How to Use Recall on Windows 11
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What is Recall?
Imagine having a photographic memory for your computer. Recall takes snapshots of your screen every few seconds and uses local AI to analyze text and images.
You can then "travel back in time" or perform a natural language search like: "Show me the blue chart I saw in a PDF last week" or "Find the red dress I was looking at on Amazon on Tuesday."
How to Enable and Configure Recall
Recall is disabled by default to respect your privacy. Here is how to set it up correctly:
-
Open Settings
Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots. -
Enable the Option
Toggle the "Save snapshots" switch to On. You will need to confirm with Windows Hello (face or fingerprint). -
Manage Storage
By default, Recall uses up to 15% of your hard drive (about 25 GB to 50 GB). You can reduce this limit in advanced options to keep only 1 or 2 weeks of history.
Using Search and Timeline
To launch Recall, click the icon in the taskbar or use the shortcut:
Win + J
🔍 Smart Search
Simply type what you remember. Example: "Teams chat with Mark about budget." Recall will scan all snapshots and show you the exact moment, even if the word "budget" was only visible inside an image.
⏱️ The Visual Timeline
A timeline appears at the top of the screen. Drag the slider to see your screen evolve minute by minute, like a movie of your day.
New in 2025: Click to Do
The 25H2 update introduces Click to Do, an interactive overlay that works hand-in-hand with Recall.
How does it work? On any Recall snapshot (or in real-time on your desktop), hold the Win key and Left Click.
The AI will analyze the image and suggest contextual action buttons:
- On text: Copy, Summarize, Rewrite, Send via email.
- On an image: Remove background, Search image on Bing, Blur background.
🛡️ Security & Privacy: What You Need to Know
This is the #1 question from users. Here are the facts in 2025:
- 100% Local: Your snapshots are NEVER sent to the cloud. They remain encrypted on your hard drive.
- Automatic Filtering: Recall automatically detects and blurs passwords, credit card numbers, and private browsing sessions.
- Total Control: You can exclude specific apps (e.g., WhatsApp, banking apps) or websites from settings.
- Pause Button: Click the Recall icon in the taskbar to pause recording at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Recall work on any Windows 11 PC?
No, Recall requires a Copilot+ PC with a dedicated NPU chip, such as Snapdragon X Elite, AMD Ryzen AI 300, or Intel Core Ultra Series 2.
Is Recall enabled by default?
No, Recall is disabled by default; you must turn it on manually in Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots and confirm with Windows Hello.
Are Recall snapshots sent to the cloud?
No, snapshots are 100% local and encrypted on your hard drive; they are never sent to Microsoft's servers.
Does Recall capture passwords and sensitive information?
Recall automatically detects and blurs passwords, credit card numbers, and private browsing sessions, and you can exclude specific apps or websites entirely.
How much storage does Recall use?
By default it uses up to 15% of your hard drive, roughly 25 to 50 GB, though you can reduce the retention window to 1 or 2 weeks in advanced options.