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Comment by AlexandrB | Hacker News Reader

All I can say is LOL. Off by default for Windows 11 24H2, on by default in Windows 11 25H2, impossible to disable in Windows 11 26H2 (except in enterprise versions of course). Microsoft's history with respecting the user's wishes speaks for itself.

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Not to mention all the dark pattern lying nag dialogs that will trick you into turning it on, or just wear you down.

I saw a yellow dot alert next to the restart/shutdown button on my Windows machine the other day. Those historically indicate a request to restart to apply critical updates. But no, it was a message recommending I sign into a Microsoft account.

That was the last straw for me when it comes to Windows BS---designs that only serve Microsoft, and disrespects all the other times I've said no to their crap. I switched everything over to Linux the next day.

I'm a little more optimistic. Cortana was mandatory at first. Not easy for the average user to disable. Then Cortana was optional. Easy to turn off and uninstall. Then Cortana was just gone. Floated off to the big orbital in the sky.

If Recall continues to inspire grumbling and receives very little praise, I could see it unceremoniously removed in a Windows 12 26H2 Feature Update.

Given their eagerness, I'd guess:

> on by default in Windows 11 25H1, impossible to disable in Windows 11 25H2

Their GA branch is now the annual channel, not the semiannual, so the next release would be "on by default in 25H2, impossible to disable in 26H2, not available in 27H2".

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