Microsoft has announced updates on its Recall (preview) feature for Copilot+ PCs, focusing on setup experience, privacy controls, and security enhancements.
The Recall feature, which is exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, offers users a revolutionary way to retrieve previously viewed content on their devices through an explorable visual timeline.
Microsoft unveiled Copilot+ PCs last month, the latest line of Windows computers designed for optimal performance and innovative AI experiences. These devices aim to boost productivity, creativity, and communication.
One of the standout features of these PCs is Recall, which periodically captures encrypted snapshots of the screen. These images are analyzed locally using on-device AI to provide context, allowing users to visually track and locate content from apps, websites, images, and documents.
According to Microsoft, the setup experience for Copilot+ PCs has been updated to ensure that users must opt-in to enable Recall. If not actively turned on, Recall will remain off by default. Additionally, the feature requires Windows Hello enrollment for security and proof of presence to view the timeline and perform searches in Recall.
Microsoft says it has integrated multiple layers of data protection, including “just in time” decryption through Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS), ensuring that Recall snapshots are only accessible when authenticated.
Users are notified when Recall is active via a taskbar icon and system tray notification. Recall does not capture snapshots of digital rights-managed content or InPrivate browsing sessions in supported web browsers.
For enterprise users, IT administrators can disable the saving of snapshots but cannot enable it on behalf of users, ensuring that the choice to use Recall remains with the individual.
Early internal testing has shown positive feedback, with users appreciating the ease of retrieving previously viewed web content, reviewing online courses, and locating specific documents.
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No thanks! Just tell me how to disable this feature when the time comes!