Microsoft finally ships controversial Windows 11 'Recall' feature after year-long delay — now rolling out to all Copilot+ PCs

.windowscentral.com ^ | April 25, 2025 | Zac Bowden

[daniel1212]

Initially announced in May 2024, the controversial AI tool was branded a privacy and security nightmare right out of the gate due to how the feature stored the data it collected locally on the PC.

This resulted in Microsoft being forced to pull Recall from launch just days before it was supposed to. The company has since worked to address the security issues

Windows Recall is a feature that captures everything you do on your PC via snapshots, and stores them securely on your PC.

The Recall app lets you triage and view these snapshots, going as far back as you like. The tool lets you filter out specific apps and webpages from being captured, and you can always delete snapshots at any time.

Additionally, Microsoft assures users that Recall does not upload any data it captures to the cloud.

The snapshots and their contents are stored locally on the device in an encrypted state and can only be accessed via the Recall app after authentication with Windows Hello face unlock, fingerprint, or PIN.

Click To Do is an extension of Recall, which adds an AI overlay to the OS that makes it easy to copy and edit images ...rewrite, or summarize text that you see in an app or webpage

The other new feature is AI in search across Windows, which lets you use natural language to find files, apps, and settings.

[daniel1212]

Excerpts. I certainly do not plan to enable this, as I manually save many things. That MS would offer this before it was secure is itself alarming. However,

The company has since added new security features, including encrypting snapshots using a PC's Trust Platform Module and using Windows Hello for authorization to change settings. You can also filter out certain apps or websites in supported browsers, control how long Recall content is retained, and delete snapshots from specific apps, websites, or time ranges.- https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/microsoft-launches-recall-to-windows-11-general-availability-click-to-do-and-improved-search-also-coming

Thank God for tools to be used for good in God's sight in Christ

[proxy_user]

Microsoft is also are putting ads in many of their applications, and in the operating system too.

It’s not surprising many Windows using are switching to Linux. If your hardware is old, and you can’t run Windows 11, this is definitely an option.

[CatOwner]

It’s not surprising many Windows using are switching to Linux. If your hardware is old, and you can’t run Windows 11, this is definitely an option.

Old hardware is not the main reason to switch to Linux, if you are able to perform your tasks with the available apps.

[daniel1212]

Microsoft is also are putting ads in many of their applications, and in the operating system too. It’s not surprising many Windows using are switching to Linux. If your hardware is old, and you can’t run Windows 11, this is definitely an option.

Yes, my old build runs Linux, though it did run W/10 fine. Both benefit from improvements for efficiency as aesthetics, which I find easier to achieve via free Windows programs and minor hacks, thank God.

[KarlInOhio]

Additionally, Microsoft assures users that Recall does not upload any data it captures to the cloud.

Interesting phrasing. Not "Recall does not upload any data it captures". Just not"to the cloud". Could Microsoft upload it to some of their servers, but just not to ones that are generally accessible? Maybe to run AI on the images to see which ads you would "enjoy"? Or to the NSA? See, that's not "the Cloud". I also didn't see anywhere in that list of controls in Recall the option to not do it at all and save nothing. Not merely having some apps turned off or some webpages turned off. Save nothing! If I want a screenshot I can hit print screen and save the image myself.

[pepsi_junkie]

I don’t think you can opt out since they anticipated that people would want to after the big backlash and integrated into the OS so it was essential and couldn’t be. No reason for that if it’s truly a nice tool for the users , the only reason for that is it’s a nice too for microsoft to get the users data.

[daniel1212]

ping

[daniel1212]

It says:

Microsoft designed Recall to act as “end-to-end encrypted” to prevent malware, or even Microsoft itself, from accessing Recall files. In addition, all of Recall’s data remains on the user’s PC, and is never sent to the company.

the first time you go to enable Recall, you actually have to biometrically prove that you’re the logged-in user,” [Microsoft VP for Security David] Weston adds in Windows Hello, the company’s login method that requires a fingerprint or facial scan.

Redmond further tightened the security by moving Recall’s encryption keys and the screenshot data out of the Windows 11 OS to the security-focused TPM chip. “All of the information done around this is done in a separate virtual machine," Weston says. "What that means is even in the event you got malware, your main system was compromised, that encrypted information never touches the main system."

- https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-finally-launches-its-controversial-recall-feature

[NorthMountain]

captures everything you do on your PC via snapshots, and stores them securely on your PC.

I can see vast swaths of the corporate/government user base not trusting this to the point that they demand having it removed entirely.

[daniel1212]

I don’t think you can opt out

You can enable or disable.

Enable Recall

If the system hasn't already prompted you to enable the feature, you can use these instructions to opt into the Windows Recall:

1. Open Settings[Windows key + i key].
2. Click on Privacy & security.
3. Click the Recall & snapshots page on the right side.

   The "Filter lists" settings allow you to prevent the Recall feature from saving sensitive information. By default, the feature can filter passwords, credit cards, and more. However, you can also exclude apps and websites.

   - https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/what-is-new-on-recall-click-to-do-search-for-copilot-pcs-running-windows-11

In any case, I recommend using Autoruns

This utility, which has the most comprehensive knowledge of auto-starting locations of any startup monitor, shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login, and when you start various built-in Windows applications like Internet Explorer, Explorer and media players. These programs and drivers include ones in your startup folder, Run, RunOnce, and other Registry keys. Autoruns reports Explorer shell extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects, Winlogon notifications, auto-start services, and much more. Autoruns goes way beyond other autostart utilities.

Autoruns' Hide Signed Microsoft Entries option helps you to zoom in on third-party auto-starting images that have been added to your system and it has support for looking at the auto-starting images configured for other accounts configured on a system. Also included in the download package is a command-line equivalent that can output in CSV format, Autorunsc.

You'll probably be surprised at how many executables are launched automatically!

...To disable an auto-start entry uncheck its check box. To delete an auto-start configuration entry use the Delete menu item or toolbar button.

- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns

[webheart]

Is it like Time Machine on the Mac? Hahaha. Time Machine is 20 years old.

[daniel1212]

Is it like Time Machine on the Mac? Hahaha. Time Machine is 20 years old.

No. Time Machine creates incremental backups of files that can be restored at a later date, as does MS File history, while its Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Backup and Restore (Windows 7) offers an option to create a system back up, and there are many free file and system backup systems which provide full and incremental backups, such as Macrium for non-commercial use

However, on

Windows 11, Recall is a feature that takes screenshots of all your activities every few seconds. Then, it applies AI to analyze the information, making everything searchable using natural language. - https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/what-is-new-on-recall-click-to-do-search-for-copilot-pcs-running-windows-11

I think this would have very limited use for most.

[Revel]

Windows 98 was safer.

[aimhigh]

"Recall does not upload any data it captures"

Now tell us about the NSA's secret access to this. Recall is a feature no one was asking for.

[RitchieAprile]

Managers in the workplace would find that useful..

[minnesota_bound]

I store my files in folders where I know where they are. I do not need a 3rd party program to record what I am doing.

[dayglored]

Windows 11 "Recall" Is Baaa-a-ack! Update... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

Thanks to daniel1212 for the ping!