Microsoft Releasing New Windows Recall Feature To Copilot+ PCs For Insiders

   December 9, 2024  Posted in CyberSecurityNews


Microsoft has finally begun rolling out its highly anticipated Recall feature to Windows Insiders with Copilot+ PCs, marking a significant milestone in AI-powered productivity tools for Windows 11.

After facing multiple delays due to privacy and security concerns, Microsoft is now offering a preview of Recall to users in the Windows Insider Dev Channel.

Recall is an innovative AI-powered feature designed to capture and organize users’ digital activities on their Copilot+ PCs.

Recall with timeline control (Source – Microsoft)

It takes snapshots of active windows every few seconds, analyzes them using the system’s Neural Processing Unit (NPU) and an on-device AI model, and stores the collected data in an encrypted SQLite database.

While the security analysts at Microsoft noted that the users can then search through their digital history using natural language queries, making it easier to find specific information from past activities, apps, or websites.

Image Creator in the Microsoft Photos app leverages the AI capabilities of your Copilot+ PC (Source – Microsoft)

Addressing initial concerns raised by cybersecurity experts, Microsoft has implemented several privacy and security measures for Recall:

  1. Opt-in Feature: Recall is not enabled by default and requires users to explicitly opt-in.
  2. Local Storage: All snapshots are stored locally on the PC and encrypted.
  3. Authentication: Users must authenticate using Windows Hello to access Recall data.
  4. Sensitive Information Protection: The feature automatically filters out sensitive information like credit card numbers and passwords.
  5. Customizable Settings: Users can exclude specific apps, websites, or in-private browsing sessions from being saved.

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Availability

The Recall preview is currently available for Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel-powered devices coming soon.

To access Recall, users need to:-

  1. Join the Windows Insider Dev Channel
  2. Install Windows 11 Preview Build 26120.2415 (KB5046723)
  3. Enable BitLocker and Secure Boot
  4. Set up Windows Hello for authentication

Alongside Recall, Microsoft is introducing “Click to Do,” an AI-powered feature that offers quick actions on saved snapshots, such as copying text, opening URLs, and performing visual searches.

More intelligent text actions in Click to Do with options to Summarize or Rewrite (Source – Microsoft)

This feature aims to further enhance productivity by allowing users to interact with their saved content more efficiently.

As Microsoft continues to refine and expand Recall, the company emphasizes its commitment to user privacy and security.

With this rollout, Windows 11 users on Copilot+ PCs can look forward to a more intuitive and powerful way to navigate their digital activities, potentially revolutionizing how we interact with our computers and manage our digital memories.

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