Windows Recall is an opt-in Windows 11 feature for Copilot+ PCs that saves encrypted snapshots of your screen every few seconds so you can later search for anything you have seen, in plain language. It is off until you turn it on, keeps everything on the device, and can be paused, filtered, reset or removed entirely.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Which PCs get Recall? | Copilot+ PCs with a 40+ TOPS NPU, 16 GB RAM and 256 GB storage |
| Is it on by default? | No. Saving snapshots is off until you opt in |
| Where are snapshots stored? | Encrypted on the local drive; not sent to Microsoft |
| Who can open it? | Only the signed-in user, after Windows Hello authentication |
| How do I turn it off? | Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots |
| How do I remove it completely? | Turn Windows features on or off > clear Recall |
What is Windows Recall?
Windows Recall is a searchable timeline of your own PC activity. It periodically captures what is on screen, recognises text and images locally, and lets you search with clues such as "the blue chart in last week's sales deck". You can scroll back through a timeline and reopen the app, document or web page you were looking at.
Recall became generally available on Copilot+ PCs in April 2025 after a long delay caused by privacy criticism of the original 2024 design. It works alongside Click to Do, which lets you act on text or images in a snapshot, for example copying a table or searching for a highlighted phrase.
Recall is separate from the Copilot chat app. Copilot runs in the cloud on any Windows 11 PC; Recall runs on the PC's own neural processor. Our guide to using or turning off Copilot in Windows 11 covers the chat assistant.
Which PCs can run Recall?
Recall only runs on Copilot+ PCs: Windows 11 devices with a neural processing unit (NPU) rated at 40 TOPS or more, at least 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, from Qualcomm, Intel or AMD. The PC also needs Device Encryption or BitLocker, and Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security with a biometric sign-in.
Microsoft's Recall support article also requires at least 50 GB of free space to enable it, and snapshots pause automatically when free space drops below 25 GB. Standard Windows 11 PCs without a qualifying NPU do not get Recall, regardless of edition or licence.
Cause and effect: because Recall depends on Device Encryption or BitLocker, turning off drive encryption to "speed up" a laptop also disables Recall. On Pro, encryption is handled by BitLocker; our guide to turning on BitLocker in Windows 11 Pro explains the setup and recovery key.
Is Windows Recall safe for privacy?
Microsoft redesigned Recall so that snapshots stay on the device, are encrypted, and can only be decrypted after Windows Hello confirms it is you. Processing happens in a virtualisation-based security (VBS) enclave, encryption keys are protected by the TPM, and sensitive-information filtering for passwords and card numbers is on by default.
- Local only: snapshots are not shared with Microsoft, third parties or other Windows users on the same PC.
- Authentication: Windows Hello is required each time Recall opens or its settings change.
- Isolation: Microsoft's Recall security architecture post says data is processed in a VBS enclave isolated from the kernel and administrator accounts.
- Filtering: you can exclude specific apps and websites, and private browsing is filtered in supported browsers.
The residual risk is what is on screen while Recall is recording. Anyone who can unlock your Windows account with your biometrics or PIN can, in principle, search what you have viewed, and sensitive-information filtering does not catch every kind of confidential content.
How do I turn Recall on or off?
Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots and switch Save snapshots on or off. You can also accept or decline the prompt the first time you open Recall. Turning snapshots off stops new captures but keeps Recall installed, so you can switch it back on later without reinstalling anything.
- Open Settings > Privacy & security.
- Select Recall & snapshots.
- Switch Save snapshots to Off, and confirm with Windows Hello if asked.
For a short break, select the Recall icon in the system tray and choose Pause until tomorrow; snapshots resume at midnight. Choose Resume snapshots to restart earlier.
How do I completely remove Recall from Windows 11?
Search for Turn Windows features on or off from the taskbar, clear the Recall check box, select OK and restart. This uninstalls the Recall component and deletes any saved snapshots. To bring it back, repeat the steps, tick Recall and restart again. Removal is available on every Copilot+ PC.
What we commonly see: people disable snapshots and assume the old ones are gone. They are not, until you delete them or reset Recall. If you want a clean slate, reset first, then decide whether to remove the feature.
How do I delete Recall snapshots?
To delete everything, open Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots > Advanced settings and select Reset Recall, then confirm with Windows Hello. For selective clean-up, search Recall, select the … menu on a result and choose Delete, or Delete all to remove every snapshot from that app or website.
Snapshots you previously exported to a folder are not removed by a reset, so delete those separately. In the European Economic Area, a reset also generates a new Recall export code.
