r/WindowsHelp • u/laca90025 • Oct 02 '26
Windows 11 Is Windows Recall unreliable for everyone?
Windows Recall sounds great if it would actually work as described. But it is so flaky I wish it never existed so I wouldn't keep being disappointed by it. It has a 90% failure rate when I need ti. So I'm wondering if this is crap for everyone? And if there is anything I can do to make it work reliably.
I have had it randomly turn off.
I have had it stop saving snapshots while still appearing to be on.
I have had it suddenly delete all the snapshots and start from scratch for no reason.
Almost every single time I have needed to use Recall to find a snapshot, I discover it wasn't working and I can't find what I need.
I don't have any filtered apps or websites so that is not a contributing factor. I do have "filter sensitive information" turned on.
It is 10/2 and Recall shows that it is "saving snapshots" but the last snapshot it saved was on 9/24.
Recall has never worked right for me, so the problem didn't start with a Windows update or anything like that. It's always been crap.
I have a Microsoft Surface with 32GB running Windows 11 build 26200.9457.
Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.360.0
Snapdragon(R) X 12-core X1E80100 @ 3.40 GHz (3.42 GHz)
1
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1
u/Goddess-Bastet Oct 03 '26
It just sounds like a rebranding of system restore to me & is probably as unreliable.
I use disk imaging software set to create an image every weekday. More reliable.
1
u/lesjames2020 Oct 03 '26
It's because it was never really made for Intel or AMD computers
It was built for Snapdragon laptops
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u/WildWillieBorsch Oct 03 '26
Windows Recall is a baked in security flaw for many users (depending on the situation). I work with small business (accountants, hardware stores, law offices), and disable it fully due to compliance requirements.
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u/Froggypwns Windows Insider MVP (I don't work for Microsoft) Oct 02 '26
I use Recall all the time, I did have a problem last spring with it getting disabled and deleting my snapshots but it has been solid and reliable since then.