Sign has come out in opposition to Home windows 11’s Recall function by actively working to forestall the AI software from screenshotting Sign Desktop conversations. The safe messaging service has introduced a brand new “Display screen safety” setting for its Home windows 11 desktop software, enabled by default, particularly to protect person chats from Recall’s pervasive monitoring.

Home windows Recall was (nonetheless is) controversial when it was first introduced again in Might 2024. Following a right away and intense backlash from safety specialists and the general public over privateness implications, Microsoft delayed its June 2024 launch, sending the function again for revisions which included making it opt-in and requiring Home windows Good day. Recall finally started testing with Home windows Insiders in November 2024 and began a gradual public rollout to Copilot+ PCs in April 2025.

Regardless of these adjustments, Sign believes the function stays a menace, stating:

Though Microsoft made a number of changes over the previous twelve months in response to important suggestions, the revamped model of Recall nonetheless locations any content material that’s displayed inside privacy-preserving apps like Sign in danger. Consequently, we’re enabling an additional layer of safety by default on Home windows 11 so as to assist keep the safety of Sign Desktop on that platform although it introduces some usability trade-offs. Microsoft has merely given us no different possibility.

To attain this safety, Sign Desktop is now using a Digital Rights Administration (DRM) flag on its software window. Sign defined the technical method, referencing Microsoft’s personal documentation:

Based on Microsoft’s official developer documentation, setting the proper Digital Rights Administration (DRM) flag on the applying window will be sure that ‘content material gained’t present up in Recall or every other screenshot software.’ In order that’s precisely what Sign Desktop is now doing on Home windows 11 by default.

This methodology successfully makes Sign chats seem as a black display to Recall, and certainly, to any screenshot try, together with guide ones by the person. Whereas acknowledging this might be irritating and may have an effect on some accessibility instruments, Sign offers an choice to disable “Display screen safety,” albeit with a warning.

Sign’s workforce criticized Microsoft for not offering higher instruments for builders, saying, “Microsoft has launched Recall with out granular settings for app builders that may allow Sign to simply shield privateness, which is a obvious omission that limits our selections.” Sign additional remarked that, “Apps like Sign shouldn’t should implement ‘one bizarre trick’ so as to keep the privateness and integrity of their providers with out correct developer instruments.”