How to Disable Recall on Windows 11 (5 Working Methods)

Windows Recall takes automatic screenshots of your screen every few seconds to build a searchable activity timeline. If you prefer not to have your PC capture and index everything you do, Windows 11 lets you turn the feature off completely using the Settings app, Registry, Group Policy, Windows Features, or a full feature reset.

What Is Windows Recall

Recall uses a local AI model to save snapshots of your screen activity, including documents, websites, chats, images, and apps you have used. It runs only on Copilot+ PCs equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), and it stores all data locally rather than uploading it to Microsoft’s servers.

• Requires a Copilot+ PC with an NPU rated at 40+ TOPS
• Needs at least 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage
• Runs on Windows 11 version 24H2 or later
• Off by default; you must opt in during setup or from Settings

Method 1: Disable Recall From Settings

This is the quickest way to stop new snapshots from being saved.

1. Open Settings on Windows 11.
2. Click Privacy & security.
3. Click Recall & snapshots.

3. Turn off the Save snapshots toggle switch.
4. (Optional) Click Delete snapshots, then click Delete all to remove existing snapshots.

Once you complete these steps, Recall stops taking snapshots of your activity. If you only want to pause the feature temporarily, click the Recall icon in the taskbar and select Pause until tomorrow. To turn Recall back on later, repeat the same steps and switch the toggle to on.

Method 2: Disable Recall Using the Reset Option

Resetting Recall wipes its data and configuration rather than just switching it off.

1. Open Settings.
2. Click Privacy & security.
3. Click Recall & snapshots.
4. Click Advanced settings.
5. Click the Reset Recall button.
6. Click Reset to confirm.

This deletes all collected snapshots, clears app and website filters, and restores Recall to its original settings.

Method 3: Disable Recall Using the Registry

Use this method if you’re on Windows 11 Home, where the Group Policy Editor isn’t available.

1. Open Start and search for regedit, then open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

3. Right-click the Windows key, choose New, then Key, and name it WindowsAI.
4. Right-click the new WindowsAI key, choose New, then DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name the value AllowRecallEnablement and set it to 0.
6. Click OK and restart your computer.

This disables Recall for all users on the device and removes its components. Existing snapshots are also deleted if the feature was previously in use.

You can apply the same change from an elevated Command Prompt instead:

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsAI" /v AllowRecallEnablement /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

To reverse this and re-enable Recall later, run:

reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsAI" /f

Restart your PC after running either command.

Method 4: Disable Recall Using Group Policy Editor

This method works on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. It isn’t available on Windows 11 Home.

1. Open Start and search for gpedit, then open the Group Policy Editor.
2. Navigate to:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows AI

3. Right-click Allow Recall to be enabled and select Edit.
4. Select Disabled.
5. Click Apply, then OK.

Recall stops running and its components are removed once you restart your computer. Any snapshots already stored on the device are deleted as part of this process.

Method 5: Remove Recall Using Windows Features

This method removes Recall as an installed component rather than just switching it off.

1. Open Windows Search and type Windows features.
2. Select Turn Windows features on or off.
3. Find Recall in the list and uncheck it.
4. Click OK and restart your computer if prompted.

Your stored snapshots are automatically deleted once Recall is removed this way.

Windows Recall stays off by default and only activates if you opt in, so most users never need to touch these settings. If you already enabled it and changed your mind, any of the five methods above will fully stop it and clear its stored data.

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