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Microsoft’s controversial Windows Recall feature is coming back. The tech giant recently announced at its official blog that the feature will be available to testers in the Windows Insider program in October 2024. Once ready, it will roll out to all Copilot Plus PCs, though no exact timeframe was given.
As a quick refresher, Windows Recall initially received a lot of pushback when it was announced in May. It uses artificial intelligence to take screenshots of everything you do on a Windows 11 computer, with the goal of keeping a detailed record. A user could, for example, go back and locate lost files or remind themselves of past conversations.
The company assured everyone that it was completely safe, but people didn’t buy it. They didn’t trust the brand because of their poor reputation for keeping user data safe. You even had cybersecurity researcher Alexander Hagenah showing that it’s actually very easy for malware to steal all data in a Recall repository.
Shortly after, Microsoft withdrew the feature.
Possible update package
In June, the company published an update on its website explaining everything it was doing with the tool. Microsoft said it would first make it very clear that users can opt out of the Recall. And it will be “off by default.”
Enrolling in Windows Hello will be a requirement before activating the tool, and additional layers of protection will be added. Their message states that screenshots “can only be decrypted and accessible when the user authenticates themselves.”
Microsoft also briefly discusses the new user experience. A Recall window is pinned to the taskbar when screenshots are saved, and you can delete images at any time.
Analysis: A major concern
Beyond these descriptions, it’s unknown if anything else will be added or changed with the relaunch. This was supposed to come out in the weeks following the initial delay; however, those weeks quickly turned into months. Microsoft isn’t saying why they had to delay Recall even further, though they do promise to release more details in October.
Our biggest concern is how much or how little of the new package will be available to testers. There is no guarantee that testers will get access to every change. It could be all of them or just one. Also, the relaunch might not happen this year.
Windows Insider Program trials typically last a few weeks to months before they’re officially released. If Microsoft has to make a lot of adjustments, Recall might not launch until sometime next year.
While we’re on the subject, check out TechRadar’s roundup of the best laptops for 2024.
