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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallWindows 11 Recall helps you find things you previously saw on a supported Copilot+ PC by searching periodic screen snapshots. It does not save continuous video or audio, and it does not begin saving snapshots until you opt in. Microsoft says snapshots and related search data are processed and stored on the device, with protections including Windows Hello authentication, encryption, TPM-protected keys, and a Virtualization-based Security (VBS) Enclave. Those safeguards reduce exposure; they are not a guarantee against every threat.
To limit what Recall keeps, you can turn saving off or pause it, filter apps and websites, leave sensitive-information filtering on, delete snapshots, and set storage and retention limits. If you export or share snapshots, treat those copies separately: resetting Recall does not delete files or copies already sent elsewhere.
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What Windows 11 Recall does
Recall is a searchable history of screen snapshots for eligible Copilot+ PCs. After you enable saving, it periodically captures what is on your screen, analyzes the snapshots on the device, and indexes them. You can search using words or descriptions of something you remember seeing, then browse the results or a timeline to locate the relevant moment.
For example, you might search for a presentation you viewed last week, a product page whose name you forgot, or a conversation containing a phrase you remember. Recall is intended to help recover something that was visible but never saved as a separate file. It is a convenience feature built around local screen history, not a replacement for document storage or a backup system.
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It is not a continuous screen recording: Microsoft says Recall does not record audio or save continuous video as snapshots. The practical privacy distinction is that periodic images can still preserve sensitive information that was visible at the time, even if you did not intend to save it as a document. A notification, message, account number, medical detail, or work conversation that appears briefly can become part of the searchable history if it is captured and the filters do not exclude it.
Availability and opt-in
Recall requires a Copilot+ PC. Whether it appears can depend on eligible hardware, Windows updates, regional availability, and rollout. A compatible processor alone does not guarantee that every Recall control is present immediately; feature availability can change as Microsoft updates Windows and expands or adjusts distribution.
On an unmanaged eligible PC, Recall may be available, but Microsoft says snapshots are not saved until the user opens Recall, authenticates, and chooses to enable saving. Seeing a Recall entry in Windows therefore does not mean a screen history is already being created. The opt-in step is important: saving begins only after the user authorizes it.
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A work- or school-managed computer may behave differently. Organization policy can control whether Recall is available, and Microsoft’s management documentation says it is disabled and removed by default on managed devices. Some commercial environments may require IT to deploy the optional component. If Recall is missing or its controls are unavailable on a managed PC, ask IT which policies apply rather than trying to work around them. Your organization may have separate rules for availability, retention, filtering, or export.
Does Microsoft see your Recall snapshots?
Microsoft describes Recall’s normal operation as local: snapshots and associated data are processed and stored on the PC, not shared with Microsoft or third parties. Microsoft Support says snapshots are not shared between different Windows users on the same device. In other words, the design is not a cloud gallery that automatically synchronizes every captured screen to your Microsoft account.
This is a description of the feature’s design, not a promise that information can never leave the PC. Data can leave Recall when you take an action that shares it. For example, copying snapshot content into another app or attaching a snapshot to feedback can send it outside Recall. A mail client, messaging service, cloud drive, support ticket, or other receiving application then has its own handling and retention practices.
Microsoft also notes that Windows diagnostic data may be sent according to the device’s privacy settings; that is distinct from Recall sharing snapshots as part of normal operation. Review the broader Windows diagnostic settings separately if your concern is what telemetry the operating system sends. Turning Recall saving off does not automatically change every other Windows privacy setting.
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Authentication and encryption
Microsoft documents Windows Hello authentication, including Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS), for access to Recall data. It says snapshots and related vector-database information are encrypted, and describes just-in-time decryption, keys protected through the TPM and tied to the user’s ESS identity, and key operations inside a VBS Enclave. Microsoft also cites Device Encryption or BitLocker as part of the protection picture.
These layers are designed to make the stored history harder to read without the authorized sign-in and to reduce exposure if someone obtains the storage. They are meaningful safeguards, but they should not be read as proof that data is invulnerable. They do not eliminate risks from a compromised account, an unlocked session, malware with sufficient access, or a snapshot you deliberately copy or share. Your everyday exposure also depends on what appears on screen and how much history you retain.
A short retention period and a smaller storage cap limit the amount of material available if the device is examined later. They do not protect a sensitive item that was captured and immediately copied elsewhere. Likewise, encryption protects stored Recall data; it does not make a screenshot harmless after it is pasted into an unencrypted document or sent through a messaging service.
Sensitive-information filtering
Recall’s sensitive-information filter is on by default. Microsoft says it uses on-device processing and the Microsoft Classification Engine to help avoid saving detected sensitive material, including items such as passwords, national identification numbers, and credit card numbers. The classification runs on the device and is intended to reduce the chance that obvious high-risk information enters the snapshot history.
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App, website, and private-browsing filters
You can exclude apps and websites from snapshots. Private browsing in supported browsers is filtered by default, but browser support and behavior can vary by version. Keep supported browsers current and verify the behavior on your own PC rather than assuming that every private window is treated identically.
