Windows 11s controversial Recall feature could soon arrive for Copilot+ PCs
I just hope Microsofts tightening of its privacy is up to scratch

Date:
Fri, 11 Apr 2025 10:19:04 +0000

Description:
It could be Click to Do or Die soon for Microsoft, as Windows 11s Recall search feature has entered the final stage of testing and should be imminent.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Recall has entered the final stage of testing in Windows 11 previews This means it could soon be released for all Copilot+ PCs However, the rollout will likely be a gradual one (as is the case in Release Preview testing right now)

Those wondering where Windows 11s controversial Recall feature has got to last seen lost in testing somewhere well, it looks like Microsoft is
readying to release this AI-powered search functionality for real soon
enough.

The Verge highlighted that Microsoft has pushed out a new test build ( version 26100.3902 ) in the Release Preview channel, and that this comes with both Recall and its partner feature Click to Do (context-sensitive AI-driven suggestions).

There are four main testing channels for Windows 11, and Release Preview is the last stage before hitting finished versions of the desktop operating system as the name denotes, its the final stage before release.

In short, it looks like Recall and Click to Do could soon arrive for everyone (who has a Copilot+ PC remember, these AI features need the powerful NPU thats a requirement for those devices).

When Recall does pitch up, itll be optimized for only an initial small set of languages. Those are: English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German,
Japanese, and Spanish.

For those whove forgotten though thats unlikely, given all the controversy this capability has caused since its revelation last year Recall uses AI and regularly taken screenshots of the activity on your PC to drive an in-depth natural language search. (Queries such as: Find that document where I wrote
my packing list for holidays abroad.)

While that certainly promises to be very useful, there have been many privacy and security concerns around Recall, which has led Microsoft to take a bunch of steps to shore up those areas. That includes the introduction of Windows Hello sign-in to confirm its actually you present at the Copilot+ PC when using Recall. (Image credit: Microsoft) Analysis: A pivotal moment for Copilot+ PCs

This is exciting news for those who want to use Recall, of course, and interesting for those of us who dont feel drawn to the feature yet, but still want to see how it plays out in the real-world.

This is Microsofts cornerstone AI feature for Copilot+ PCs, of course, so its going to be watched keenly by a whole lot of eyes. And prodded and poked at
by a whole lot of security experts and hackers (white hat or otherwise).

Will Microsoft be nervous? Most likely, certainly about the reaction this is going to be met with, and how bulletproof Recall actually is security-wise , when it launches on a grand scale although we need to hold our horses a bit on that front.

Recall will still likely be labelled a preview ability, even when it releases to finished Windows 11 Copilot+ devices. Therell be a limited rollout to
begin with, as well, when Recall formally debuts. Even right now in testing, Microsoft has said that the rollout is a gradual one, so not all testers will see this straight away. Im guessing the speed of the rollout in Release Preview will depend on how well this last phase of testing progresses.

In the footnotes for the blog post for this new preview build, Microsoft
tells us that Recall will be available in early 2025 in most markets which is a bit odd, seeing as that timeframe has already sailed in my book. (Id call
Q1 the early part of the year, and of course were in Q2 now, in April).

However, Microsoft also clarifies that Recall wont be coming to Europe early in 2025, and that itll be rolling out to the European Economic Area later
this year instead. Thats presumably due to the data regulations in that region, which has been the cause of a number of capabilities being put on
ice. You may also like... Windows 11 users are getting fixes for some longstanding bugs in 24H2 today, including the cure for a seriously annoying File Explorer glitch Windows 11 is getting a very handy change to the
taskbar, as Microsoft takes a leaf from Apples Mac playbook Microsoft looks
to be making a big change to how you install and log in to Windows 11 and Im not happy about it at all



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/windows-11s-controversial-recall-f eature-could-soon-arrive-for-copilot-pcs-i-just-hope-microsofts-tightening-of- its-privacy-is-up-to-scratch


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