Table of Contents
Will Windows 11’s Powerful Recall Tool Transform Productivity or Threaten Your Security?
Microsoft has begun a controlled rollout of its highly anticipated-and controversial-Recall feature, alongside new AI-powered tools, exclusively for Copilot+ PCs as part of the Windows 11 24H2 KB5055627 preview update. Here’s what professionals and everyday users need to know:
Key Features in the Update
Recall (Preview)
What It Does: Recall takes regular, automatic snapshots (screenshots) of your activity across apps, websites, and documents, creating a searchable timeline of everything you’ve seen or done on your PC.
How It Works: You can search your digital history using keywords or natural language-just describe what you remember, and Recall finds the moment for you. This feature can save up to 70% of the time typically spent searching for files or information.
Privacy Controls:
- Recall is opt-in-you must enable it manually during setup.
- Snapshots are stored locally on your device, encrypted and isolated from other users and the cloud.
- Windows Hello authentication is required to access your Recall data, ensuring only you can view your snapshots.
- You can pause, delete, or filter what Recall saves at any time, and exclude specific apps or websites from being captured.
Risks: Despite security improvements, Recall still raises privacy concerns, as it can potentially capture sensitive information if not managed carefully.
Click to Do (Preview)
Purpose: This tool lets you act immediately on content in your Recall snapshots-edit images, copy text, or perform contextual actions like removing backgrounds or summarizing text.
How to Use: Activate with keyboard shortcuts (Windows key + mouse click or Windows key + Q) or via the Snipping Tool.
AI Integration: On Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, Click to Do leverages the Phi Silica local AI model for intelligent text actions like summarizing or paraphrasing.
Admin Controls: IT administrators can manage Click to Do via group policies.
Enhanced Windows Search
Improvements: Search is now powered by both semantic (meaning-based) and traditional indexing, making it easier to find files, images, and settings using natural language-no need to remember exact file names.
Cloud Integration: Search results can include both local and cloud-stored files, such as OneDrive photos, when logged in with a Microsoft account.
Offline Capability: Thanks to the advanced NPU in Copilot+ PCs, many search features work even without an internet connection.
How to Get These Features
Eligibility: These updates are exclusive to Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11 24H2.
Rollout: The features are being released gradually through a controlled feature rollout (CFR) over the next month.
Installation: Go to Settings > Windows Update and enable “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” to check for and install the KB5055627 update.
Positive Impact
- Productivity Boost: These AI-powered features are designed to save time, reduce frustration, and help users quickly pick up where they left off.
- User Control: Microsoft has implemented robust privacy options, giving users significant control over what is captured and how it’s stored.
Negative Concerns
- Privacy Risks: Recall’s ability to capture everything on screen-even sensitive information-remains a significant concern for privacy advocates and businesses.
- Controversy: The feature has faced backlash and was previously delayed due to security and privacy issues, prompting Microsoft to make Recall opt-in and enhance its security architecture.
Best Practices for Users and IT Admins
- Review and adjust privacy settings before enabling Recall.
- Regularly audit what Recall is capturing and delete sensitive snapshots as needed.
- Educate users and staff about the privacy implications, especially in business environments.
- IT admins should consider disabling Recall unless essential and enforce strong authentication.
Microsoft’s new Recall, Click to Do, and enhanced search features for Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs promise significant productivity gains but come with notable privacy risks. Users have more control than ever, but careful management and awareness are essential for safe adoption.