A Recall filter is not a general way to hide your browsing from other parties. It does not stop a website, your internet provider, or an employer managing the device or network from knowing that a site was accessed. Filtering only changes what Recall attempts to save locally.
Microsoft also warns that filtering does not remove every indirect trace: embedded site content, or information about background tabs or browser history, may still appear. A page can contain material loaded from another service, and browser context can reveal that a site or tab was present even when the main page is filtered. Treat a filter as a reduction in exposure, not a perfect privacy boundary.
For remote desktop sessions, Microsoft says known clients are filtered; other clients may need to implement screen-capture protection or be added to the filter list manually. If you use a remote support tool, virtual desktop, or other program that displays confidential information, confirm whether that client is recognized. When in doubt, add the application to the filter list and pause saving before opening especially sensitive remote content.
How to limit or stop Recall snapshots
Turn saving off or pause it
- To stop future snapshots, open Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots and turn off saving. The precise interface can vary with the current Windows version.
- To stop saving temporarily, use Recall’s pause control. Pausing is useful when you are about to handle information you do not want in the snapshot history; check Recall to confirm its current saving status.
- If you use a managed PC and cannot change the setting, contact your organization’s IT team. Policy may determine whether Recall and its controls are available.
Turning saving off or pausing affects future capture; it is not the same as deleting snapshots already saved. If you want to remove existing history, use Recall’s deletion controls as well. Before a private meeting, financial transaction, medical appointment, or password change, pausing is often a simpler precaution than trying to identify and delete every resulting snapshot later.
When you resume saving, the feature can again capture whatever is visible. Make sure you have closed sensitive documents, hidden private notifications, and finished any confidential screen-sharing session before turning it back on.
Filter specific apps and websites
- Open the Recall settings and add apps or websites you do not want included to the filter lists.
- When a filtered app, website, or private browsing window is active, check Recall’s filter badge to verify that the filter is recognized.
- For remote desktop software or other tools that display sensitive content, do not assume every client is automatically protected. Add the app to the filter list where appropriate, and check with your organization if device policy applies.
Filtering narrows what Recall saves, but does not make screen history comprehensive-proof. Content embedded in a page and indirect browser information can still appear, so treat filtering as a reduction in exposure rather than a perfect boundary. Recheck filters after changing browsers, reinstalling an application, or using a different web address for the same service.
Delete snapshots and limit how long they remain
Recall lets you delete snapshots by time period, app, website, or individually. It also offers a maximum storage size and a retention period. Choose limits according to how much searchable history is worth keeping: a smaller cap or shorter retention leaves less local history available, while a broader history can make it easier to find older content.
There is no universally correct retention setting. Someone using Recall only to find recent work might choose a short period and modest cap. Someone who needs a longer visual history may accept more local exposure in exchange for convenience. The important point is to make the choice deliberately rather than leaving more history than you would be comfortable explaining to another person with access to the device.
Deleting snapshots removes them from Recall’s local history, but does not retract material already copied into another app, attached to feedback, exported, or retained by a third-party service. If you have shared a snapshot, deletion inside Recall is not a substitute for managing the copy where it was sent. Check cloud drives, messages, email, support tickets, and other destinations separately.
Exporting or resetting Recall
Export controls can provide a way to take Recall data out of its local history. Microsoft’s documentation describes exports covering the past 7 days, the past 30 days, or all snapshots, as well as ongoing export. Export functionality can vary by market or rollout, so check the current Recall settings on your PC to see what is available before relying on a particular option.
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Exporting changes the privacy calculation: a local-only history becomes a separate file or destination that may be backed up, indexed, synchronized, or accessed under different permissions. Export only when you have a clear purpose, and decide where the copy will live before authorizing it.
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Exports are encrypted and use a code shown once. Authorize an export only when you intend to create a separate copy, and protect the code as carefully as the exported data. Do not paste the code into an untrusted message or leave it visible in a shared workspace. If the code is lost or compromised, Microsoft’s guidance is to reset Recall.
Resetting does not delete exported files or copies that other apps and websites retain; locate and remove those separately if needed. Reset is therefore a way to reinitialize Recall and address a lost or compromised export code, not a universal erase command for every copy of every snapshot.
Enabled, paused, filtered, or off: which setting fits?
Keeping saving enabled provides the most convenient search experience and the largest searchable history, but it also retains the most local screen information. Pausing is useful for a temporary sensitive task and preserves existing snapshots. Turning saving off prevents new capture but leaves existing history until you delete it. Deleting history reduces what Recall can search but cannot undo copies that were exported or shared.
Filtering is a middle path: ordinary work can remain searchable while selected applications and sites are excluded. It requires maintenance and does not cover every indirect browser or embedded-page detail. A shorter retention period or smaller storage cap further limits exposure without eliminating the feature altogether.
These controls are not a ranking of “safe” and “unsafe” modes. They represent different tradeoffs between finding past content and retaining a record of what appeared on screen. Microsoft does not publish a quantified privacy-risk reduction for any setting, so base the choice on the sensitivity of your work, the people who can access the PC, and how much history you genuinely need.
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There is no single setting that fits everyone. A useful approach is to decide whether searchable screen history is worth the information it may preserve, then narrow capture and retention to match that decision.
