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How to Reset Recall Feature in Windows 11

Richard
Written by
Richard
Jan 30, 2026 Updated Sep 15, 2026 3 min read
How to Reset Recall Feature in Windows 11
How to Reset Recall Feature in Windows 11

Resetting the Recall feature in Windows 11 deletes all saved snapshots and restores your original settings on your Copilot+ PC. Recall is a built-in AI tool that takes pictures of your screen over time so you can search your past activity later. Microsoft stores these snapshots locally on your hard drive instead of sending them to the cloud to keep your data private.

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⚡ Quick Answer

Reset Recall by opening Settings, navigating to Privacy & Security, then Recall & Snapshots, clicking Advanced settings, and selecting Reset Recall. Confirm the action to delete all stored snapshots and restore default settings.

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Latest Update

Latest update changes for reset recall windows 11 mean the feature stays off until you turn it on during setup. Snapshots of your screen are saved every few seconds to help you find past work. Resetting the feature deletes this history completely and gives you a clean slate when bugs happen or privacy concerns pop up.

Snapshots are saved every few seconds. Resetting Recall gets rid of this history, providing a fresh start to record new activity.

Malfunctions, accumulated old data, or lingering privacy concerns regarding past activity all serve as valid reasons to clear the slate. Resetting establishes a clean baseline for future screen recording.

How to Reset Recall in 🪟 Windows 11

Reset recall windows 11 steps require opening the main system settings to wipe out your saved activity logs. Press the Win+I on your keyboard to open Settings right away. Be aware that this action permanently deletes all saved snapshots and history, so make sure you do not need any past data before you proceed.

⚠️Resetting clears all data
Warning: Resetting Recall permanently deletes all saved snapshots and history. Saving anything important from your Recall history must happen before proceeding.
  1. Open Windows Settings : Click the Start menu (the Windows icon at the bottom left), then click Settings . Or press Win+I on your keyboard to open Settings directly.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security: In the Settings window, look at the menu on the left side and click Privacy & security.
  3. Select Recall & Snapshots: On the right side, find and click on the Recall & snapshots section.
Privacy & Security > Recall & Snapshots in Windows 11 Settings
Privacy security Recall and snapshots

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  1. Open Advanced Settings: Inside the Recall & snapshots page, click on Advanced settings to see more options.
  2. Click Reset Recall: Find and click the Reset Recall button.
Reset Recall button in Windows 11
Reset Recall button in Windows 11

  1. Confirm the Reset: A prompt will appear asking if you want to reset. Click Reset to finish.
Confirmation of Recall reset in Windows 11
Confirmation of Recall reset in Windows 11

The Recall feature finishes resetting. Closing the Settings app concludes the entire process.

Summary

  • Open Settings: Use Start menu or press Windows + I.
  • Go to Privacy & Security: Find Recall & snapshots settings.
  • Reset Recall: Click Advanced settings then Reset Recall.
  • Confirm: Click Reset when asked.
  • Manage Snapshots: After reset, you can start using Recall fresh or pause it anytime.

Summary steps to reset recall windows 11 involve navigating through your privacy settings to clear all stored history. Open Settings, go to Privacy & security, and click on Recall & snapshots settings. From there, select Advanced settings, click the reset button, and confirm your choice to start fresh.

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Stopping Recall entirely requires disabling the function. Going to Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots and toggling the switch to Off halts new snapshot creation and saves storage space. Existing snapshots also get deleted from this same menu.

Latest Update

Managing Recall granularly involves accessing additional configuration menus. Options for 'Snapshot Management' and 'Sensitive Information Filtering' let users control storage limits and block specific apps from being recorded.

What is Recall?

Operating as a specialized capability for Copilot+ PCs, Recall captures periodic screenshots of user activity to build a searchable history of past screen sessions. Acting as a visual memory aid, the tool indexes previous computer tasks for rapid retrieval.

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Tags: #Windows 11
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Richard

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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