How to Change the Maximum Storage Size for Recall Snapshots in Windows 11

Recall in Windows 11 is a feature that captures periodic snapshots of user activity. Its purpose is to let you visit past interactions, letting them easily revisit past actions and interactions. Available only on Windows Copilot+ PCs, it can help you find the websites you visited, files you saved, and tasks you may have forgotten.

Although useful, IT admins should set a maximum snapshot storage size. This ensures optimal system performance and avoids situations where Recall takes up excessive amounts of storage, which may require you to free up disk space. Once reached, older snapshots will be deleted to accommodate new ones.

This guide contains methods for configuring this setting using Windows Settings and Group Policy Editor.

Ways to set the Windows Recall snapshot storage size in Windows 11

📌 Prerequisites:

• These methods require Windows 11 version 24H2 or later, with Windows Recall enabled.
• You need a Windows Copilot+ PC for Recall.
• Administrator privileges are required for Group Policy and Registry.
• You need to have enough disk space available. Storage value must be in line with your total drive capacity. For example, don’t assign 200 GB for a device with a 512 GB drive.

📌 Recommended deployment strategies:

Method 1: Change storage size for Windows Recall snapshots via Settings

The quickest and easiest way for individual users to control Recall storage is through settings.

📌 Use Cases:

• This method is ideal for personal devices where users can quickly manage their storage preferences.
• Best for testing Recall behavior before deploying it within a managed environment.

📌 Prerequisite:

• Your device needs to be running Windows 11 version 24H2 or later with Recall enabled.

Here’s how you can change snapshot storage size using Windows Settings:

1. Open Settings using the Win + I shortcut.
2. Next, navigate to Privacy & Security > Windows AI Recall & snapshots.
3. Click on Storage to expand the section.
4. Under Storage, expand Maximum Storage for snapshots. Then, from the dropdown menu, select the desired storage size. Here are your options, depending on the amount of storage your computer has
   • 256 GB: 10 GB, 25 GB (default)
   • 512 GB: 25 GB, 50 GB, 75 GB (default)
   • 1 TB: 25 GB, 50 GB, 75 GB, 100 GB, 150 GB (default)
5. Close the Settings window to apply the changes.

💡 Note: The default option is always the highest possible setting. Choose one of the lower options so Recall won’t take up too much space.

Method 2: Configure Recall snapshots storage space in Windows 11 using the Group Policy Editor

Group Policy Editor allows IT teams to consistently enforce Recall storage limits in enterprise, education, and managed environments.

📌 Use Cases:

• This is best for enterprise and education environments with domain-joined systems.
• You can use this to standardize Recall storage settings across multiple devices and prevent users from manually changing Recall snapshot behavior.

📌 Prerequisites:

• Applicable to Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. (Group Policy is not available on Windows Home.)
• This requires administrator privileges.
• Your system needs to run Windows 11 version 24H2 or later with Recall activated.

Here’s how to tweak Recall snapshots storage space in Windows 11 via Group Policy Editor:

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
   • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
   • Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2. Navigate to:
   • If you want to apply the settings for all users, go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows AI.
   • If you want to apply it only to specific users, go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows AI.
3. Once you reach Windows AI, click Set maximum storage for snapshots used by Recall. 
4. Under Options, select the desired storage size from the dropdown menu.
5. Click Apply, then OK.
6. Close the Group Policy Editor. To apply the setting, run this command via the Command Prompt: gpupdate /force.

⚠️ Things to look out for

Additional considerations when changing maximum storage size for Windows Recall snapshots

Set a realistic storage cap for Windows Recall

Be sure to choose a storage limit that aligns with a system’s total disk capability. For example, setting Recall to 50-100 GB would be unrealistic for systems with smaller drives (anything less than 512 GB).

Windows Recall automatically manages snapshots and storage

Once the configured snapshot storage size limit is reached, Windows deletes the oldest Recall snapshots. This will ensure storage usage is controlled. However, note that this results in older snapshots being lost.

Regularly monitor and adjust this setting, especially in managed environments

User workflows, especially in managed environments, and hardware specs will continue to evolve in the long term. With this in mind, it’s crucial to regularly reevaluate if the current caps are sufficient, helping you maintain a balance between usability and performance.

Adjust the storage size for Windows Recall snapshots to balance user convenience and system performance

Managing how much storage Recall can use is crucial for maintaining usability and performance in Windows 11. By setting a max storage size for Recall snapshots, you can control system drive usage while retaining access to helpful historical activity data.

Using Windows Settings is best for individual users, while Group Policy is an excellent choice for IT teams to enforce settings across the devices they oversee. These methods enable you to proactively manage Recall snapshot storage, letting you strike the right balance between user productivity and system performance.

Related topics:

• How to Delete Recall Snapshots in Windows 11
• How to Enable or Disable Recall Snapshots in Windows 11
• How to Check the Reserved Storage Size in Windows 10
• How to Change the Maximum Storage Size for the Recycle Bin in Windows 10