What to Know About Windows 11 Recall: Features & Business Fit

Microsoft's new Recall feature in Windows 11 offers powerful productivity gains but it also introduces new considerations around data privacy and security. 

Microsoft has introduced a new feature in Windows 11 called Recall. Designed to help users remember everything they've seen on their PC, Recall automatically captures snapshots of your screen every few seconds, creating a searchable timeline of your activity. It uses AI to make this history easy to browse and revisit.

This kind of memory aid is a first for mainstream operating systems. But with it comes the need to understand what Recall actually captures, where that data lives, and how it’s secured.

Recall is enabled by default on a new class of devices known as Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs. These are high-performance computers built with specialised AI chips that power features like Recall.

If you're using a standard Windows 11 PC that isn't a Copilot+ model, you won't see Recall, at least not yet. Microsoft may expand access in the future, but for now it's limited to these newer devices.

While Recall offers genuine productivity enhancements, like retrieving lost work, reviewing past meetings, or retracing your steps, it also stores a large volume of potentially sensitive data locally on your device.

Understanding how Recall works, what it keeps, and what your options are is important for everyday users and business leaders alike.

• Recall captures snapshots of your active screen every few seconds.
• These snapshots are stored locally on your device in an encrypted format.
• You can search this timeline using natural language queries, images, or content keywords.
• The feature runs entirely on-device and does not sync this data to the cloud.
• Users can pause, delete, or disable Recall from their device settings.

While Recall is private by design, there are still a few things to keep in mind:

• Sensitive content may be captured, such as emails, invoices, or login details.
• Everything stays on your device, which means it’s as secure as your device is.
• Multiple users on one machine could potentially access each other's Recall history.
• Old snapshots are overwritten, but they’re not instantly deleted.
• For workplaces, Recall may raise questions about what information is being logged, even unintentionally.

Businesses don’t need to dive into the technical settings, but it is worth understanding the broader options:

• Devices can be set up so Recall is disabled from the outset.
• Some organisations may choose to allow it only for certain teams or roles.
• Policies around when to pause Recall (e.g., during client meetings or financial reviews) can help manage risks.
• Training staff on what Recall does and doesn’t do can build trust and transparency.

These decisions can be made as part of your wider device and data management strategy.

Recall is a new way of interacting with your digital life. It can help users be more productive, retrace their steps, and keep their focus without relying on memory alone.

But like any smart tool, it pays to know how it works and when to use it. Taking a thoughtful approach to Recall can make it a helpful addition to your workflow, not an unexpected liability.

If you'd like to understand more about Recall and how to make sure it's set up right for your business, let’s chat. We can also help you kit out your business computers with the new Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs. We can walk you through what it means, what your options are, and what makes the most sense for your setup.