Microsoft has delayed ‘Recall’ for Copilot Plus PCs, again

Microsoft has delayed the “Recall” feature yet again. This is the third time Microsoft has delayed the AI feature that was to revolutionize Copilot Plus PCs.

Will Microsoft offer Recall to all Windows 11 PCs?

Microsoft teased the Recall feature earlier this year. The feature will rely on Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) to offer a backup of all activity on a computer running Windows 11.

Recall needs local AI and isn’t supposed to send data to any remote or cloud-hosted services. Hence, the Recall feature will work only on Copilot Plus PCs. These PCs are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips. For the Recall feature to work, the system or boot drive must be encrypted, and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0 must be enabled.

Specifically speaking, Recall will use local AI models built into Windows 11 on Copilot Plus PCs. At the backend, Recall will screenshot mostly everything users see or do on their computer.

Recall would allow Copilot Plus PC users to search and retrieve things they have seen or done on their computers. The AI-supported feature is supposed to create a detailed, scrollable, secure, and encrypted timeline with regular snapshots.

Why has Microsoft delayed the Recall feature?

Windows Insider program participants using Microsoft Copilot Plus PC were to get the Recall feature in October. However, Microsoft has reportedly delayed the rollout claiming it needs more time.

In a statement to The Verge, Brandon LeBlanc, senior product manager of Windows, stated, “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.”

Brandon has indicated Recall would be available for preview with Windows Insiders on Copilot Plus PCs by December. For the past couple of months, Microsoft has been trying to ensure the Recall database is fully encrypted. The company has changed how the feature works and ensure the only way to access the feature is to authenticate through Windows Hello.

Earlier this week, Microsoft reiterated that Recall will not be mandatory on Copilot Plus PCs. In other words, users of these computers will have to opt into the feature. Moreover, Microsoft has ensured that Windows 11 Copilot Plus PC users can fully uninstall the Recall feature.