Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature has once again started rolling out to Windows Insiders. But should you try the feature after it was flagged for being a security and privacy risk?

Recall Is Making a Comeback

Microsoft announced in a Windows blog post that a preview of the Recall feature is coming in Windows 11 Build 26100.3902 to Windows Insiders in the Release Preview Channel. This essentially acts as a time machine, taking screenshots regularly over time and using AI to make them organized and searchable. This means you can search through your screens, documents, images on websites, and more using natural language.

The feature turned heads for being a privacy nightmare soon after its May 2024 announcement, forcing Microsoft to delay a wider push and weed out the issues. The company re-released the Recall feature to Windows Insiders in November 2024 after improving how it handles screenshots and addressing other privacy concerns.

However, this version ended up capturing sensitive info like credit card and Social Security numbers, prompting Microsoft to further delay the rollout. Microsoft also promised to conduct an internal review to resolve all security and privacy concerns.

Related

Microsoft’s “Recall” Feature Looks Like a Privacy Nightmare and I Don’t Want It

Do you really want a screenshot taken every few seconds?

At the moment, the feature requires you to opt into saving snapshots. Windows Hello biometric authentication is also required for people to confirm their identity before accessing the snapshots. According to Microsoft:

You are always in control of what snapshots are saved and can pause saving snapshots at any time.

The rollout is limited to Snapdragon-powered Windows Copilot+ PCs. However, with Intel and AMD-powered Windows machines getting Copilot+ AI features, the gradual rollout might also include the feature. Other features coming with the update include better Windows Search, Click to Do (preview), plus updates for the Windows narrator, Widgets, Phone Link, Taskbar, display, Windows Share, and more.

Should You Give Recall a Second Chance?

Recall is one of those situations where there are benefits to letting Windows invade your privacy. It might be a privacy nightmare to cybersecurity experts, but it’s a massive convenience for everyday people.

While Microsoft initially made bold claims about the feature’s security and privacy protections, cybersecurity experts easily tore those down. Researchers were even able to demonstrate how malware can steal data collected by Recall.

The feature rolling out to a wider audience will test Microsoft’s subsequent claims about having fixed the security and privacy issues. If there are issues with this release of Recall, we could see it being pulled back for further improvements.

Privacy issues aside, you should seriously try Recall. Microsoft has spent almost a year ironing out the problems raised earlier by experts. With those concerns out of the way, Recall offers an extremely handy way of looking up what you were doing in the past and bring back data or a memory that would otherwise be lost.