Recall on Unsupported PCs: A Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Table of Contents

• Understanding Windows Recall and its Limitations¶
• Installing Recall on Unsupported PCs Using Amperage¶
• Considerations for Non-ARM Based PCs¶
• Recall Availability and Windows 11 Compatibility¶
• Conclusion¶

Understanding Windows Recall and its Limitations¶

Microsoft’s introduction of Recall AI has sparked significant interest and debate among users. This feature, designed to act as a comprehensive photographic memory for your PC activities, promises to revolutionize how we interact with our digital lives. However, the initial release of Recall is deliberately limited to a specific subset of devices known as Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11 24H2. This exclusivity has naturally left many users eager to experience Recall on their existing, yet unsupported, hardware. This guide will walk you through the process of installing and utilizing Recall on computers that do not officially meet Microsoft’s stringent hardware requirements.

What is Windows Recall?¶

Recall is fundamentally designed to enhance your ability to remember and retrieve past digital activities. It achieves this by systematically capturing screenshots of your computer screen at regular intervals. These captured images are then processed and analyzed by Microsoft’s AI assistant, Copilot, creating a searchable visual timeline of your interactions. Imagine being able to instantly recall a specific website you visited last week, a document you briefly reviewed, or a chat conversation you had days ago, all through a simple search interface. Recall aims to provide this capability, offering a powerful tool for productivity and information retrieval. This “photographic memory” of your virtual activity is primarily intended to aid in recollecting previous actions, streamlining workflows and reducing the time spent searching for past information.

Official System Requirements for Recall¶

Microsoft has established specific hardware prerequisites for the official deployment of Recall. These requirements are currently tied to Copilot+ PCs, indicating a focus on newer, high-performance machines. To natively experience Recall through official Microsoft updates, your system must meet the following criteria:

• Copilot+ PC Designation: This is the primary requirement, signifying that Recall is initially designed for a specific class of modern PCs.
• Minimum 16 GB of RAM: Recall’s background screenshot capturing and AI processing are memory-intensive, necessitating a substantial amount of RAM for smooth operation.
• At Least 8 Logical Processors: A multi-core processor is crucial to handle the continuous background tasks associated with Recall without significantly impacting system performance.
• Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Processor: Currently, Recall is optimized for and officially supported on devices powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor, highlighting a focus on ARM-based architecture for initial rollout.
• 256 GB Storage Capacity or Greater: Recall requires significant storage space to save the captured screenshots.
  • 50 GB of Free Storage Space: A minimum of 50 GB of free space is needed to enable Recall functionality, ensuring sufficient room for initial snapshot storage.
  • Snapshot Cessation at 25 GB Free Space: The system will automatically stop saving screenshots when the available storage drops below 25 GB to prevent performance issues and potential system instability.

These stringent requirements mean that a large portion of existing Windows 11 users are currently excluded from directly accessing the Recall feature through standard updates.

Installing Recall on Unsupported PCs Using Amperage¶

While official support for Recall remains limited, the resourceful developer community has stepped in to bridge the gap. A tool called Amperage has emerged as a viable solution for enabling Recall on unsupported ARM-based computers. This opens up the possibility of experiencing Recall on a wider range of devices, albeit through an unofficial installation method. For users with non-ARM-based machines, the process is slightly more involved, requiring the use of a Windows 11 ARM ISO file and installation within a virtual machine environment. This approach allows Recall to function within the emulated ARM environment, even on incompatible hardware.

Prerequisites¶

Before proceeding with the installation of Recall on an unsupported computer using Amperage, ensure you meet the following prerequisites:

• Windows 11 Build 26100.712 (Release Preview Channel): Your system must be running this specific build of Windows 11. This can be obtained by enrolling in the Windows Insider Program and selecting the Release Preview Channel. This build contains the necessary underlying components for Recall to function, even when installed unofficially.
• Amperage Tool: This is the core utility that facilitates the installation of Recall on unsupported hardware. It can be downloaded from the developer’s GitHub repository.
• Windows AI Workaround for ARM: Alongside Amperage, you will need to download the Windows AI Workaround package, which provides essential AI components required for Recall to operate correctly on ARM-based systems. This package is available from online archives.

