Signal's New Feature Blocks Windows AI Screenshot Feature

Signal Messenger has taken a bold stand against Microsoft’s controversial new AI feature, Recall, by blocking Windows 11 from capturing screenshots of its desktop app by default.

The move comes amid growing outrage over Recall’s capability to silently record user activity every few seconds, storing screenshots and indexing data—including sensitive conversations—without user consent.

Despite Microsoft’s attempts to address backlash by making Recall opt-in and encrypting stored data, Signal argues these changes fall short.

“Recall still places content from privacy-preserving apps like Signal at risk. We are enabling an extra layer of protection by default on Windows 11 in order to help maintain the security of Signal Desktop on that platform even though it introduces some usability trade-offs. Microsoft has simply given us no other option,” Signal said in a blog post.

According to the company, with no API from Microsoft to protect app content from Recall, Signal was forced to repurpose a Digital Rights Management (DRM) tool meant for copyrighted material to block screenshots.

The workaround is effective but limited—it only protects users who keep Signal’s default settings enabled.

Signal criticised Microsoft for not providing developers with the tools to defend user privacy and warned that Recall still indexes private data like emails, medical info, and even payment cards.

Last month, Microsoft finally launched the controversial Windows Recall feature to the public.

Available exclusively on Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11, Recall is now opt-in rather than opt-out, and users can choose to remove it entirely.