Microsoft relaunches Recall on Copilot+ Windows PCs after privacy overhaul

[Cal Jeffrey]

Editor's take: We already have too much personal information floating around on the internet, and it's seemingly leaked on a monthly basis. So, is having snapshots of your screen taken every few seconds, stored and indexed – even locally – safe? These images could contain sensitive information that anyone with access to your computer can see. To me, it sounds like a bad idea. Let me hear your thoughts in the comments.

Microsoft has officially launched its controversial Recall feature, but only for users of new Copilot+ PCs. The AI-powered tool, which captures screenshots every few seconds to build a searchable timeline of on-screen activity, returns nearly a year after Microsoft postponed it following a wave of privacy backlash. This time, the company disabled it by default and made it removable.

Unveiled in 2024 alongside Microsoft's Copilot+ PC initiative, Recall aimed to act as an AI memory for the device. It indexes everything from visited websites to opened documents and past chats, allowing users to "scroll back" in time with natural language queries. However, early builds showed that Recall often captured sensitive material – passwords, private messages, and financial data – without redaction.

Security researchers and privacy advocates quickly raised concerns about the tool's implications. Critics warned that if an attacker or malicious software gained access to Recall's local archive, it could expose a user's most private data. Microsoft responded by pulling the feature from preview builds, placing it in beta for five months, and reworking its privacy safeguards. Over the last couple of weeks, Windows Insiders tested the updated version in the preview channel, presumably without complaint.

The updated feature launching this week includes several key changes. Most notably, Recall is now an opt-in feature. Users must manually enable it, and data is processed locally on the device – not uploaded to the cloud. Access to Recall's timeline also requires Windows Hello biometric authentication. Microsoft has added controls to pause data capture, exclude certain apps or websites, and delete stored content.

Users can uninstall Recall completely through the system settings menu. To do so, go to Settings > System > Installed apps, search for "Recall," and select Uninstall. To opt-in, head to Settings > Privacy & Security > Recall & snapshots and toggle the switch.

Microsoft is launching Recall exclusively on Copilot+ PCs, a new class of Windows 11 laptops with built-in NPUs for local AI processing. Most existing PCs are not compatible and will not receive the feature.

Permalink to story:

Microsoft relaunches Recall on Copilot+ Windows PCs after privacy overhaul

 

[yRaz]

How is MS still trying to push this as a good idea?

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

How is MS still trying to push this as a good idea?

Dude! Because it's AI, Man. It the hip thing to put into everything these days. And you will use it whether you like it or not!.

SMFH

 

[john1971]

Dude! Because it's AI, Man. It the hip thing to put into everything these days. And you will use it whether you like it or not!.

SMFH

How is MS still trying to push this as a good idea?

I struggle with the endless negatively and moaning from the uninformed. Is Microsoft not allowed to add new, useful features to the operating system even if they are not perceived as so for many users? And how are they 'pushing it', its disabled by default for gods sake. Just don't turn it on and move on. This feature is amazing, and for use cases I have will be incredibly useful, but I certainly recognize its not for the majority. This is not the Recall that was nearly released a year ago, and we can be very grateful that its not. Those who complain forget that if someone has access to their computer, they have access to everything on it, including docs, password managers, email, photos, , etc without Recall being present. you could argue the security sitting on top of Recall is over the top with the need to re-authenticate when the app is launched, likely an overcorrection to the valid criticism of the feature over the last year . Anyway, it is what it is and I am glad it is finally shipping.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

I struggle with the endless negatively and moaning from the uninformed. Is Microsoft not allowed to add new, useful features to the operating system even if they are not perceived as so for many users? And how are they 'pushing it', its disabled by default for gods sake. Just don't turn it on and move on. This feature is amazing, and for use cases I have will be incredibly useful, but I certainly recognize its not for the majority. This is not the Recall that was nearly released a year ago, and we can be very grateful that its not. Those who complain forget that if someone has access to their computer, they have access to everything on it, including docs, password managers, email, photos, , etc without Recall being present. you could argue the security sitting on top of Recall is over the top with the need to re-authenticate when the app is launched, likely an overcorrection to the valid criticism of the feature over the last year . Anyway, it is what it is and I am glad it is finally shipping.

Dude, have you never used a microsoft product before?

>introduce new feature
>it sucks rocks
>remove feature and apologize
>re-add feature promising it "sucks less" and make it opt in
>oops its opt out now
>oops now its always on unless you edit the registry
>oops now you must use it.

They are "pushing it" by forcibly installing it on all windows 11 PCs. You cannot be rid of it. It is not an optional download. If you want to truly make it optional, then simply provide a download link instead of mandating it bloat our operating systems even more.

Someone having access to your PC is a red herring, it in no way justifies Recall and its data collection.

Seriously, can you point to the forum posts or microsoft requests for this type of feature? NOBODY was asking for Recall nor its features, and a large number of users object to this being installed.

How is MS still trying to push this as a good idea?

