Microsoft has unveiled a first-look preview of the revamped version of Windows Recall for Windows Insiders via its Dev Channel, six months after the initial announcement and subsequent modifications and delays. This preview is specifically available to Windows Insiders with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and Plus Copilot+ PCs, with support for Intel- and AMD-powered Copilot+ PCs coming at a later date. The specific build of Windows 11 Insider Preview that includes Recall with Click to Do is Build 26120.2415 (KB5046723).
Recall functions by taking “snapshots” of a user’s PC, enabling users to easily search and “recall” any application action, website visited, or image or document previously accessed on the system. Using optical character recognition (OCR), Recall extracts text from screenshots and stores both images and text in a searchable database. When users describe what they are trying to find, Recall searches the database to assist them. The built-in neural processing unit allows for local running of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning workloads, ensuring that no data is stored in the cloud and Microsoft does not have access to any Recall snapshots for AI model training.
Initially planned for a summer release, Recall was delayed multiple times to address privacy concerns. Microsoft has now introduced new security-focused features in the preview, such as making snapshot saving opt-in rather than opt-out, requiring BitLocker disk encryption and Secure Boot to be enabled, and mandating Windows Hello enrollment for reauthentication each time Recall’s database is accessed. Users have the ability to delete snapshots and sensitive personal data like credit card numbers or passwords is not saved.
Users can choose to opt out of using Recall on certain apps and websites or uninstall it entirely. For enterprise and education users, Recall will be managed by IT administrators who can also uninstall the feature if data exposure is a concern. The preview version allows users to test Recall in real-world scenarios and provide feedback to Microsoft through the Feedback Hub and Windows Insider Preview Bug Bounty Program to address any issues that may arise.
There is currently no specified timeline for how long Recall will remain in preview before a general release. Microsoft is focused on ensuring that the reworked Recall feature meets the standards of security and privacy expected by users before moving forward with a wider rollout.