Windows Recall Controls: How to Pause, Filter and Delete Snapshots

If Recall is present on your Copilot+ PC, three actions can help limit its history: pause future snapshots, filter what gets saved, or delete material already stored. They solve different problems. Turning saving off is not the same as deleting snapshots that Recall has already captured.

As of 17 May 2025, Recall is still a preview rolling out in phases. Microsoft says the April 2025 non-security update carries the feature to consumers gradually, with European Economic Area availability due later in 2025. If you have an eligible PC but cannot find Recall yet, the staged rollout may explain why. Microsoft’s April feature announcement gives the rollout details. We covered the original proposal in our earlier Recall article ; this guide focuses on the controls available during the 2025 rollout.

Before you can use Recall

Recall is for Copilot+ PCs, not every Windows 11 computer. On an eligible device where the rollout has arrived, look in Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots. Microsoft’s published walkthrough places the Save snapshots control there.

Saving is opt-in: Windows asks for permission during setup and again when you first open Recall. If you do not choose to save snapshots, Recall stays off. It also requires Windows Hello authentication; Microsoft’s design notes specify that biometric enrolment is required. Microsoft’s feature walkthrough describes the setting, while its April 2025 privacy post confirms the opt-in and staged controls.

Recall works by saving periodic images of the active screen and using information associated with them to help find things you have seen. A snapshot can include visible context around the item you later search for, such as part of a message preview or work document. Consider what is on screen before enabling capture.

Microsoft says Recall snapshots and associated data stay encrypted on the PC and are not shared with Microsoft or third parties. That is the company’s description of its design, not an independent security test by Jitsumi. Microsoft also says some Windows diagnostic data may still be provided according to your privacy settings. Its security and privacy architecture post sets out these claims and controls.

Pause or switch off future snapshots

Use Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots to turn snapshot saving off, pause it or resume it later. The Recall icon in the system tray indicates when snapshots are being saved and provides quick access to controls. A pause is useful when you want Recall enabled but need a temporary break; turning saving off stops future collection until you choose to enable it again. Microsoft’s April 2025 privacy post describes the Settings controls and the tray indicator.

Filter what Recall can save

You can exclude apps and websites from future snapshots. Website filtering depends on a supported browser, so do not assume every browser offers the same site-level controls. If an app routinely shows information you do not want captured, add it to the filter list before using Recall during that work.

Sensitive-content filtering is on by default. Microsoft says it helps reduce passwords, national ID numbers and credit card details from being stored. “Helps reduce” is not a promise to catch every sensitive item. Treat it as an additional filter, not as a replacement for choosing which apps or websites Recall can save. Microsoft’s September 2024 architecture post describes the filter and its limits.

Delete snapshots already saved

If something was captured before you added a filter, delete the existing snapshots as a separate step. Microsoft says Recall can remove a time range, all content from an app or website, or results found through Recall search. You can also control how much storage Recall uses and how long snapshots remain on the device. These controls let you match the history to your needs without keeping every snapshot indefinitely. Microsoft’s documented privacy controls describe deletion, storage and retention.

A practical way to choose is to match the control to the problem: pause for a temporary break, filter an app or site you do not want in future snapshots, delete material already saved, or leave saving off if you do not want a searchable screen history. If you try Recall, check the system-tray indicator and review what appears before relying on it to find anything important. A snapshot can help you locate context, but it is not a backup of the original file.

This is a documentation-based guide; Jitsumi has not independently tested the staged consumer rollout. Since Recall remains a preview, availability and interface details can vary by device and build.