Microsoft has announced the official launch of Recall, a feature that captures screenshots of user activities on Copilot Plus PCs. This feature will be rolled out today, coinciding with enhancements to the AI-powered Windows search and the introduction of a new Click to Do functionality, reminiscent of Google’s Circle to Search.
Initially slated for launch alongside Copilot Plus PCs in June of the previous year, Recall’s debut was postponed due to security concerns identified by researchers. After intending to begin public testing in October, Microsoft opted to delay it until November for additional security enhancements. Over the last 10 months, Microsoft has significantly revamped Recall’s security measures and transformed it into an opt-in feature, allowing users to decide whether to activate it based on privacy considerations.
Navjot Virk, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of Windows Experiences, stated, “With Recall, we aim to alleviate a common issue: the challenge of resuming work where you left off.” The feature enhances the search capabilities on PCs by organizing captured snapshots, enabling users to search based on general recollections rather than specific file names.
Following a test period last year, one reviewer noted that while Recall offers significant advancements in Windows search functionality, it does raise some privacy concerns due to the extensive data it collects regarding user activities and the necessity to manage blocked applications and websites carefully.
Kevin Beaumont, a security researcher who initially expressed concerns about Recall, recently tested the finalized version and acknowledged that Microsoft has implemented substantial security measures. The database is encrypted, and Recall now automatically filters out sensitive information, although some issues remain with filtering certain applications and websites.
Additionally, Beaumont pointed out that accessing Recall can be done through a simple four-digit PIN with Windows Hello, rather than requiring more secure methods like facial recognition or fingerprint scanning. Microsoft’s documentation specifies that at least one biometric sign-in option must be activated for Windows Hello to use Recall.
In addition to Recall, enhancements to Windows search functionality are being introduced to Copilot Plus PCs. Users can now utilize natural language in their queries across File Explorer, the Windows search box, and settings. This means that users can describe the content or images they seek, simplifying the search process.
Microsoft is also launching Click to Do, which functions similarly to Google’s Circle to Search. This feature can be activated with the Windows key plus a left mouse click, allowing users to take actions on highlighted text or images, such as text summarization or object removal from images.
The features of Recall, along with the revamped Windows search and Click to Do, will be accessible today for all Copilot Plus PCs. However, the text actions provided by Click to Do will initially be available solely for Qualcomm-based devices, while users with AMD and Intel systems will see this feature rolled out over the coming months. Furthermore, the availability of these features will be restricted in certain European countries, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, until later this year.
