Windows Recall requiring facial or fingerprint recognition?

Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8524
Microsoft account signed in using Windows Hello PIN security.
BitLocker currently disabled (testing purposes, not actually running Recall).
Sign in to Windows 11 using PIN.

When opening Recall in Windows 11, this message appears:


Microsoft Copilot answer on Windows Recall requirements:


I found Retrace your steps with Recall showing this updated requirement:

• Users need to enroll into Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security with at least one biometric sign-in option enabled in order to authenticate

After reading the Windows Hello ESS, this requires facial recognition or fingerprint recognition for Recall.

When did this change or update for Recall?

Problem: this is on a tower system with no fingerprint reader nor web cam for facial recognition.

The Windows user I am helping told me they were using Recall in Windows 11 until recently and wondering why facial/fingerprint recognition is now required. This user wants to continue using Recall (not sure why), but now this message pops up for them. So, this is why I am testing this feature for the user.

Thanks.

That change was made around June, 2024

pseymour said:

That change was made around June, 2024

Click to expand...

Definitely not recent. I wonder what this user would need to do to gain access back to their Recall data. Strange that Recall has been working all this time (based on what they told me) until now.

And the missing details revealed:

Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 or 7 with Windows 11 24H2. Seems like Windows Update had been disabled from when purchased due to poor Internet connection in their area.

They called it a "tower" as that was their previous computer, so they assumed the Surface Laptop was a tower because it had a keyboard, mouse, and monitor like the previous computer.

Camera does not work on the Laptop. They don't want the camera fixed at all, because they do not use it.

Windows 11 Settings > Account > Sign-in options indicates Facial recognition is not available and Fingerprint recognition is not available.

The computer place they used repaired something on the laptop and probably updated Windows 11 to the latest version. This caused the security changes on the Surface Laptop.

Suggested (the obvious choice) to purchase a USB fingerprint reader to see if it allow them to access the Recall data again.

Maybe the repair place didn't re-install all of the Surface drivers?