Meeting these prerequisites ensures that you have all the necessary software components to successfully install and run Recall on your unsupported machine.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide¶

The following steps outline the process of downloading and installing Recall on an unsupported computer using the Amperage tool. Please follow these instructions carefully to ensure a successful installation.

1. Enroll in Windows Insider Program and Obtain Required Build:

   • Navigate to Windows Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program.
   • Click on “Get started” and link your Microsoft account if prompted.
   • Choose the “Release Preview Channel” as your Insider settings.
   • Windows will automatically check for updates. Ensure you are updated to Windows 11 build 26100.712 or a later build from the Release Preview Channel. You may need to check for updates multiple times to receive the correct build. Restart your computer if prompted to complete the update process.

2. Download Amperage:

   • Open your web browser and go to the Amperage GitHub releases page. You can typically find this by searching for “AmperageKit GitHub” or directly navigating to the repository link (if known and trusted).
   • Locate the latest release version, usually indicated by version numbers like “v2024.x.xx”.
   • Download the Amperage_v2024.x.xx_arm64.zip file. Ensure you download the ARM64 version, even if you are unsure of your architecture, as this version is generally more compatible for this purpose.

3. Download Windows AI Workaround:

   • Go to archive.org and search for “windows-workloads-0.3.252.0-arm-64.7z”.
   • Locate the correct archive file and find the “DOWNLOAD OPTIONS” section.
   • Click on the “7Z” link to download the windows-workloads-0.3.252.0-arm-64.7z file. The 7Z format is recommended for faster download speeds.

4. Extract Files:

   • Once both ZIP and 7Z files are downloaded, navigate to your Downloads folder.
   • Extract Amperage: Right-click on the Amperage_v2024.x.xx_arm64.zip file and select “Extract All…”. Choose a destination folder (Downloads is fine) and click “Extract”.
   • Extract AI Workaround: Right-click on the windows-workloads-0.3.252.0-arm-64.7z file. If you don’t have 7-Zip installed, you may need to download and install it first (available for free online). Using 7-Zip, select “7-Zip” > “Open archive”. In the 7-Zip window, navigate to the WorkloadComponents folder within the archive. Extract this WorkloadComponents folder to your Downloads folder (or another easily accessible location).

5. Install Amperage and AI Components:

   • Open Command Prompt as an Administrator. You can do this by typing “cmd” in the Windows search bar, right-clicking on “Command Prompt”, and selecting “Run as administrator”.
   • In the Command Prompt, change the directory to the extracted Amperage folder. Assuming you extracted it to your Downloads folder, the command would be:
     

     cd c:/users/[YourUsername]/downloads/Amperage
     

     
     Replace [YourUsername] with your actual user name.
   • Once in the Amperage directory, run the installation command:
     

     amperage /install
     

     
     Press Enter and wait for the installation process to complete. This command will install Amperage and integrate the necessary Recall components.

6. Reboot and Initial Setup:

   • After the installation command finishes, reboot your computer. This is crucial for the changes to take effect.
   • After rebooting, sign in to your computer using your Microsoft account.
   • During the initial setup phase after logging in, you should see a prompt related to Recall. Make sure to tick the option that says “Open Settings after setup completes so I can manage my Recall preferences”. This will directly take you to the Recall settings after the setup. Click on “Continue” to proceed.

7. Enable Recall in Settings:

   • If you ticked the option in the previous step, the Settings app should automatically open to the Recall settings page. Alternatively, you can manually navigate to Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots.
   • On the Recall & snapshots page, locate the toggle for “Save snapshots” and enable it by switching it to the “On” position.
   • Review other settings on this page, such as exclusion filters for apps and websites, and adjust them according to your preferences.

