• To enable Recall on Windows 11, open Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots and turn on “Save snapshots.”

UPDATED 11/26/2024: On Windows 11 24H2 , Recall comes enabled by default on compatible devices, but if the feature isn’t available in the Taskbar, you can turn it on manually, and in this guide, I will show you how to complete this task.

What is Recall?

Windows Recall is an AI feature that works like photographic memory. It records everything you have done on your computer through snapshots and turns the data into searchable moments that you can search using natural language. You can also use the Timeline option to scroll back to a specific time to find a particular activity, such as a website, conversation, application, etc.

What are Recall requirements?

If you want to enable Recall, the computer must be running Windows 11 24H2 (or a higher release) and meet the hardware requirements to be a Copilot Plus PC, which includes:

  • CPU: Snapdragon X or equivalent processor.
  • NPU: Neural Processing Unit with 40 TOPS (Tera Operations per Second).
  • Memory: 16GB (minimum).
  • Storage: 256GB of SSD (minimum).

As part of the supported processors, some AMD and Intel processors, such as the AMD Ryzen AI 300 (up to 50 TOPS) and Intel Core Ultra 200v series (up to 120 TOPS), will support Recall. However, during the early days of the development, Microsoft is limiting the AI feature to the Snapdragon processors.

Also, before you can turn on Windows Recall, the device must have Secure Boot enabled in the firmware as well as BitLocker (or Device Encryption ). Also, Windows Hello Face, Fingerprint , or PIN has to be configured before you can opt-in to enable the photographic memory feature.

In this guide , I will teach you the steps to enable the Recall feature on Windows 11 24H2 or higher releases.

Enable Recall on Windows 11

To enable the Recall feature on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 11.
  2. Click on Privacy & security .
  3. Click the Recall & snapshots page.
  4. Turn on the “Save snapshots” toggle switch.

Once you complete the steps, the Recall button will appear in the System Tray and the Taskbar, and the feature will run in the background to track your activities and make them searchable.

Alternatively, you can launch the Recall app from the Start menu, and the experience will prompt you to opt in and enable the feature.

You can always click the “Recall” button from the System Tray to pause the feature or open the app to search for any activity.

Recall System Tray flyout - 1

Recall System Tray flyout / Image: Mauro Huculak

If you want to disable Recall , use the same instructions, but in step 4 , turn off the toggle switch.

It’s important to note that Recall works with an AI model that runs locally on the device, so snapshots are processed inside the computer and don’t get uploaded to the cloud, meaning that everything stays private on your computer.

If you don’t have the “Recall” button in the Taskbar or the settings page, the computer isn’t running the latest version of Windows 11 , which in this case is version 24H2 or higher, or it’s not compatible. Also, consider that the first preview is available with the release of Windows 11 build 26120.2415 (KB5046723) in the Dev Channel, and the company is rolling out the feature gradually.

Update November 26, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.

  • To set up a fingerprint reader on Windows 11, open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options , select “Fingerprint recognition,” click “Set up,” click “Get started,” and use the sensor to register your fingerprint.

On Windows 11 , you can set up a fingerprint reader to sign in using only your finger, and here’s how. Windows Hello is the name of the feature that Microsoft has chosen to describe the support for more secure ways to sign in to Windows 11 using biometric and Personal Identification Number (PIN) authentication.

This feature allows you to replace a traditional complex and less secure password with a more secure and easy-to-use authentication method, including facial recognition , fingerprint, and PIN to unlock a Windows 11 computer.

This guide will teach you how to configure and remove Windows Hello using a fingerprint reader on Windows 11.

  • Enable Windows Hello fingerprint recognition
  • Remove Windows Hello fingerprint recognition
  • Windows Hello compatible hardware

Enable Windows Hello fingerprint recognition

To unlock Windows 11 using a fingerprint reader, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 11.
  2. Click on Accounts .
  3. Click the Sign-in options tab.
  4. Under the “Ways to sign in” section, select the Fingerprint recognition setting.
  5. Click the “Set up” button to enable the Windows Hello fingerprint feature.
  6. Click the Get started button.
  7. Confirm your Windows 11 account password.
  8. Touch the fingerprint sensor as indicated in the wizard.
  9. Continue with the on-screen directions to capture your fingerprint from various angles. Quick tip: It’s recommended to click the “Add another finger” option to configure a second and even a third finger you can use if you encounter problems signing in.

Once you complete the steps, you should be able to lock your device (including using the “Windows key + L” keyboard shortcut) and then use the fingerprint reader to sign in with the finger that you configured.

Remove Windows Hello fingerprint recognition

To remove the Windows Hello fingerprint on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings .
  2. Click on Accounts .
  3. Click the Sign-in options tab.
  4. Under the “Ways to sign in” section, select the Fingerprint recognition setting.
  5. Click the Remove button.
  6. Click the Remove button again to disable the Windows Hello fingerprint option.
  7. Confirm the Windows 11 account password.
  8. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, you can continue signing in with a traditional password. If you have configured Facial recognition or PIN, you must remove those configurations using the same steps to disable the Windows Hello feature entirely on Windows 11.

Windows Hello compatible hardware

If you want to sign in to Windows 11 using your facial recognition or fingerprint, you can find many devices with Windows Hello built-in, such as the Surface Pro 8 , Surface Laptop 4 , Surface Go 3 , and many others.