How to Enable or Disable Recall in Windows 11

This article explains how to enable or disable the Recall feature in Windows 11.

Recall & Snapshots is an AI feature in Windows 11 that functions like a photographic memory by saving snapshots of your screen. You can then use the Recall feature to quickly search your snapshots and find things you’ve seen on your PC.

Starting with Windows 11 build 26120.2415 on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, the Recall (Preview) feature has become available for your Windows devices.

To use Recall, you must opt into saving snapshots, which are screenshots of your activity on your Windows 11 device. When Recall is enabled, you can temporarily pause it, filter apps and websites, delete your snapshots, and more.

Recall processes your content locally and securely stores it on your device. Snapshots are encrypted by Device Encryption or BitLocker, enabled by default on Windows 11.

The Allow Recall to be enabled group policy lets you decide whether the Recall optional component is available for end users to enable on their device. By default, Recall is disabled for managed commercial (ex: work or school) devices.

Recall isn’t available on managed devices by default, and individual users can’t enable Recall on their own.

Enable or disable the Recall feature for Users

As mentioned, you can use Windows group policy to decide whether the Recall feature is available to the user to enable on their device.

Here’s how to do it.

First, open the Windows Settings app.

First, open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc). (Search for “Edit group policy”) on the Start menu.

Then, navigate the folders below:

User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows AI

In the Windows AI details pane on the right, locate and double-click the “Allow Recall to be enabled” settings.

On the “Allow Recall to be enabled” window, set the option to Not Configure, Enabled, or Disabled.

• Not Configured – End users will have the Recall component disabled.
• Enabled – End users will have Recall available on their device.
• Disabled – Recall component will be disabled, and the bits for Recall will be removed from the device.

Click OK to save your changes.

You may have to reboot your device to apply the settings.

Enable or disable the Recall feature using the Windows Registry

Another way to enable or disable the Recall feature in Windows is to use the Windows Registry editor.

First, open the Windows Registry and navigate to the folder key path below.

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsAI

Right-click WindowAI > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value and name the new DWORD AllowRecallEnablement.

Double-click AllowRecallEnablement and change the value 1 to enable the Recall feature for managed users.

Enter 0 to disable the Recall feature for all users.

Delete the “AllowRecallEnablement” value name to enable the Recall feature for Home device users.

That should do it!

Conclusion

• The Recall feature in Windows 11 provides a unique AI-driven capability to capture and search for snapshots of your screen activity.
• Users can control the availability of this feature through the Local Group Policy Editor or Windows Registry.
• Users on managed devices must understand that Recall is disabled by default and requires administrative approval for activation.
• Proper management of the Recall settings can enhance productivity by making it easier to access and find previously viewed content on your device.
• Ensure your device is updated to at least Windows 11 build 26120.2415 to access the Recall feature.