Windows 11 Recall Feature: How to Uninstall or Reinstall for Enhanced Privacy
Windows 11 Recall takes screenshots of your computer screen every few seconds to remember everything you do. Removing this built-in feature stops Windows from recording your activity and helps protect your personal privacy.
Microsoft made Recall optional starting with the KB5041865 update (build 26100.1591 for version 24H2). You can completely uninstall Recall from your PC using Windows Features if you do not want it taking pictures of your screen.
To uninstall Recall, open Windows Features by running OptionalFeatures.exe, uncheck Recall, and click OK. To reinstall, open the same menu, check the box for Recall, and click OK. Administrator privileges are required for these actions.
Add or remove Recall using Windows Features
You can completely uninstall Windows 11 Recall using the built-in Windows Features menu without needing any special tools. Open this menu by typing optionalfeatures in your Start menu search bar , then find Recall in the list and uncheck its box to remove it from your system completely.
- Open the Windows Features menu by running
OptionalFeatures.exe. - Find Recall in the list.
- Uncheck the box to remove it, or check the box to add it back.
Click OK to save changes. Note: This step requires administrator privileges.
Uninstall or Reinstall Recall using Command
You can also uninstall Windows 11 Recall using command-line tools if you prefer working outside the standard settings menus. Open Windows Terminal with administrator privileges to run the specific commands required to remove or restore this feature on your computer quickly.
Launch the Windows Terminal application as an administrator, then select either the Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt tab.
To install the feature using DISM (a built-in tool for managing Windows system images), run this command:
DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"Recall"
To remove the feature, execute this command:
DISM /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"Recall"
To use PowerShell instead, open Windows Terminal as an administrator and switch to the PowerShell tab.
Install the feature with this cmdlet:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Recall"
Remove the feature using this cmdlet:
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Recall"
Restart the computer afterward to apply these changes.
Summary
You can remove or reinstall Recall using the Windows Features menu, DISM, or PowerShell.
How do I remove Recall from Windows?
Open Windows Search and type optionalfeatures. Select the Windows Features result, locate Recall in the list, and uncheck the box next to it.
Can you get 🪟 Windows 11 without Recall?
Recall functions as an optional feature bundled with Windows 11.
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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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