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Windows 11 24H2 gives you three different ways to deal with Recall:
- Turn off Save snapshots: Recall stays installed but stops creating new snapshots.
- Reset Recall: Deletes existing snapshots and resets Recall settings, but leaves the feature installed.
- Remove Recall: Disables the optional Windows feature and removes its payload. This is the closest supported equivalent to completely uninstalling Recall.
For most consumer PCs, the supported removal method is the Turn Windows features on or off dialog. If Recall is not listed there, use the documented PowerShell command with the -Remove switch.
Remove Recall completely with Windows Features
Use this method if you want Recall disabled and its existing snapshots removed from the Windows installation.
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- Open the taskbar search box and type Turn Windows features on or off.
- Open the matching Control Panel result.
- In the Windows Features window, find Recall.
- Clear the checkbox next to Recall.
- Select OK.
- Restart the PC when Windows asks you to.
Removing the feature also removes previously saved Recall snapshots. This is different from turning off Save snapshots in Settings: that setting stops future collection but does not uninstall Recall.
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Use PowerShell when Recall is missing from the list
If Recall does not appear in the Windows Features dialog, run the removal command from an elevated PowerShell or Windows Terminal session.
- Right-click Start.
- Select Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- Approve the User Account Control prompt.
- Run this command exactly:
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Recall" -Remove- Restart Windows if prompted.
-Online tells PowerShell to work on the currently running Windows installation. The -Remove switch matters: it requests removal of the optional feature’s files rather than merely changing its enabled or disabled state.
Do not use -Path for this operation unless you are deliberately servicing an offline Windows image. Also avoid manually deleting files from Windows system folders; that bypasses Windows servicing and is not the supported removal method.
Confirm Recall’s feature state
After restarting, open an elevated PowerShell window and run:
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Recall"Check the State field in the output. Recall should not be enabled after removal. If Windows reports that a restart is pending, restart first and then run the verification command again.
Only want to stop new snapshots?
You do not need to remove the component if your goal is simply to prevent future snapshots.
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- Open Settings.
- Go to Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots.
- Turn Save snapshots off.
This stops Recall from saving new snapshots. It does not uninstall Recall and does not automatically delete snapshots already stored on the PC. When saving is off, Microsoft says the Recall system-tray icon is not shown.
Windows Hello authorization is required when launching Recall or changing its settings.
Delete snapshots but keep Recall installed
Use Recall’s reset function if you want to erase its local history without removing the Windows feature:
- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots.
- Open Advanced settings.
- Select Reset Recall.
- Confirm by selecting Reset.
- Complete Windows Hello authentication.
Resetting deletes all Recall snapshots and resets Recall settings. It does not delete snapshots that you previously exported to another folder. It also cannot remove copies that were already shared with an app or website and saved by that third party.
Why Recall may not appear in Windows Features
The computer is managed
On managed commercial devices, Recall is disabled and removed by default unless an administrator makes it available. A standard user cannot enable it when the administrator has not deployed or allowed the component.
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A policy hides the Windows Features interface
An administrator can hide the interface with this Group Policy setting:
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User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Programs > Hide "Windows Features"This policy hides the interface; it does not selectively disable Recall. An administrator may need to change the policy before the dialog can be opened.
Windows is not sufficiently updated
The current Recall management policy requires Windows 11 24H2 with KB5055627, OS build 26100.3915, or later. Older 24H2 installations may not expose the current policy behavior.
Recall was not deployed in a commercial environment
Microsoft documents cases where the Recall package does not automatically deploy on some commercial systems. An administrator can make the optional feature available with:
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchEnable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Recall"This is an administrative deployment command, not a removal command. It may be relevant when troubleshooting why a managed device has no Recall feature to remove.
Disable Recall through Group Policy
On supported managed editions, an administrator can prevent Recall from being enabled and remove its bits through Group Policy.
- Open the Local Group Policy Editor or the applicable domain policy.
- Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows AI.
- Open Allow Recall to be enabled.
- Set the policy to Disabled.
- Apply the policy and restart the device.
Microsoft states that setting this policy to Disabled makes Recall unavailable, removes its bits, deletes previously saved snapshots, and requires a restart.
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The policy applies to Windows 11 24H2 with KB5055627, build 26100.3915, or later, and is listed for Pro, Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise, and IoT Enterprise LTSC.
Equivalent policy registry location
The corresponding policy is stored at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsAIThe value is:
AllowRecallEnablement| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
0 |
Recall is not available. |
1 |
Recall is available. |
For Intune or another MDM platform, use this policy URI:
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/WindowsAI/AllowRecallEnablementSet the policy value to 0 to make Recall unavailable. Policy changes should be managed centrally rather than by manually editing the registry on individual company PCs.
What not to do
Do not delete Recall files manually
Deleting files from system directories can break servicing and leave Windows with inconsistent feature metadata. Use the Windows Features dialog, the PowerShell command with -Remove, or an administrator-managed policy.
Do not confuse disabling with removing
This command disables the feature:
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Recall"For the documented operation that also removes the optional feature payload, use:
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesDisable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Recall" -RemoveThe feature manifest remains available so Windows can restore the feature later from Windows Update or another repair source if required.
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Do not look under Installed apps
Recall is documented as an optional Windows feature, not a normal desktop application. It may not appear under Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Use Turn Windows features on or off instead.
Do not assume that turning off snapshots deletes old data
Save snapshots: Off prevents new snapshots. Use Reset Recall to delete existing snapshots while keeping Recall, or remove the Recall optional feature to disable and remove it from Windows.
FAQ
Is Recall enabled by default in Windows 11 24H2?
Recall is available as an optional Windows feature on unmanaged consumer PCs, but saving snapshots is off until each Windows user explicitly opts in. Recall requires Windows Hello authentication when it is launched or its settings are changed.
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Yes. Removing Recall through Windows Features or the supported PowerShell removal command deletes previously saved Recall snapshots. Files you exported elsewhere, or copies already saved by another app or website, are not removed.
What is the difference between disabling Recall and uninstalling it?
Turning off Save snapshots stops new snapshot collection while leaving Recall installed. Reset Recall deletes snapshots and resets settings while leaving the component installed. Clearing Recall in Windows Features, or running Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature with -Remove, removes the optional feature payload.
Why is Recall not listed under Installed apps?
Recall is an optional Windows feature rather than a conventional separately installed desktop application. Remove it from Turn Windows features on or off or use the elevated PowerShell command.
Can I reinstall Recall later?
The supported removal process retains Windows feature servicing information, so Windows can restore the optional feature later from Windows Update or another repair source if it is made available.
The Bottom Line
For a complete supported removal on a consumer PC, open Turn Windows features on or off, clear Recall, select OK, and restart. If the feature is not listed, run this command in PowerShell as administrator:
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Recall" -RemoveUse Save snapshots: Off only when you want to stop future collection, and use Reset Recall when you want to delete snapshots without removing the feature.
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