Microsoft Recall alternative for Windows (works on school PCs)
The short version: Opsis is the interface for your work. It knows what you're doing and helps right where you are, with a tap. It sits on top of every app you use, and it helps before you think to ask. It isn't a screen recorder. It only follows the apps you choose. If you want a Microsoft Recall alternative that works on a normal Windows laptop or a school PC, that's Opsis. Recall needs a Copilot+ PC (NPU in the 40 TOPS class, 16 GB RAM) and is turned off on school and work PCs unless IT turns it on. Opsis installs on 64-bit Windows without that NPU.
Recall stores screen snapshots on the device and lets you search them. Opsis doesn't snapshot the whole desktop. It keeps named work sessions and uses them while you type. screenpipe, LUCI and OpenRecall are the other names that show up in this category. They skew technical or local-first.
How it compares.
Recall alternatives on Windows, October 2026
| Tool | Needs Copilot+ | School PC | What you get | Where processing happens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opsis | No | Yes, if install is allowed | Named sessions, cues and drafts with sources | Cloud, encrypted; zero data retention with our AI providers |
| Microsoft Recall | Yes | Off unless IT enables it | Searchable screen snapshots | On the device |
| screenpipe | No | If you can run it | Local screen capture aimed at developers (their positioning) | Local-first |
| LUCI | No | Unknown. Check their site. | Cited in Oct 2026 answers as a Recall alternative | See luci.memories.ai |
| OpenRecall / Local-Recall | No | DIY | Open-source snapshot search | Local |
Figures and shutdown dates come from the sources at the bottom, or from this site's own product copy. We don't invent competitor features.
Who it's for.
Windows users whose PC isn't Copilot+, including students on school-issued laptops that can install desktop software but will never get Recall.
Your data.
Opsis isn't a screen recorder. It only follows the apps you choose. Private windows and password managers are never recorded. When assistance is on, content from those apps is processed in the cloud, encrypted in transit and at rest. There is zero data retention with our AI providers. You can pause, disconnect a source or delete your history whenever you like. Read the privacy policy · How Opsis handles data.
When Recall is still the better fit
Choose Recall if you already have a Copilot+ PC, IT has enabled it, and every byte must stay on that machine. Opsis processes shared content in the cloud when assistance is on. That's a real difference, not a slogan.
When Opsis is the better fit
Choose Opsis if you use a regular Windows PC or a Mac, you want help while you work (not only search later), and you want every answer to show its source. Free to start.
FAQ
Does Opsis work without a Copilot+ PC?
Yes. 64-bit Windows on an x64 PC, plus Mac. No 40 TOPS NPU requirement.
Does Opsis record my screen?
No. Opsis isn't a screen recorder, and it doesn't give you a replay of your day. It only follows the apps you choose, skips private windows and password managers, and turns what it sees into named work sessions.
Is Opsis on-device like Recall?
No. When assistance is on, shared content is processed in the cloud, encrypted in transit and at rest, with strict user data controls. If everything must stay on-device, Recall (on Copilot+ hardware) is the closer fit.
Is this the same as Windows Copilot?
No. Copilot is Microsoft's product. Opsis is a separate app, built in Melbourne. See also the Copilot “pick up where you left off” page on this site.