Microsoft has begun testing its much-anticipated “Recall” feature, a photographic memory search tool designed for Copilot+ PCs equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon chips. The feature, which allows users to take screenshots of their computer screen automatically, aims to offer a new way of searching for text or images seen previously. Although the feature was originally announced in May, it has faced delays and significant adjustments, following concerns over privacy and security.
The Recall tool is integrated with Windows 11 and uses artificial intelligence to capture screenshots of a user’s screen as they interact with it. This enables users to later search for specific words or images contained within those screenshots, offering an advanced way to retrieve information. However, early testing has shown that the feature is not without flaws. Users have reported issues with its functionality, including compatibility challenges with certain accessibility programs, as well as concerns over the tool’s handling of content on websites. For example, despite user settings that prohibit content from specific websites from being saved, Recall may still capture and store images from those sites while browsing in Microsoft Edge.
Microsoft initially introduced Recall as part of the Copilot+ initiative, targeting high-performance devices like the latest Surface Pro models. Recall is only available to users with specific hardware configurations—namely, devices powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips and neural processing units designed for AI tasks. Additionally, users must be enrolled in the Windows Insider Program’s dev channel to access the feature. At present, Copilot+ PCs with AMD or Intel chips are excluded from the testing phase.
The feature has faced scrutiny from cybersecurity experts, who raised concerns about potential risks related to the automatic capturing and storage of sensitive information. In response, Microsoft made significant changes to the design of Recall, including the encryption of its underlying database and the default setting to keep the feature disabled. This shift aims to address privacy and security concerns, ensuring that users have greater control over when and how Recall captures content.
While Microsoft is taking precautions to improve Recall’s security, the feature’s early release indicates that it is still in development. The company is likely to continue refining it based on user feedback before a broader public release.
