The quickest way to stop Windows Recall and erase its saved history is to open Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots, turn Save snapshots off, expand Delete snapshots, and select Delete all. Turning off snapshot saving prevents new captures, but it does not delete snapshots already stored on the PC. Do both if you want Recall to stop collecting activity and remove its existing history.
Recall is a preview feature for compatible Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11. Saving snapshots is off by default and each Windows user must choose to enable it. Recall processes snapshots on the device and stores them locally; Microsoft says it does not share snapshots or associated data with Microsoft, third parties, or other Windows users on the same PC. Windows asks you to confirm your identity with Windows Hello before you access Recall or change its settings.
Choose the right Recall privacy control
Several controls have similar names but different results. Choose the option that matches your aim.
| Action | What it does | Deletes existing snapshots? |
|---|---|---|
| Pause | Temporarily stops new snapshots until 12:00 AM. | No |
| Turn off Save snapshots | Stops new snapshots until you turn saving on again. | No |
| Delete snapshots | Erases all snapshots or snapshots from a chosen time range. | Yes |
| Reset Recall | Deletes all snapshots and resets Recall settings. | Yes |
| Remove Recall | Removes the optional Windows feature. | Yes |
Pause is useful before a confidential meeting or another short activity. Turning off Save snapshots is the better choice when you do not want future capture but may use Recall again later. Neither option removes saved history.
Deleting snapshots affects existing data but does not necessarily stop future capture. If Save snapshots remains on, Recall can begin saving new snapshots after deletion. Reset Recall is more comprehensive: it deletes all snapshots, resets Recall settings, and takes you through setup again the next time you open Recall or enable snapshot saving.
Removing Recall goes furthest. It removes the optional Windows component, deletes snapshots previously saved by Recall, and requires a restart.
Stop capture and delete existing snapshots
To stop Recall from saving new snapshots:
- Open Settings.
- Select Privacy & security.
- Select Recall & snapshots.
- Turn Save snapshots off.
- Confirm the change with Windows Hello if prompted.
The Recall icon is absent from the system tray when Save snapshots is off. Recall remains installed, and you can return to this page to turn saving on again.
Pause Recall until tomorrow
For a temporary break, select the Recall icon in the system tray and choose Pause until tomorrow. Snapshots automatically resume at 12:00 AM unless you resume them sooner. A slash through the tray icon indicates that snapshot saving is paused.
Because pausing resumes automatically, it is not a permanent privacy setting. Turn off Save snapshots instead if you want capture to remain off indefinitely.
Delete all or recent snapshots
- Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots.
- Expand Delete snapshots.
- Select Delete all to erase the complete stored history.
- Alternatively, choose a time range and select Delete snapshots. The available ranges are the past hour, 24 hours, seven days, or 30 days.
- Confirm the change with Windows Hello if prompted.
You can also delete an individual item in Recall. In the relevant search result or snapshot, select the More options button, then choose Delete snapshot. If the result is from an app or website you did not filter, Recall can also offer to delete all saved snapshots containing that app or website.
Reset Recall completely
For a clean start, go to Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots > Advanced settings, select Reset Recall, then choose Reset. Confirm the reset with Windows Hello.
A reset permanently deletes Recall snapshots and restores Recall settings. It does not uninstall the optional feature. It also does not delete snapshots you exported to a folder or copies that were previously shared with another app, website, or person.
Exclude particular apps and websites
You do not have to disable Recall completely to exclude particular programs or sites. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots to find the app and website filtering controls.
To exclude an app, select Add app under Apps to filter, then choose an installed app. To exclude all activity shown in a browser, add the browser itself as an app filter.
To exclude a site, select Add website under Websites to filter, enter the beginning of its address, including the scheme, such as https://, then select Add. Do not include search terms, account identifiers, tracking parameters, or other information after the main address.
Specific website filtering works in Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Google Chrome. Other Chromium-based browsers, version 124 or later, filter private-browsing activity but do not support filters for individual websites. Website filtering applies to the foreground or currently open tab in a supported browser. A filtered site may still appear in embedded content, browser history, or the title of a background tab. Filter the entire browser if no browsing activity from it should appear in Recall.
Private-browsing windows in the supported browsers are excluded automatically. Recall also enables sensitive-information filtering by default to help reduce captures containing information such as passwords, national identification numbers, and payment card numbers. These protections are helpful, but filtering an app or browser is the more appropriate choice when an entire category of activity must be excluded.
Filters do not delete snapshots already saved. After adding a filter, review Recall and delete any earlier snapshots from that app or website if necessary.
Remove Recall or troubleshoot missing settings
If you do not want Recall installed, remove the optional feature:
- Open the Start menu.
- Search for Turn Windows features on or off and open it.
- Find Recall in the Windows Features list.
- Clear its checkbox and select OK.
- Restart the PC when prompted.
Removing Recall deletes any snapshots it previously saved. You can reinstall it later by returning to Windows Features, selecting Recall, and restarting the PC, provided the device remains eligible and no organizational policy blocks it.
If Recall & snapshots is absent from Settings, the PC may not meet Recall’s requirements, Recall may have been removed, or an organization may manage the device. Recall requires a Copilot+ PC with a neural processing unit rated at 40 trillion operations per second or more, 16 gigabytes of memory, 256 gigabytes of storage, at least 50 gigabytes of free space to enable Recall, and Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security.
On a compatible personal PC, install available Windows updates, restart, and search the Start menu for Recall. You can also check Turn Windows features on or off to see whether Recall was removed. Snapshot settings are user-specific, so sign in to the Windows account whose snapshots you want to manage.
On work or school PCs, greyed-out or unavailable controls can result from administrator policy. Recall is removed by default on commercially managed devices. Administrators can allow or remove Recall, prevent snapshot saving, set storage and retention limits, and define app or website filters. They cannot enable snapshot saving on a user’s behalf; individual user consent is still required.
If Settings says that an option is managed by your organization, contact your information technology team rather than trying to override it. For a personal Copilot+ PC, check that Save snapshots is off, delete saved snapshots, and remove Recall through Windows Features if you do not plan to use it.
Sources
- Microsoft Support: Privacy and control over your Recall experience
- Microsoft Support: Manage your Recall snapshots and disk space
- Microsoft Support: Filtering apps, websites, and sensitive information in Recall
- Microsoft Support: Retrace your steps with Recall
- Microsoft Learn: Manage Recall for Windows clients