How can I stop Recall capturing certain apps or websites?
Open Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots and add apps or websites to the filter list. Recall then skips them entirely. Website filtering works in Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera and Google Chrome, and private browsing windows are filtered in supported browsers. Sensitive-information filtering is on by default.
Sensible candidates for the filter list include your password manager, banking site, health portals, HR systems and any remote desktop client used for client work. Apps can also exclude their own windows by using Windows screen-capture protection, which many password managers already do.
Should you turn Recall on?
Turn Recall on if you juggle many documents, tabs and apps and often lose track of where you saw something, and your PC is used only by you. Leave it off on shared PCs, devices that handle client or patient data, or if you are uncomfortable with any record of on-screen activity existing, even encrypted and local.
| Good fit | Poor fit |
|---|---|
| Researchers, writers and analysts working across many sources | PCs shared by several people on one Windows account |
| Single-user laptops with Windows Hello face or fingerprint sign-in | Devices handling regulated data without an IT policy on Recall |
| People happy to maintain an app and website filter list | Anyone who will not review what gets captured |
A middle path works well: enable Recall, add sensitive apps and sites to the filter list straight away, cap the storage, and review the timeline after a week. If it is not saving you time by then, reset it and remove the feature.
How do businesses control Recall on Windows 11 Pro?
On Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise and Education, administrators use the Allow Recall to be enabled and Turn off saving snapshots for use with Recall policies under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows AI. Recall is removed by default on managed work or school devices until IT allows it.
Microsoft's WindowsAI Policy CSP documents both settings: disabling AllowRecallEnablement removes Recall's components and deletes snapshots after a restart, while DisableAIDataAnalysis stops snapshot saving. Administrators can set storage and retention limits but cannot switch snapshots on for a user; each person must opt in.
Advanced nuance: Home edition has no Group Policy Editor, so a small office running Copilot+ PCs on Home relies on each user's own choice. Moving those devices to Pro with a Windows 11 Pro key or a Home to Pro upgrade lets one administrator enforce the same Recall setting everywhere. Our Windows 11 Pro vs Home comparison lists the other management features involved.
Frequently asked questions
Does Recall send my screenshots to Microsoft?
No. According to Microsoft, Recall snapshots and the index built from them are stored and encrypted on your PC's local drive and are not shared with Microsoft, third parties or other users of the same device. Text recognition also happens locally, which is why Recall needs a Copilot+ PC with a powerful NPU.
Can I get Recall on a normal Windows 11 PC?
No. Recall requires a Copilot+ PC with an NPU of at least 40 TOPS, 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, plus encryption and Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security. Upgrading Windows edition or licence does not add Recall to older hardware; it is tied to the processor.
How much storage does Recall use?
Recall needs at least 50 GB free to switch on and pauses saving when free space falls below 25 GB. You can cap the storage it uses in Recall settings, and older snapshots are deleted once the limit or retention period is reached. Administrators can set maximum storage and retention by policy.
Is Recall on by default on Copilot+ PCs?
The Recall component is present on unmanaged Copilot+ PCs, but saving snapshots is off until you opt in through Settings or the first-run prompt. On work or school PCs managed by an organisation, Recall is removed by default until an administrator allows it.
Can someone else on my PC see my Recall history?
Not through Recall itself. Each user's snapshots are encrypted and tied to their own Windows Hello identity, so other accounts on the same PC cannot open them. Anyone who knows your PIN or can use your biometrics could, so keep your Windows sign-in private and lock the PC when away.
Related guides
- Copilot in Windows 11: use it or turn it off
- Turn on BitLocker in Windows 11 Pro
- Windows 11 Pro vs Home
- Is Microsoft Defender enough?
Links in this guide
| Link | Type | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Copilot in Windows 11 | Internal | How the separate Copilot app works |
| Retrace your steps with Recall | External | Microsoft's requirements, settings and removal steps |
| Turn on BitLocker | Internal | Encryption Recall depends on |
| Recall security and privacy architecture | External | Microsoft's explanation of encryption and VBS enclaves |
| WindowsAI Policy CSP | External | Official Recall policy names and behaviour |
| Windows 11 Pro key | Internal | Pro adds Recall policy control |
| Home to Pro upgrade | Internal | Move Copilot+ PCs to Pro without reinstalling |
| Windows 11 Pro vs Home | Internal | Other management features in Pro |
| Defender vs paid antivirus | Internal | Broader PC security choices |