Microsoft has announced a further delay in the rollout of its much-discussed Recall feature for Copilot Plus PCs. Initially slated for testing with Windows Insiders in October, the tech giant has decided to push this timeline back, citing the need for additional time to ensure a secure and reliable user experience.
Commitment to Security
Brandon LeBlanc, senior product manager of Windows, emphasized the company’s dedication to delivering a secure and trusted experience with Recall. “We are committed to delivering a secure and trusted experience with Recall. To ensure we deliver on these important updates, we’re taking additional time to refine the experience before previewing it with Windows Insiders,” he stated in a message to The Verge.
Originally intended for a June launch, Recall faced delays due to security concerns. After a brief postponement, the feature was rescheduled for an October preview, but it has now been pushed to December. This sequence of delays highlights Microsoft’s focus on enhancing Recall’s security measures, which include making it an opt-in feature and allowing users to uninstall it entirely.
Enhanced Features and User Control
In recent months, Microsoft has concentrated on ensuring that Recall’s database is fully encrypted, with access granted only through Windows Hello authentication. The Recall feature utilizes local AI models integrated into Windows 11 on Copilot Plus PCs, enabling users to capture screenshots of their activities and search through them at will. An interactive timeline allows users to revisit their digital actions on specific days.
Earlier this week, Microsoft reiterated that Recall will not be a mandatory feature on Copilot Plus PCs. It will instead be an opt-in experience, fully removable at the user’s discretion. This clarification came in response to various online claims suggesting that Recall was being automatically installed on any PC running Windows 11, version 24H2.
The spread of misinformation surrounding Recall has led to a wave of fear, uncertainty, and doubt, particularly following its abrupt removal over the summer. This situation appears to have caused some bugs related to how the feature is displayed and managed within Windows 11.
