Windows 10: Is Microsoft Taking Stealth Screenshots For 'Feedback' Purposes?

No, I don`t have this Folder in Pictures. I have only this, but without a Screenshoot, only one naked .XML File is there stored. C:\Users\{Username}\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsFeedback_{Guid}\LocalState

When I press Windowskey and print I get a "normal" Screenshot like in Windows 8. When I press WinKey and Shift and ? - Nothing! No Screen, no flashing.

 

I just thought of something - if you used DestroyWindowsSpying or whatever it was, then it probably stops the behaviour I'm seeing, which might be why you can't replicate.

I'd be interested to see what happens if Nus comes back and tries that keyboard shortcut a few times.

An old-school way to find the files generated would be to open an Admin-level command prompt in c:\users and try a DIR command to find them - eg.
Code: dir c:\users\capt*.png /s[/quote]

 

The same: Nothing!

 

So I started up another machine where I had deliberately taken screenshots before as part of Feedback, and it did have a Pictures\Feedback folder already. This machine was running an Insider build so it might have been ages ago.

But when I pushed Winkey-? the Feedback folder disappeared!

It's possible there has been a change to the Feedback app which changes where/how the pictures are stored.

I think it also means that the pictures in the OP's folder may well be wiped out by pressing this button! (I suggest copying the file and folder first somewhere else)

But I still think accidental pressing of this keyboard shortcut may be the original cause.

Also worth saying that my machines (perhaps temporarily) have feedback data collection enabled beyond the 'Basic' level.

 

I get ~/Pictures/Feedback/{GUID}/Capture001 also when pressing *Start + ? on 10240 with Send your device data to Microsoft set to Enhanced.

Well spotted *Smile

 

By pressing WinKey + Shift + / my screen flashes like it's taking a screenshot and the Feedback app opens, but I get no folder nor pic of it anywhere by manually searching for it in File Explorer or with a query there. Nor does the Command Prompt code return anything. I was looking at keyboard shortcuts the other day and it opened as well, but still no such folder or pic.

Waste of time IMO.

 

Thanks for confirming my theory! Hopefully the OP may be able to replicate too.

Sorry it didn't work for you. I think people will get different results depending on configuration and probably depending on how they upgraded, whether they were Insiders, etc.

I still think hitting that key by accident is the explanation for the OP's findings though.

 

just tested this on mine
winkey + shift + / and I get the folder and image mentioned in first post

I am running the release version (UK), not insider and have all feedback options set as default to send data

 

You don't have to open the Feedback program to provide feedback. During normal operation, the first few times you use a feature, Windows may popup a notification asking you about your experience using that feature. If you respond to it, it will collect information and probably a screenshot.

If you don't want to be bothered by these, go to Settings. Type Privacy in the search bar. There are tons of privacy settings in the list and you can granualarly control which ones are used.

To prevent Feedback, click on the Feedback & diagnostics menu item. Then change the 'Windows should ask for my feedback' to Never.

 

Just an aside, if you do that you'll not get any preview updates (if you are interested in that).

 

I don't want preview updates, however I didn't know that, thx.

 

Sorry for necroposting, but I noticed that the solution/cause for this happening was never posted. The cause for this is pressing WIN+F. This opens the feedback hub as well as creating a new screenshot in the pictures folder.

 

It was Win + ? at the time, as I think I mentioned earlier in the thread.

The change in keyboard shortcuts to Win + F was only made in a Windows version in June 2016, which was after this thread.
Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14367 for PC and Mobile - Windows Experience BlogWindows Experience Blog

 

This happend to me twice. It is very similar to the Win+F shortcut, but one picture is from downloading WoW. I was not there to push anything, and the format of the pictures is different from the Win + F function.

 

This happend to me twice. It is very similar to the Win+F shortcut, but one picture is from downloading WoW. I was not there to push anything, and the format of the pictures is different from the Win + F function.