They gotta make MONEY BRO! Being worth $2.8 trillion just isnt enough, they need to scrape MORE of your data. MORE MORE MORE!

Windows is down to 77% marketshare, it cant be 7% soon enough. Thank god I jumped to Linux over a year ago....

 

[john1971]

The feature is opt-in. The binaries can be completely uninstalled (Add/Remove Windows components). The 'someone having access to your PC' is not a red-herring - your PC is literally a data collection device. Why would you not want to be able to efficiently use the data and history on your own PC! - sounds like you live in a dorm with a shared PC with no password. Seriously...

 

[john1971]

And why be upset about a feature you will not enable, or even have access to if Linux is your goto platform. Just move on as its not applicable to you...

 

[Theinsanegamer]

The feature is opt-in. The binaries can be completely uninstalled (Add/Remove Windows components). The 'someone having access to your PC' is not a red-herring - your PC is literally a data collection device. Why would you not want to be able to efficiently use the data and history on your own PC! - sounds like you live in a dorm with a shared PC with no password. Seriously...

It's opt in until it isnt.

Again, other people having access to your PC does not have anything to do with Recall being a privacy and data collection nightmare. That is a Red Herring argument.

and you dont need Recall to "efficiently use the data and history of your own PC". The PC....already does that. An AI taking snapshots of your system and sending them to Microsoft does not benefit the end user.

And why be upset about a feature you will not enable, or even have access to if Linux is your goto platform. Just move on as its not applicable to you...

Because MS has a habit of making optional "features" mandatory.

Can you comprehend arguments?

 

[scoffer]

And why be upset about a feature you will not enable, or even have access to if Linux is your goto platform. Just move on as its not applicable to you...

Well basically, because the bloke's entitled to his opinion. That's why. Same as you are.

 

[DrSuess]

How is MS still trying to push this as a good idea?

After all the buzz it wasn't likely they were going to reverse course after telling everyone that it was a killer app.

 

[toooooot]

Our data is so valuable that there is nothing can stop them from getting it. Meta's employees knowingly fed entire pirated library to its AI. They want it, they will get it one way or another.

 

[john1971]

It's opt in until it isnt.

Again, other people having access to your PC does not have anything to do with Recall being a privacy and data collection nightmare. That is a Red Herring argument.

and you dont need Recall to "efficiently use the data and history of your own PC". The PC....already does that. An AI taking snapshots of your system and sending them to Microsoft does not benefit the end user.

Because MS has a habit of making optional "features" mandatory.

Can you comprehend arguments?

1) Again its opt-in. The argument that its opt-in until it isn't can be debated if that changes, which given the backlash will not happen.
2) Recall does not send screen shot/processed data to Microsoft. This has been clearly stated since launch. I for one would love this to be the case though (data secured of course from Microsoft access) as having history roam across devices would be a killer feature for me.
3) Serious question, can you share a list of the optional features that Microsoft habitually made mandatory in recent time? Particularly those that goes against the best interest of users?

Appreciate sharing options with you, even if we look at it differently.

 

[AlexIL]

Watching all the Windows creative new stuff everyone gets excited about I am so happy jumped to Linux and don't look back.

 

[YouShallNotPass]

Users can uninstall Recall completely through the system settings menu.

They really should just let user who need it to install it themselves instead of installing it disabled by default. I hate this kind of opt int.

 

[Tom Yum]

I have to thank this feature (both versions of it) for finally giving me the motivation to uninstall Win 11 completely and move to Linux full time. So nice to not have all the bloat of modern Windows, everything is just snappier (boot-up, wake-up, general apps), and with a few tweaks all my usual games work well.

For those saying 'but it is opt-in', please familiarise yourself with MS history. This will absolutely end up not just opt-out, but unremovable. They haven't invested as much as they have developing it for it to remain 'optional', they will absolutely smash it down our throats. It is just the MS way.

 

[spam joe]

It'll be force opted-in by domain group policy on business computers. I'm betting corporate customers at the executive level are absolutely clamoring for this type of spyware.

It'll likely sum up how efficient workers are and how much time they're wasting and be used to make a business case as to exactly which employees can be easily replaced by AI powered by Azure... and will probably even learn how to do people's jobs by watching.

 

[saRDdine]

1) Again its opt-in. The argument that its opt-in until it isn't can be debated if that changes, which given the backlash will not happen.
2) Recall does not send screen shot/processed data to Microsoft. This has been clearly stated since launch. I for one would love this to be the case though (data secured of course from Microsoft access) as having history roam across devices would be a killer feature for me.
3) Serious question, can you share a list of the optional features that Microsoft habitually made mandatory in recent time? Particularly those that goes against the best interest of users?

Appreciate sharing options with you, even if we look at it differently.

For 30+ years Microsoft is doing "It's opt in until it isnt." For every "feature" they can exploit.
Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. But some people just have an emotional attachment to their favorite brand, so they will defend it despite all evidence.