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To stop Windows Recall from saving new snapshots, open Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots and switch Save snapshots off. This does not delete snapshots already saved. To remove those, delete selected snapshots or use Advanced settings > Reset Recall.
Choose the control that matches what you want
| Action | Stops future snapshots? | Deletes existing snapshots? | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turn off Save snapshots | Yes | No | Persistent setting that stops new snapshots from being saved. |
| Pause snapshots | Temporarily | No | Pauses saving until you resume it; Microsoft’s consumer guide describes a “Pause until tomorrow” option that resumes at midnight unless resumed earlier. |
| Delete snapshots | No | Yes, selected items | Removes selected snapshots, or snapshots associated with a selected app or site. |
| Reset Recall | Resets settings | Yes, all saved snapshots | Deletes snapshots and resets Recall settings. It does not remove copies previously exported or shared with an app or site. |
| Remove Recall | Yes, by removing the feature | Not established by the removal guidance | Removes the Windows feature package; it is different from turning off snapshot saving. |
Recall is available only on eligible Copilot+ PCs, and some options may vary by Windows build or organization policy.
Turn off saving new snapshots
- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots.
- Turn Save snapshots off.
- Authenticate with Windows Hello if prompted.
This prevents future snapshots from being saved; it does not clear existing snapshots. Microsoft says this setting can be changed at any time. See Microsoft’s Recall privacy and control guidance.
Pause snapshots temporarily
Select the Recall icon in the system tray and choose the pause option. Microsoft’s consumer guidance describes “Pause until tomorrow”; saving resumes at midnight unless you resume it sooner. A pause is not a substitute for switching off saving when you want a persistent change.
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Delete saved snapshots
Delete selected snapshots
In Recall search results or while viewing a snapshot, open its item menu and choose the delete action. Microsoft also documents deleting all snapshots associated with a selected app or site. These actions remove saved items, but do not switch off future saving.
Delete all snapshots and reset Recall
- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots.
- Open Advanced settings > Reset Recall.
- Confirm Reset and authenticate with Windows Hello.
Reset Recall deletes snapshots and resets Recall settings. It cannot delete copies you previously exported or shared with another app or site. See Microsoft’s Recall usage and management guide.
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Remove the Recall feature
Microsoft says Recall can be removed using Turn Windows features on or off. This removes the feature package rather than merely changing whether snapshots are saved. The published guidance does not establish that feature removal also clears every previously stored snapshot, so use Reset Recall first if your goal includes deleting saved data.
Limit what Recall can capture
Filter apps and websites
In Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots, add apps or sites to the filter list. Website filtering is supported in Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Google Chrome. Private browsing activity is filtered in those browsers and other Chromium-based browsers, but site-specific filtering is not available for unlisted Chromium browsers.
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Filtering is not a complete privacy boundary. Microsoft says a filtered site is excluded when it is in the foreground or current tab in supported browsers, but parts of it may still appear through embedded content, browser history, or a tab that remains open in the background. Filtering also does not prevent a browser, internet provider, website, employer, or other party from knowing that a site was accessed. See Microsoft’s filtering guidance.
If you do not want Recall to capture activity in a browser at all, filtering the entire browser app is a stricter option than relying on site exclusions.
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Sensitive information filtering
Sensitive-information filtering is on by default and is intended to avoid saving snapshots when potentially sensitive information is detected, including examples such as passwords and payment-card information. Treat it as a measure that helps reduce capture, not a guarantee that every secret will be excluded.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Recall’s privacy protections do—and do not—mean
Microsoft says Recall processes and stores snapshots locally, does not send snapshots to Microsoft, encrypts snapshots and associated data, and requires Windows Hello authentication. Microsoft also says some Windows diagnostic data may be provided according to the device’s privacy settings. These are Microsoft’s documented design claims, not an independent audit of every implementation.
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When settings are missing or unavailable
Recall requires an eligible Copilot+ PC. Microsoft lists the following requirements: a Copilot+ PC meeting Secured-core standards, a 40 TOPS NPU, 16 GB RAM, eight logical processors, 256 GB storage, at least 50 GB free to enable Recall, Device Encryption or BitLocker, and Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security with a biometric sign-in option. These are product eligibility thresholds, not a recommendation to buy hardware for Recall.
Automatic snapshot saving pauses when free storage falls below 25 GB. On managed commercial and education devices, Recall is removed by default until an administrator allows it; administrators also cannot independently opt a user into saving snapshots. Organization policies may disable or remove Recall or make controls unavailable. Check Settings > Windows Update for updates if controls are missing, and contact your IT administrator on a work or school device rather than trying to bypass policy. Current requirements and management details are in Microsoft Learn’s Recall management documentation.
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