Archiving & Deleting
Updated
Archive vs Delete
Recall gives you two ways to clear screenshots from your main library view:
| Action | What happens |
|---|---|
| Archive | Screenshot is hidden from the main library but kept on disk and in the database. Recoverable. |
| Delete | Screenshot is moved to the macOS Trash. Recoverable from Trash until emptied. |
Archiving is the safer option when you’re not sure whether you’ll need a screenshot again.
Archiving a Single Screenshot
- Click a screenshot to select it
- In the detail panel at the bottom, click Archive
The screenshot disappears from the current view. To find it again, click Archived in the sidebar.
Unarchiving
- Click Archived in the sidebar
- Select the screenshot you want to restore
- Click Unarchive in the detail panel
The screenshot returns to the main library and is re-classified under its original tags.
Quick Look Before Archiving
If you’re not sure whether to keep a screenshot, select it and press Space to open Quick Look. Review it at full size, then press Escape to close and decide.
Bulk Selection
To archive or delete multiple screenshots at once:
- Click the Select button in the toolbar (or the checkmark circle icon)
- Click each screenshot you want to include — a blue checkbox appears on selected items
- The toolbar updates to show how many are selected and offers Archive and Delete buttons
- Click Archive or Delete to act on all selected screenshots at once
- Click Select again (or press
Escape) to exit selection mode
Deleting a Screenshot
- Select the screenshot
- Click Delete in the detail panel
The file is moved to the macOS Trash and removed from Recall’s database. To recover it, open the Trash, right-click the file, and select Put Back. Recall will re-index it the next time the app scans its watched directories (on next launch, or when a new file triggers a scan).
Exporting a Screenshot
To save a copy of a screenshot to a different location:
- Select the screenshot
- Click Export in the detail panel
- Choose a destination in the Save dialog
The original file is not moved or deleted.