Use Recall to retrace steps and document workflows.
Windows Recall.
Overview:
What Is Windows Recall?
Windows Recall: Search your screen history.
Windows Recall is a new feature in Windows 11 designed to help you quickly find and revisit anything you’ve seen or done on your PC. The program involves taking periodic snapshots (screenshots) of your on-computer activity every few seconds as you work. Recall saves these snapshots locally on your device—meaning they never leave your computer or get sent to Microsoft or anyone else—and uses AI to help you search through them using natural language. For example, if you vaguely remember seeing something about “company Q2 revenue goals” earlier in the week but can’t remember where, you can just type that into Recall, and it’ll show you the exact moment you saw it, whether it was in a browser, a document, or an app.
You can search by text or even by describing what you saw, and Recall will find both text and images that match your description. It’s like having a photographic memory for your computer activity. Device owners are meant to be the only users permitted access to Windows Recall data—it is protected by your Windows Hello sign-in (face, fingerprint, or PIN).
Is Recall Available to Enterprise Microsoft Clients?
Yes, Windows Recall is technically available for enterprise (business) Microsoft clients, but with some major restrictions:
- Disabled by Default: On enterprise-managed devices (like those in big companies or schools), Recall is turned off and even removed by default. Regular users can’t turn it on by themselves.
- IT Admin Control: Only IT administrators can enable Recall by changing specific policies. Even then, employees have to opt in themselves before Recall starts saving any snapshots.
- User Consent Required: Even if IT enables Recall, each user must give permission for their computer to start saving snapshots. Users can turn it off or delete their data at any time.
- Extra Security: Recall on enterprise devices comes with extra security measures, like encryption and requiring Windows Hello authentication to access the snapshots.
How Would Teams at a Large Enterprise Use Recall?
If a large company’s IT department does decide to enable Recall, there are a variety of ways for teams to use this feature responsibly.
Windows Recall helps you pick up right where you left off.
- Process Documentation
Employees could use Recall to retrace the steps they took to complete a task, making it easier to document processes, train new team members, or troubleshoot issues. For example, if someone figured out a complicated workflow in a business app, they could use Recall to review exactly what they did and share those steps with teammates. - Finding Information Quickly
Instead of wasting time searching through emails, chat logs, or files, employees could use Recall to instantly find information they saw earlier, even if they don’t remember where they saw it. This could boost productivity and reduce frustration. - Resuming Work After Interruptions
If you get interrupted or have to switch tasks, Recall can help you jump right back to where you left off in a document, website, or app, saving time and reducing mistakes. - Automating Workflows
Over time, as Recall gets smarter, companies might use it to analyze how employees use software and automate repetitive tasks, making work more efficient.
Important Notes about Windows Recall for Enterprises
There are many reasons behind why Recall is automatically disabled on enterprise accounts. Below are some of the reasons why some organizations might choose to leave it that way.
- Privacy Concerns
Because Recall saves screenshots of everything you do, privacy is a big concern. That’s why it’s off by default for businesses, and why IT and users both have to agree before it’s used. - Local Storage Only (for Now)
All data stays on your device and isn’t shared with Microsoft—this might change in the future. However, for now, it’s designed to keep sensitive business info safe. - Not for Everyone
Recall is only available on certain new Windows 11 devices (Copilot+ PCs) and supports a limited set of languages.
Summary Chart: Windows Recall for Enterprises
| Feature | Private Consumer Microsoft Licenses | Enterprise-Level Microsoft Licenses |
|---|---|---|
| Default State | User can enable/disable | Disabled and removed by default |
| Who Can Enable | End user | IT admin (via policy), then end user opt-in |
| Data Storage | Local device | Local device |
| Security | Encrypted, Windows Hello | Extra security, IT policy controls |
| Use Cases | Personal productivity | Process documentation, workflow automation, info retrieval |
| Privacy | User-controlled | Strictly controlled, user consent required |
Windows Recall for Businesses in Simple Terms
Think of Windows Recall as a super-powered search tool for your computer that remembers everything you’ve seen, but only you can access it. For big companies, it’s locked down tight: IT has to turn it on, and you have to agree before it starts working. If used, it could help teams work faster, document how they do things, and find lost info in seconds, but only if everyone is comfortable with the privacy trade-offs.
If your team is grappling with how to safely integrate Windows Recall into your organization’s workflows, book a call with US Cloud for the thoughtful and security-compliant support that will keep your systems running and your data protected.
FAQs: Enterprise Microsoft Users and Windows Recall
What is Windows Recall and what does it do?
Windows Recall is an AI-powered feature in Windows 11 (on Copilot+ PCs) that automatically takes periodic screenshots of your activity, creating a searchable history archive. This lets users search for and revisit anything they’ve seen or done on their PC, using natural language queries.
Is Recall enabled by default on enterprise devices?
No, Recall is disabled and removed by default on all enterprise-managed devices. IT administrators must explicitly enable it through group policies before employees can opt in to use it.
What security measures protect Recall data?
Recall data is stored locally and encrypted. Access to Recall requires Windows Hello authentication (face, fingerprint, or PIN), and the database is protected by BitLocker or Windows Device Encryption, as well as additional protections like Virtualization-Based Security and Trusted Platform Module (TPM).
Can Recall accidentally capture sensitive or confidential information?
Yes, Recall can capture anything displayed on the screen, including potentially sensitive data. Microsoft has implemented filters to avoid capturing things like passwords, credit card numbers, and incognito browser sessions, but these filters are not 100% reliable. Organizations should be aware of the risk of sensitive data exposure.
Can users or admins delete Recall data?
Yes, users can manually delete specific screenshots, all screenshots from certain apps, or clear the entire Recall database for a selected time period. If Recall is disabled by policy, all previously saved snapshots are deleted from the device.
Is Recall data ever sent to Microsoft or stored in the cloud?
No, all Recall data is stored and processed locally on the device. It is not currently uploaded to Microsoft servers or the cloud.
What are the privacy and compliance implications of using Recall?
Recall can capture and store sensitive or regulated data (e.g., PII, HIPAA, FERPA). This data is subject to eDiscovery and public information requests, so enterprises must consider legal and compliance requirements when enabling Recall.
Can Recall be used in BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) or remote work settings?
If employees use a Copilot+ PC with Recall enabled outside the corporate network, sensitive business data may still be captured. Enterprises should consider policies and technical controls to manage this risk, such as restricting access to sensitive apps or data from personal devices.
