How to disable ‘Recall’ Snapshots for Specific/Sensitive Apps in Windows 11?
The Recall feature works by continuously taking snapshots of your screen activity and storing them locally. These snapshots are then indexed using AI, allowing users to search through past actions, documents, websites, and apps.
However, this continuous recording can become problematic when using apps that involve personal data, financial information, or confidential work materials. Examples include email clients, banking apps, password managers, messaging platforms, and enterprise tools.
To address this, Microsoft introduced app-level filtering, which allows users to exclude specific applications from being captured. When an app is excluded, Recall will completely ignore any activity within that app, meaning no screenshots, no indexing, and no searchable data.
This feature is especially important for:
- Privacy protection to avoid storing sensitive data in snapshots
- Security compliance for business users handling confidential information
- Peace of mind when using personal or financial apps
By configuring these settings correctly, you gain full control over what Recall can and cannot access.
This guide will walk you through a complete process to disable Recall snapshots for sensitive apps, ensuring your data stays protected.
Let’s do this!
How to disable ‘Recall’ Snapshots for Specific/Sensitive Apps?
To disable Recall snapshots for specific sensitive apps in Windows, open Settings, navigate to Privacy & Security, select Recall & Snapshots, and add the apps you want to exclude from snapshot capturing. This ensures that Recall does not record any activity from those selected applications.
Explore the steps in detail!
Step 1: Open Windows Settings
The first step is to access your system settings, where Recall configurations are available.
Click on the Start menu and select Settings. Alternatively, you can press Windows + I on your keyboard to open the Settings window directly.
Once inside Settings, make sure you are viewing the main dashboard where system categories like System, Devices, and Privacy are visible.
Step 2: Navigate to Privacy & Security
After opening Settings, locate and click on the Privacy & Security section.
This section contains all privacy-related configurations, including permissions for apps, data access, and advanced AI features like Recall.
Scroll through the options until you find the section related to Recall & Snapshots. This is where all snapshot-related settings are managed.
Step 3: Access Recall & Snapshots Settings
Inside Privacy & Security, click on Recall & Snapshots.
This section provides a detailed overview of how Recall works on your system. You will find options to enable or disable Recall entirely, manage storage, and customize snapshot behavior.
Look for the option labeled App Filtering or Exclude Apps from Snapshots. This is the feature that allows you to disable Recall for specific applications.
Step 4: Enable App Exclusion Feature
Before adding apps, ensure that the app exclusion feature is enabled.
If it is turned off, toggle it on. This allows you to start selecting apps that should not be captured by Recall.
Once enabled, you will see an option to Add an App or Choose Apps to Exclude.
Step 5: Add Sensitive Apps to the Exclusion List
Click on Add an App to begin selecting applications you want to exclude.
A list of installed apps will appear. You can scroll through the list or use the search bar to quickly find specific apps.
Select the apps that contain sensitive information. Examples include:
- Banking applications
- Password managers
- Email clients
- Messaging platforms
- Work-related enterprise software
Once selected, these apps will be added to the exclusion list.
Step 6: Verify Excluded Applications
After adding apps, it is important to confirm that they are correctly listed.
You will see all excluded apps displayed under the exclusion section. Make sure that every sensitive app you selected appears in this list.
If any app is missing, repeat the previous step and add it again.
Step 7: Test Recall Behavior
To ensure everything is working correctly, open one of the excluded apps and use it normally.
After some time, check the recall history and search results. You should notice that no snapshots or activity from the excluded app are recorded.
This confirms that Recall is successfully ignoring those applications.
Step 8: Adjust Additional Recall Privacy Settings
For enhanced privacy, you can also adjust other Recall settings.
You may choose to:
- Limit how long snapshots are stored
- Reduce the frequency of snapshots
- Pause Recall temporarily when needed
These additional controls provide a more secure and customized experience.
Step 9: Regularly Update Your Exclusion List
As you install new apps or change your workflow, it is important to revisit your Recall settings.
Add any new sensitive applications to the exclusion list to maintain consistent privacy protection.
Regular updates ensure that no confidential data is accidentally captured.
Faqs
What is Windows Recall?
Windows Recall is an AI-powered feature that captures and stores snapshots of your screen activity, allowing you to search and revisit past actions easily.
Is it safe to use Recall?
Recall is designed with privacy in mind, but it can still capture sensitive information. Using app exclusions is highly recommended for better security.
Can Recall access private apps?
By default, Recall can capture activity from most apps. However, you can manually exclude sensitive apps to prevent this.
Do excluded apps leave any trace in Recall?
No, once an app is excluded, Recall does not capture or store any activity from that application.
Can I remove an app from the exclusion list later?
Yes, you can go back to Recall settings and remove apps from the exclusion list at any time.
Does disabling Recall affect system performance?
Disabling Recall may slightly reduce background activity, but the overall impact on performance is minimal.
Are Recall snapshots stored online?
No, Recall snapshots are stored locally on your device, but they can still pose privacy risks if not managed properly.