Windows 11 users stuck with Recall as Remote Desktop app goes generic

If you thought you could slip away from Microsoft’s all-seeing Recall feature in Windows 11, I’ve got some news that might make you reconsider your escape plans. And while we’re on the topic of Microsoft’s latest antics, let’s talk about how they’ve decided to give their Remote Desktop app a makeover that’s as exciting as a soggy sandwich.

So, here’s the deal: Windows 11 is set to get a big update later this year, and among the changes, there was a glimmer of hope (or maybe it was a glitch) that users might be able to uninstall Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature. The idea of deleting it had some people ready to break out the confetti. But hold that thought, because Microsoft has now confirmed that option isn’t happening. Nope, not even close.

Brandon LeBlanc, Microsoft’s senior product manager, dashed all hopes by clarifying to The Verge that the uninstall option was just an error in a preview build of Windows 11 24H2. In other words, it was a tease, and the real deal is that Recall isn’t going anywhere.

What’s Recall, you ask? Imagine an AI-powered feature that takes regular screenshots of your activities, like a digital Big Brother keeping tabs on everything you do, all in the name of improving your search experience. Sounds fun, right? Well, not really. Since its announcement, Recall has caused a stir, and after initially pulling it from testing, Microsoft is ready to bring it back in October. Only Copilot+ PCs will have the privilege (if you can call it that) of running Recall, but I won’t be surprised if it finds its way onto more devices down the line.

While Windows 11 users are grappling with the inescapable Recall, Microsoft has also decided to mess with something else: the name of its Remote Desktop app. If you’re someone who hops between different operating systems and relies on this app, you might want to sit down for this one. Microsoft has renamed the Remote Desktop app on non-Windows operating systems to… wait for it… “Windows App.” Yes, that’s right, “Windows App.”

This name change, spotted by Neowin, has sparked a wave of disappointment (and a little bit of outrage) in the Windows community. After all, “Remote Desktop” was at least descriptive. Now, we’re stuck with a name so bland that it could only have been conceived in the dullest of corporate boardrooms.

To be fair, the new name does exactly what it says on the tin — it’s an app that lets you use Windows. But that’s about as exciting as renaming ice cream to “cold dessert.” The change doesn’t affect the built-in Remote Desktop app on Windows itself, but if you’re using the app on a Mac, Linux, or any other non-Windows OS, brace yourself for the most uninspired app name ever.