Microsoft Introduces Recall Feature for Windows 11, Along with Click to Do and Enhanced Search
Microsoft Introduces New Features for Copilot+ PCs
Almost a year after its initial announcement, Microsoft is officially rolling out its new Recall feature to Copilot+ PCs. This launch is part of a broader update that will also unveil a preview of the Click To Do contextual shortcuts alongside a new AI-enhanced Windows Search. These updates will be included in the April 2025 non-security preview update for Windows, and they will be gradually released through a process called "controlled feature rollout."
How to Access New Features
To be among the first to access these features, users can navigate to Settings > Windows Update and enable the option for receiving updates as soon as they become available. Once this is done, checking for updates should allow the installation of the April preview release.
Overview of New Features
Recall (Preview)
The Recall feature is expected to capture the most attention with this update. Its primary function is to facilitate the retrieval of information you’ve previously accessed. Recall achieves this by taking screenshots of your activities and storing them locally on your device, making it easier to find relevant information later.
Opt-In Experience: To enable Recall, users must opt in during the setup process. If this option is not selected, the feature will not capture any screenshots. Should users wish to disable Recall later, they can find the option by searching for "Turn Windows features on or off" in the taskbar, which leads to the Windows Features section in the Control Panel.
- Privacy Considerations: Since its announcement, Recall has sparked significant debate about privacy, particularly after it was reported that it could capture sensitive information. In response, Microsoft has implemented several security measures. These include:
- Encrypting snapshots with the PC’s Trust Platform Module.
- Utilizing Windows Hello for authorizing any changes to settings.
- Allows users to filter out certain applications or websites from being captured.
- Control over how long Recall retains captured content.
- Ability to delete snapshots from specific apps, websites, or time periods.
This feature was initially available only to Windows Insiders but is now beginning to roll out more broadly to Copilot+ PCs.
Click to Do (Preview)
Click to Do was first introduced in a Windows Insider preview last fall and enhances the Windows experience by offering contextual options for AI-driven actions. This feature can be activated using the Windows key + Click or by swiping right on a touchscreen.
How It Works: For instance, if you highlight text, Click to Do may suggest actions like summarizing the content. If you select an image, it may provide options to adjust or remove it.
- Accessibility: Users will also notice a Click to Do icon in the Start menu as well as in the Print Screen and Snipping Tool utilities. Currently, image actions from Click to Do are being rolled out across all Copilot+ PCs, but text actions are initially limited to Snapdragon devices, with AMD Ryzen and Intel Core Ultra compatibility expected soon.
Enhanced Windows Search
Alongside Recall and Click to Do, Microsoft is revamping Windows Search for Copilot+ PCs. Gone are the days of needing to remember every file name or location.
- Natural Language Search: The upgraded Windows Search allows users to describe what they are looking for using natural language. This enhancement will be integrated into the existing Windows Search box, Settings, and the File Explorer, enabling users to conduct searches locally.
Targeting New PC Buyers
This update, which introduces new features specifically for Copilot+ PCs—laptops equipped with AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, Intel Core Ultra 200V series, and Qualcomm Snapdragon X, Plus, and Elite processors—comes at a crucial time. Microsoft is set to end feature and security updates for Windows 10 on October 14.
The addition of features like Recall, which serves as the flagship AI concept for Copilot+ PCs, may encourage users to consider upgrading their devices. However, the initial response to AI-centric enhancements has been somewhat slow, leaving many to wonder if these updates will significantly attract new buyers.