- If you do not want screen history: leave saving off, then delete any snapshots that may already exist. This is the clearest choice when the privacy cost outweighs the convenience of finding past screen content.
- If you want Recall for ordinary work: keep sensitive-information filtering enabled, exclude apps and sites where confidential material commonly appears, and set a storage cap and retention period you are comfortable with.
- Before handling especially sensitive material: pause saving or turn it off, and verify the status in Recall. Automated filtering is not a reliable substitute for avoiding capture.
- Before exporting or sharing: consider whether a separate copy is necessary, secure the one-time code, and remember that Recall cannot erase a copy after it reaches another app or service.
- On an employer- or school-managed PC: ask IT how policy configures Recall and what controls are available to you. The organization’s defaults may override personal preferences.
- After changing your workflow: revisit filters and retention. A new browser, remote desktop client, messaging app, or financial service can display information in a way your previous exclusions did not cover.
Recall’s central trade-off is convenience versus the amount and duration of local screen history retained. Microsoft does not publish a quantified privacy-risk reduction for these settings, so choose based on the sensitivity of what you display and the history you are willing to keep.
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- Assuming the feature is recording before you opt in: availability of the Recall interface is not the same as enabled snapshot saving on an unmanaged PC.
- Confusing pause with deletion: pausing stops future capture; it does not remove earlier snapshots.
- Treating filters as perfect: private browsing and selected apps may be filtered while embedded content or browser context still appears.
- Relying entirely on sensitive-content detection: automated classification can miss material, so pause or turn off saving for information you cannot risk capturing.
- Forgetting exported copies: deleting or resetting Recall does not remove files, messages, feedback attachments, or other copies created outside Recall.
- Ignoring device management: a work or school policy may disable, remove, or control Recall and its settings.
Frequently asked privacy questions
Is Recall on by default?
Microsoft says saving snapshots is opt-in on unmanaged Copilot+ PCs. You must open Recall, authenticate, and choose to enable saving. Managed devices can follow organization policy instead.
Does Recall capture audio?
No. Microsoft says Recall does not record audio or save continuous video as snapshots. It periodically captures screen images after you enable saving.
Can another Windows user on my PC see my snapshots?
Microsoft Support says Recall snapshots and associated data are not shared between different Windows users on the same device. Access is protected through the account’s authentication and the documented encryption architecture.
How do I stop Recall immediately?
Use Recall’s pause control for a temporary stop, or go to Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots and turn off saving. Confirm the status before displaying sensitive information.
Will turning Recall off delete what it already saved?
No. Turning saving off affects future snapshots. Use Recall’s deletion controls to remove existing snapshots, then handle any exported or shared copies separately.
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Can I delete only certain snapshots?
Yes. Microsoft documents deletion by time period, app, website, or individual snapshot. You can also set a maximum storage size and retention period.
Can I export Recall data?
Where the feature is available, Microsoft documents exports for the past 7 days, the past 30 days, all snapshots, and ongoing export. Availability can vary by market or rollout, so check the current settings on your PC.
What if I lose the export code?
The export code is shown once. If it is lost or compromised, Microsoft’s guidance is to reset Recall. Resetting does not delete exported files or copies held by other apps and websites.
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Does filtering hide my browsing from my employer or internet provider?
No. Recall filtering only limits what is saved in its local snapshot history. Websites, internet providers, employers, and network administrators may still have their own records of access.
Should I buy a new PC to use Recall?
Recall requires an eligible Copilot+ PC, but buying new hardware is not itself a privacy measure. If you are considering a device, verify current Copilot+ eligibility, Windows support, regional availability, and the management policies that apply to your use case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Windows 11 Recall do?
It periodically saves screen snapshots after you opt in, analyzes them locally, and lets you search by remembered words or visual descriptions and browse a timeline. It does not continuously record video or audio.
Is Recall enabled automatically?
On unmanaged Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft says snapshot saving is opt-in. You must authenticate in Recall and choose to enable it. Managed computers can follow an organization’s policy instead.
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Microsoft describes normal Recall processing and storage as local and says snapshots are not shared with Microsoft or third parties as part of normal operation. Information can leave the device when you copy, export, attach, or otherwise share it.
How can I protect sensitive information?
Keep sensitive-information filtering enabled, add confidential apps and websites to the filter lists, and pause or turn off saving before displaying information you cannot risk capturing. Filters are helpful but not perfect.
How do I delete Recall history?
Recall provides deletion by time period, app, website, or individual snapshot. You can also set a storage cap and retention period. Deleting local history does not remove copies exported or shared elsewhere.
What happens when I reset Recall?
Reset can address a lost or compromised one-time export code, but it does not delete exported files or copies retained by other apps, websites, feedback systems, or cloud services.
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Recall is an opt-in, local snapshot-search feature—not continuous recording—but visible screen content can still become searchable history. Use pause or off before sensitive tasks, maintain app and site filters, keep sensitive-information filtering enabled, limit retention and storage, delete history you no longer need, and treat every export or share as a separate copy. On a managed computer, confirm the rules with IT.
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