Signal, the calling and messaging app, has announced it will prevent Windows computers from capturing screenshots of conversations on its platform.
The decision follows Microsoft’s re-release of the controversial Recall capability in Windows 11, relaunched via the Windows Preview Channel in April 2025.
The company stated that this new screen security feature will be enabled by default in Windows 11. Signal explained the move is designed to protect users’ privacy from Microsoft’s Recall tool, originally introduced in May 2024.
The technology works similarly to Netflix’s Digital Rights Management (DRM) system, which prevents viewers from easily capturing screenshots of shows on smartphones and desktops.
Developer Joshua Lund emphasised that operating system manufacturers like Microsoft “need to ensure that developers of apps like Signal always have the necessary tools and options at their disposal to reject granting OS-level AI systems access to any sensitive information within their apps.”
Lund noted that while Microsoft already excludes private or incognito browser activity by default, Copilot+ PC users can manually exclude specific apps in the settings — provided they know how to do so.
Despite the limitations, Lund added, “Signal is using the tools that are available to us, even though we recognise there are legitimate cases where someone might need to take a screenshot.” The measure reflects Signal’s ongoing commitment to prioritising user privacy while acknowledging practical use cases.
The company reiterated its call for operating systems to offer developers clearer, more robust controls over sensitive in-app data.
Recall Privacy Debate
Microsoft’s Recall feature, initially launched in May 2024 after multiple delays, continuously captures screenshots of a user’s activity on their Windows computer every few seconds. These snapshots are indexed and searchable, allowing users to look back through their digital history.
Though Recall now operates as an opt-in feature with options to pause or suspend activity tracking at any time, Signal pointed out that it still archives potentially sensitive content — including private messages — unless apps actively block screen capture.
Microsoft has yet to provide an API allowing developers to formally opt out their apps’ content from being captured by Recall’s AI-powered archive.
Signal’s decision to proactively implement screen security illustrates both the platform’s emphasis on protecting user conversations and the growing tensions surrounding AI-powered monitoring features baked into modern operating systems.
