Windows Recall saves a snapshot of your active screen every few seconds and whenever the window content changes, so you can search back through what you've seen with a timeline and plain-language search. It's off by default: you have to opt in, and as of October 2026 it only runs on a Copilot+ PC or Windows 11 AI+ PC that meets the Secured-core standard.
The catch most people miss: browser filtering isn't equal
Recall lets you filter out apps and websites so they never get saved. But how well that works depends on your browser. As of October 2026, Microsoft lists Edge, Firefox, Opera and Chrome as filtering both the specific websites you name and private browsing. Other Chromium-based browsers, version 124 or later, only filter private browsing. They don't filter specific websites at all.
So if you use a less common Chromium browser and add your bank to the filter list, Recall can still capture it there. Switch to one of the four named browsers for anything sensitive, or browse privately.
| Browser | Filters sites you name | Filters private browsing |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Edge | Yes | Yes |
| Firefox | Yes | Yes |
| Opera | Yes | Yes |
| Google Chrome | Yes | Yes |
| Other Chromium browsers, 124 or later | No | Yes |
There's also a sensitive information filter, on by default, which skips snapshots when Recall detects things like passwords and credit card numbers. The other catch: Recall is optimised for English, Chinese (simplified), French, German, Japanese and Spanish, so search in other languages may not be as sharp.
What your PC needs
Microsoft's minimum requirements, as of October 2026:
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| PC | Copilot+ PC or Windows 11 AI+ PC meeting the Secured-core standard |
| NPU | 40 TOPS |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM |
| Storage | 256 GB, with at least 50 GB free to turn Recall on |
| Low space | Saving pauses when free space drops under 25 GB |
| Encryption | Device Encryption or BitLocker |
| Sign-in | Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security with at least one biometric option |
If you're not sure whether your laptop qualifies, my explainer on what makes a Copilot+ PC covers the hardware side.
Where your snapshots go
Snapshots and the information Recall pulls from them are encrypted on your local drive. Microsoft says they aren't shared with Microsoft or third parties, or with other Windows users on the same PC. Every time you open Recall or change its settings, Windows Hello asks you to confirm it's you, with your face, fingerprint or PIN. The search index is encrypted too, and the text recognition runs locally on the PC.
One exception worth knowing: if you send feedback from inside Recall, that sends data to Microsoft, including any screenshots you attach.
How to turn it on and set it up
- Go to Settings, Privacy and security, then Recall and snapshots.
- Turn Save snapshots on, or accept the prompt the first time you open Recall, and confirm with Windows Hello.
- On the same page, add the apps and websites you never want saved.
- Open Recall with the Windows key plus J, from Start and All Apps, or from the taskbar icon.
Search shows text matches and visual matches, each labelled as a close match or a related match. Pick a result and the snapshot opens with Click to Do running on top, so you can copy text or open an image in another app. In many cases Recall can jump you back into the webpage, presentation or app you had open.
Pause, delete, reset or remove
This is where you stay in control, and each option does something different:
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- Pause: click the Recall icon in the system tray and choose Pause until tomorrow. It restarts on its own at 12:00 AM. The icon gets a slash through it while paused, and resuming early needs Windows Hello.
- Delete one snapshot: open its options from the three dots and choose Delete, or Copy if you want it on your clipboard.
- Delete everything from one app or site: from the same options, choose Delete all to remove every snapshot containing it. Recall tells you how many first.
- Reset: Settings, Privacy and security, Recall and snapshots, Advanced settings, then Reset Recall. This deletes all snapshots and resets your settings, but snapshots you've exported to a folder aren't deleted.
- Remove: type Turn Windows features on or off in the taskbar search, untick Recall and restart. Any saved snapshots are deleted when it's removed.
On a work or school laptop
On managed devices, Recall is removed by default until IT allows it. Even then, an IT admin can't switch on saving snapshots for you. Each person who signs in makes that choice. What admins can do is remove or disable Recall, cap how much disk space it uses and how long snapshots are kept, and set filter lists. You can add your own apps and sites on top of theirs, though some options may be greyed out.
My verdict
I'd turn Recall on if you jump between lots of tabs, documents and calls and keep losing track of where you saw something, and you're on one of the four browsers that filter the sites you name. Set your filter list on day one, not after a month of snapshots. I'd skip it if you share a laptop with clients on screen, work in a language outside the six it's optimised for, or simply don't want a searchable record of everything. And if it's Copilot itself you'd rather not see, here's how to turn off Copilot as a separate job.
Frequently asked questions
Is Windows Recall on by default?
No. You have to opt in under Settings, Privacy and security, Recall and snapshots, or accept the prompt the first time you open Recall. On managed work or school devices it's removed by default until IT allows it.
Does Windows Recall send my screenshots to Microsoft?
Microsoft says snapshots and related data are encrypted on your local drive and aren't shared with Microsoft or third parties. Sending feedback from Recall is the exception, because it sends data, including attached screenshots.
How much storage does Windows Recall need?
As of October 2026 you need a 256 GB drive with at least 50 GB free to turn it on, and saving pauses when free space drops under 25 GB.
Can my employer turn on Recall without me knowing?
No. Microsoft says an IT admin can't turn on saving snapshots on their own. Each user decides, though admins can disable Recall and set limits.
How do I remove Windows Recall completely?
Type Turn Windows features on or off in the taskbar search, untick Recall and restart your PC. Saved snapshots are deleted when it's removed.
