify