OpenRecall – How to Install and Use the Alternative to Windows Recall

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Microsoft, in May, revealed that it would be bringing a ton of new AI features to brand new 2024 PCs that came with a dedicated NPU. One of the interesting yet sketchy features that Microsoft revealed to the public was the AI Recall feature. Because of security and privacy reasons, Microsoft has delayed the release of Recall and will first be testing it out with Windows Insider and then decide on a release date.

However, if you felt the Recall feature was something you liked but were simultaneously worried about privacy concerns, there is an alternative to Microsoft’s Recall. Aptly named, OpenRecall, is a tool you might want to check out.

OpenRecall – An Open Source Alternative to Microsoft Recall

If you want to try out Recall but don’t have a system that has a dedicated NPU, there is now an alternative- OpenRecall. OpenRecall is a free open-source tool that mimics Microsoftโ€™s Recall. It is designed to take screenshots and make themes searchable within your device.

how to use microsoft recall alternative openrecall
IMG: Open Recall

So if you are interested in checking it out, youโ€™ve come to the right place.

Setting up OpenRecall on your PC

OpenRecall is designed so that it can run on any PC. Whether your PC has an AMD or Intel CPU and has no NPU, it will work just as fine. OpenRecall can be run on Windows, macOS, and Linux-based PCs. Unlike Microsoftโ€™s Recall, OpenRecall is completely free and as for the screenshots, they are all saved locally on your device only.

OpenRecall – Where to Download?

OpenRecall can be easily downloaded from its official GitHub page. You can click on this link to visit the page. Simply click on the green Code button and choose download zip. The download will be quick as the file size is around 1.1 MB only.

OpenRecall – How to Run This Program?

Now that you have downloaded the important zip file for OpenRecall, it’s time to get this running. However, there are a few things that you need to have.

Prerequisites:

  • Python
  • Git
  • OpenRecall ZIP file from GitHub

If you have a Windows-based PC, you can install Python by downloading the installer from the official download page.

Additionally, you will need to install Git on your system. Installing Git can be installed by downloading the installer from its official download page.

With Python now installed on your Windows PC, you must run the following command line to install OpenRecall on your Windows PC.

python3 -m pip install --upgrade --no-cache-dir git+https://github.com/openrecall/openrecall.git

At this stage, you have installed Python, Git, and the OpenRecall app for your PC. The last and final step is to run OpenRecall on your PC. To run OpenRecall on your PC, you need to run the following command.

python3 -m openrecall.app

Once you have installed and have been able to run OpenRecall on your PC, accessing OpenRecall is very easy. Now all you need to do is launch your browser and visit the local host address that is displayed in your Command Prompt/Terminal window.

how to use microsoft recall alternative openrecall

Now, depending on what apps or programs or browser windows were open, you can simply click on the search icon and search through the bung of screenshots right away.

Closing Thoughts

This concludes everything you need to know about OpenRecall as well as how you can install and use the open-source free tool not only on your Windows PC, but also on your macOS and Linux devices. At the end of the day, it is up to you, whether you would like to make use of this alternative Recall feature or if you would like to simply continue using your PCs without these additional features. Let us know your thoughts down below.

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AUTHOR.

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Joshua D'souza

Enjoy games, 90's hip-hop, and tech. Loves exploring the infinite world of laptops and food. Every ready to provide assistance in anything that rocks his boat. Will gladly enjoy capturing memories through various lenses. Worked previously at PiunikaWeb as an author and researcher.

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