What you need to know
After a series of delays, Microsoft is poised to unveil its much-anticipated Windows Recall feature to the public. The tech giant has announced the release of a new Windows 11 preview build (26120.2415) for Insiders in the Dev Channel, which introduces both Windows Recall and Click To Do, an innovative AI overlay feature that was previously announced last month. These developments mark the first significant enhancements to the Copilot+ suite since its initial launch in June.
In response to the earlier postponements, Microsoft has diligently worked to fortify the security of the Recall feature. The company has rectified vulnerabilities related to local data storage, ensuring that all information captured by Recall is now encrypted and shielded from third-party applications and users. Additionally, the feature will require Windows Hello for activation and will be disabled by default, necessitating users to enable it manually upon upgrading to this build.
“We also want to recognize the contributions of researchers and the security community in shaping Recall,” Microsoft stated in the release notes for this preview build. The company is extending an invitation to these experts to explore the new security and privacy enhancements and provide feedback should any issues arise.
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Microsoft maintains that the data collected by Recall is exclusively accessible to the user. The company emphasizes that it does not have visibility into the data captured, nor does it upload this information to the cloud, utilize it for AI model training, or sell it to third parties. It is crucial to note that Recall is available solely on Copilot+ PCs; thus, users attempting to install build 26120.2415 on non-Copilot+ devices will not have access to either Windows Recall or Click To Do.
Currently, only devices powered by the Snapdragon X processor can participate in this preview. Consequently, Copilot+ PCs equipped with Intel or AMD processors will not be able to access Windows Recall at this time, which may disappoint customers who have recently invested in Intel Lunar Lake or AMD Strix Point devices. Microsoft has not provided an estimated timeline for when these users can expect to join the preview.
For those eager to see the new features in action, a hands-on video walkthrough of the Insider build will be available soon on the Windows Central YouTube channel, offering a closer look at the functionality and changes introduced in this update.
