How to Disable Windows Recall & Copilot+ on Windows 11 (Full Guide, 2026), by HelpKlick on YouTube. 1 min 40 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 40 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Open Settings with Windows key + I, then go to Privacy and security and find the Recall and snapshots section.
Turn off the switch for saving snapshots. If prompted, choose to delete any existing snapshots so old screen captures are removed.
Scroll down and turn off Copilot and any other AI features listed, such as text and image suggestions in apps.
Open Taskbar settings, find the Copilot button entry and switch it off so the icon leaves your taskbar.
For a stronger block on Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, open gpedit.msc, go to User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows AI, and disable Allow Recall.
On Windows 11 Home, open regedit, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsAI, create a DWORD named DisableAIDataAnalysis and set it to 1.
Restart your PC, then reopen Settings and confirm Recall and Copilot are still off.
Tips and common mistakes
Back up the registry before editing it, since a wrong key can cause startup problems.
Windows updates can turn AI features back on, so check these settings again after big updates.
Deleting snapshots frees disk space as well as improving privacy.
Group policy only exists on Pro and Enterprise editions, so Home users need the registry method.
Questions
Does turning off Recall delete my saved snapshots?
Only if you choose the delete option when disabling it. Turning the switch off alone stops new snapshots but may keep old ones.
Will disabling Copilot break other Windows features?
No, Copilot and Recall are separate from core Windows tools. You can still use search, apps and settings as normal.
Can I turn these features back on later?
Yes. Return to the same Settings page or reverse the policy and registry changes, then restart your PC.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
