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The feature uses AI to analyze all the photos taken, and it is officially exclusive toCopilot+ PCs.

But that hasn’t stopped people from getting Recall to work on non-Copilot+ PCs.

Windows Recall

Windows Recall is exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, but you can use it on unsupported hardware with a new tool.

Theapp’s GitHub pagehas all the links and information you better set up the app and use Recall.

Albacore shared his process in a piece on our sister siteTom’s Hardware.

That piece focuses largely on how to use Recall on unsupported hardware by doing steps manually.

Recall interface

Windows Recall does not send any data to the cloud and data stored locally is encrypted.

It’s available on GitHub.

just check that to give the Readme a thorough read first!

While you might get Recall to work on other hardware, the experience is not optimal.

A pre-production sample of the HP EliteBook Ultra 14 (G1i), open and sitting on a desk.

“So, does all this mean that the NPU requirement is a sham?

No, of course not,” said Albacore.

A dedicated GPU is a good analogy.

Kevin Addley, VP Marketing & Growth at Future photographs a BSOD at JFK airport

But even for those who don’t use the tool, Albacore’s project is interesting.

Is Windows Recall safe and secure?

Your data from Windows Recall stays on your machine.

HP OmniStudio X AIO on a desk and turned on.

It’s not sent to Microsoft’s servers, or any cloud for that matter.

The NPU chips inside Copilot+ PCs are specialized for AI workloads and also secured.

Because your data is kept locally on your machine, it’s not used to train AI models.

Windows Copilot key

Recall does not require an internet connection or a Microsoft account.

That actually hinders the feature a bit, since you might’t sync your Recall data across devices.

Additionally, Recall is optional.

Windows 11 system features

If you don’t want to use it, you might turn the feature off.

While your data is not sent to the cloud, it is kept on your equipment locally.

That means that malware that makes its way onto your PC could scrape Recall data.

Windows 11 Start menu

Encryption means that a malicious actor cannot grab your logged-off PC and extract Windows Recall data.

You don’t even need to be on an admin account to access data used by Windows Recall.

Adding an option to require Windows Hello to use Recall or access Recall data would go a long way.

Windows 11 battery usage

People are naturally skeptical.

Copilot Vision for Windows announcement

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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the United Nations General Assembly seen on a laptop computer in Hastings on the Hudson, New York, U.S., on Tuesday, Sept. 22. 2020.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 deal

Promotional screenshot of characters from Zenless Zone Zero

MSI Claw 8 AI+ propped up next to an ROG Ally X on a table.

U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a chart while speaking during a “Make America Wealthy Again” trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC.