Windows Recall is the Windows 11 feature that saves snapshots of your screen so you can search your own past work later. You type something like “the blue chart from last Tuesday”, and Recall finds the moment you saw it. It is handy, but it also records a lot, so many people want to know how private it is.
This guide explains what Windows Recall does, which PCs can run it, how your data is stored, and how to turn it on, limit it or turn it off completely.
What Is Windows Recall?
Windows Recall is an AI search tool for your own screen history. Every few seconds, while it is on, Windows takes a snapshot of what is on your display. An AI model on your PC then reads the text and images in each snapshot and builds a private index.
Later, you open Recall and search in plain words. For example, you can type “hotel booking email” or “red sofa photo”. Recall shows a timeline and the snapshots that match. As a result, you can jump back to a page or file you forgot to save.
Recall also includes Click to Do. It lets you act on what is in a snapshot, such as copying text, searching an image or opening the right app.
Which PCs Can Run Windows Recall?
Recall does not work on every Windows 11 computer. It needs fast AI hardware, because the snapshot analysis happens on your device, not in the cloud. According to Microsoft’s Recall documentation, the minimum requirements are:
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Device type | A PC that meets the Copilot+ PC and Secured core standard |
| NPU | 40 TOPS or faster |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM |
| Processor | 8 logical processors |
| Storage | 256 GB, with at least 50 GB free to turn Recall on |
| Sign in | Windows Hello Enhanced Sign in Security with face or fingerprint |
Recall also needs Device Encryption or BitLocker. In addition, Microsoft says snapshot saving pauses automatically when free space drops below 25 GB.
In practice, this means laptops with chips such as Snapdragon X and X2, Intel Core Ultra 200V and newer, or AMD Ryzen AI 300 and newer. If you want to know why the NPU matters so much, read our guide on NPU vs GPU. For a wider look at these machines, see what an AI PC is.
One note on names: in September 2026, Microsoft launched new Surface PCs without the “Copilot+ PC” badge. Then, at its 7 October event, Microsoft used the label again. Either way, the hardware bar for Recall is the same.
How Does Windows Recall Store Your Data?
This is the part most people care about. Here is how Microsoft says Windows Recall handles your snapshots:
- Off by default. Recall is opt in. You choose to turn it on during setup or later in Settings.
- Stored on your PC. Snapshots and the search index stay on your device. Microsoft says it cannot see them, and they are not shared with other users on the same PC.
- Locked behind Windows Hello. You must confirm it is you with your face or fingerprint before you open Recall.
- Encrypted. The snapshot store is encrypted, and the processing runs inside a protected area of Windows.
- Sensitive data filter. This is on by default and tries to skip snapshots that show passwords, ID numbers or card numbers.
Still, security researchers have raised concerns since Recall was first shown in 2024. In April 2026, researcher Alexander Hagenah showed that malware running under your account could read Recall data after it is decrypted. Microsoft said this does not break a security boundary. Some apps also block Recall on their own windows. For instance, Signal, Brave and AdGuard all added protection against it.
So the honest answer is this: Windows Recall is far safer than the first test version, but it still keeps a detailed record of your screen. Therefore, you should only turn it on if you are comfortable with that trade off.
How Much Storage Does Recall Use?
Recall sets aside space based on the size of your drive. You can lower it in Settings.
| Drive size | Default space for Recall | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| 256 GB | 25 GB | 10 GB |
| 512 GB | 75 GB | 50 GB, 25 GB |
| 1 TB or more | 150 GB | 100, 75, 50 or 25 GB |
When Recall reaches its limit, it deletes the oldest snapshots first. You can also set how long snapshots are kept.
How to Turn Windows Recall On
If your PC meets the requirements, follow these steps:
- Open Settings and go to Privacy & security.
- Select Recall & snapshots.
- Turn on Save snapshots.
- Confirm with Windows Hello when asked.
After that, open the Recall app from the Start menu. You can also press the Windows key and J together.
How to Limit What Recall Saves
You do not need to choose between “everything” and “nothing”. Instead, use the filters on the same Settings page:
- Filter apps: add apps like your banking app, password manager or chat app so Recall never saves them.
- Filter websites: add sites such as your email or bank. This works in supported browsers.
- Private browsing: Recall does not save private windows in supported browsers.
- Pause: click the Recall icon in the system tray and choose Pause until tomorrow.
- Delete: remove snapshots from the past hour, 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days, or delete them all.
These controls are a good middle ground. In addition, they keep the useful search while cutting the riskiest content.
How to Turn Off Windows Recall
To stop Recall from saving anything:
- Go to Settings, then Privacy & security, then Recall & snapshots.
- Turn off Save snapshots.
- Select Delete snapshots to clear what it already saved.
To remove the feature completely, press the Windows key and R, type optionalfeatures, and press Enter. Then uncheck Recall and restart your PC. On Windows 11 Pro, you can also use Group Policy under Windows Components, then Windows AI.
Big Windows updates can change these settings, so check the Recall page after each one.
Should You Use Windows Recall?
Windows Recall makes sense if you juggle many tabs and files and often lose track of things. Students, writers and analysts may find it a real time saver.
On the other hand, skip it if you share your PC, handle client data, or simply prefer that nothing records your screen. If privacy is your main worry, our guide on keeping your chats out of AI training covers similar steps for AI apps.
If you are shopping for a laptop that can run Recall, the chip matters most. Our review of the Snapdragon X2 Elite laptop explains one popular option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Windows Recall on by default?
No. Windows Recall is off until you turn it on, and it needs Windows Hello sign in to open.
Does Microsoft see my Recall snapshots?
Microsoft says no. Snapshots are stored and processed on your PC and are not sent to Microsoft.
Can I use Windows Recall on an older PC?
No. Recall needs a 40 TOPS NPU, 16 GB of RAM and other hardware that most PCs from before 2024 do not have.
Which languages does Recall support?
Microsoft says Recall works best in English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Japanese and Spanish.