After completing these steps, Recall should be installed and enabled on your unsupported computer. You can now begin to experience the “photographic memory” functionality as it captures snapshots of your on-screen activity.

Uninstalling Recall¶

If you decide to remove Recall from your unsupported computer, Amperage provides a straightforward uninstallation command.

Related: loading

1. Open Command Prompt as an Administrator again.
2. Navigate to the Amperage folder directory, just as you did during installation:
   

   cd c:/users/[YourUsername]/downloads/Amperage
   

   
   Replace [YourUsername] with your actual user name.
3. Run the uninstallation command:
   

   amperage /uninstall
   

   
   Press Enter and wait for the uninstallation process to complete.
4. Reboot your computer to fully remove Recall and its components.

This will effectively uninstall Recall and remove its integration from your system.

Considerations for Non-ARM Based PCs¶

The primary method described above is tailored for ARM-based unsupported computers. For those using traditional x86/x64 architecture machines, running Recall becomes more complex. While direct installation via Amperage on non-ARM hardware is not officially supported, a potential workaround involves virtualization.

Virtualization with Windows 11 ARM¶

One approach is to create a virtual machine (VM) running Windows 11 ARM on your non-ARM computer. This can be achieved using virtualization software like VMware Workstation Pro, Oracle VM VirtualBox, or QEMU. You would need to download a Windows 11 ARM ISO file and install it within the VM environment. Then, you can attempt to install Recall within this Windows 11 ARM virtual machine using the Amperage method described earlier.

Limitations and Performance¶

It is crucial to understand that running Recall within a virtualized environment on non-ARM hardware comes with significant limitations. Performance is likely to be substantially reduced compared to native ARM or officially supported Copilot+ PCs. Virtualization adds an extra layer of overhead, and emulating ARM architecture on x86/x64 processors is computationally intensive. You may experience sluggishness, increased resource usage, and potentially instability. Furthermore, the compatibility and stability of Recall in such a virtualized setup are not guaranteed. This approach should be considered experimental and is not recommended for users seeking a reliable or high-performance Recall experience.

Recall Availability and Windows 11 Compatibility¶

Recall on Copilot+ PCs¶

For users who possess a Copilot+ PC running the latest builds of Windows 11, accessing Recall is intended to be a straightforward process. After ensuring your system is fully updated, you should be able to enable Recall directly through the Windows Settings app. Navigate to Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots and toggle the “Save snapshots” option to the “On” position. However, it is worth noting that Microsoft has indicated a potential postponement in the broader rollout of Recall, suggesting that its availability, even on supported hardware, might be subject to change.

Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware (General Info)¶

While this guide focuses on installing Recall on unsupported PCs, it’s relevant to briefly address the broader topic of running Windows 11 on hardware that doesn’t officially meet Microsoft’s minimum requirements. It is indeed possible to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware by employing certain workarounds, often involving modifications to the ISO installation media to bypass Secure Boot and TPM checks. Tools like Rufus can assist in creating such modified installation media. However, installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware comes with inherent risks. Most notably, you may not receive crucial Windows updates, including security patches, which can leave your system vulnerable to threats. Furthermore, driver compatibility and overall system stability may be compromised. While technically feasible, running Windows 11 on unsupported hardware is generally not recommended for primary or production machines due to these potential drawbacks.

Conclusion¶

While officially intended for a select range of Copilot+ PCs, the allure of Recall AI extends to a wider user base. By utilizing tools like Amperage, it is currently possible to experience a version of Recall on unsupported ARM-based Windows computers. However, it is important to acknowledge that this is an unofficial method and may come with limitations and potential instability. For non-ARM systems, virtualization offers a more complex and less performant route. As Recall is a relatively new and evolving feature, its future availability, compatibility, and official support landscape remain subject to change. Users considering installing Recall on unsupported hardware should proceed with caution, understanding the potential risks and limitations involved.

Have you tried installing Recall on an unsupported PC? What was your experience? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!