How to Change the Maximum Storage for Snapshots in Windows 11
Snapshot storage in Windows 11 controls how much hard drive space the Recall feature uses to save your screen history. Recall takes pictures of your screen over time so you can search back through past activity.
By default, Windows sets aside a specific portion of your disk space for these images. When that limit fills up, older snapshots delete automatically to make room for new ones.
You can change this storage limit in Settings to keep more history or free up disk space. Adjusting the slider lets you pick a custom size that fits your storage needs.
Open Settings , navigate to Privacy & security, then Recall & Snapshots. Adjust the “Maximum storage for snapshots” slider to your desired limit. Your changes are saved automatically.
Storage Options for Different PC Sizes
| Device Storage Size | Storage Options for Snapshots |
|---|---|
| 256 GB | 25 GB (default), 10 GB |
| 512 GB | 75 GB (default), 50 GB, 25 GB |
| 1 TB or more | 150 GB (default), 100 GB, 75 GB, 50 GB, 25 GB |
Steps to Change Maximum Storage for Snapshots in 🪟 Windows 11
- Open Windows Settings :
- Click the Start menu (Windows icon) and select Settings.
- Or press Win+I on your keyboard to open Settings quickly.
Adjusting your snapshots storage in Windows 11 takes just a few clicks through the main settings menu. Press the Win+I on your keyboard to open Settings , then go to Privacy & security to find the disk space controls for your saved system states.
- Go to Privacy & security:
- In the Settings window, click Privacy & security on the left side menu.
Windows 11 Privacy and Security settings menu for Recall exclusion - Find Recall & Snapshots:
- On the right side, scroll down and click Recall & Snapshots.
- Make sure the Save snapshots feature is turned ON.
- Adjust the storage limit:
- Click on the Storage section to expand it.
- Here, adjust the Maximum storage for snapshots slider or dropdown to pick how much space Windows should use for snapshots.
Change maximum storage for recall and snapshots - Save your changes:
- Close Settings when you’re done. Your new storage limit will be saved automatically!
Helpful Tips
- If you want to save more snapshots, choose a bigger storage size—but make sure you have enough free space on your PC.
- If your PC is low on disk space, pick a smaller size or delete some snapshots to free up space.
- You can always turn off the snapshot feature if you don’t want Windows to save snapshots.
Managing your snapshots storage safely requires balancing your hard drive free space with how many past system states you want to keep. Pick a larger limit if you need a longer history to fall back on, or choose a smaller size if your computer runs low on free space.
Summary
Changing the maximum storage for snapshots gives you full control over how much disk space Windows uses for your system history. You can open Settings at any time to adjust these limits and keep your computer running smoothly without wasting valuable drive space.- Changing the max storage for snapshots is easy and helps you manage space on your PC.
- You can choose how much space Windows uses to keep snapshots safe.
- Access the settings anytime through the Privacy & security section in Windows Settings.
- Adjusting storage helps keep your important snapshots without filling up your hard drive.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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