Windows Recall faces further delays as Microsoft still can’t deliver a secure and trusted experience

• Microsoft now plans to start publicly testing Recall on Windows in December.
• The company says that extra time is needed to implement a secure experience.
• The feature was supported to launch in June, then in October, and now in December.

Microsoft’s Recall, the biggest AI feature that was supposed to roll out exclusively as part of Windows 11 24H2 for Copilot+ PCs, has encountered another delay, marking the third time the company has postponed this feature. Originally slated for a June debut, the Recall feature was initially held back due to security concerns. The software giant had assured users the feature would roll out to Insiders in October. However, that timeline has shifted to December, raising questions about the challenges of balancing security with innovation in AI-powered features.

Controversial feature

On Windows 11, Recall is like a photographic memory that’s designed to provide you with an interactive timeline to find anything you have done in the past. In other words, Recall captures screenshots of actions you take on your computer, enabling you to revisit past content in a scrollable and searchable format. This functionality, powered by local AI models available in version 24H2 of the operating system, is intended to assist you in navigating your tasks and recalling specific events without requiring extensive manual tracking.

Since its launch earlier this year, the Recall feature has sparked debate, particularly over privacy and data security. When it became available briefly, I demonstrated in a guide how easily anyone could access the data Recall collects, as it was unencrypted and openly accessible once the user was logged in. Both everyday users and security professionals voiced mixed reactions, raising concerns about potential privacy risks. In response, Microsoft has emphasized that Recall will remain an opt-in feature and include encryption, with data accessible only through Windows Hello authentication. As I have previously demonstrated, you can also fully uninstall Recall from Windows 11 in at least three ways.

Timeline of delays

Microsoft’s announcement of Recall’s delayed rollout follows a series of postponements. Initially, the feature was intended to launch with the rollout of Windows 11 24H2 in June. However, when security vulnerabilities in the Recall database were identified, Microsoft chose to delay the release for further testing and improvements. The company indicated that Recall would be ready for testing within the Windows Insider Program for Copilot+ PCs by October. However, Microsoft Senior Product Manager Brandon LeBlanc confirms that this preview will be delayed until December.

LeBlanc’s recent statement to The Verge clarified that the development team still needs more time to ensure a “secure and trusted experience” with the Recall feature. Over recent months, Microsoft has made extensive security adjustments, including database encryption and enhanced authentication requirements, in response to feedback. Though disappointing to those eager to test the feature, the delay highlights Microsoft’s commitment to user data security and privacy.

Security and privacy concerns

Although Recall promises convenient photographic memory capabilities, it works by creating a digital record of your activities through screenshots taken around every five seconds, which could be susceptible to unauthorized access if not appropriately secured. Earlier this year, Microsoft revealed that Recall’s data storage required encryption and extra authentication layers, which the company has been implementing progressively on internal builds.

The current plan to make Recall available on an opt-in basis responds to concerns that the company might automatically deploy the feature to all Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft has repeatedly assured users that the AI-powered feature will be optional and removable. Furthermore, the company has committed to filtering out sensitive data by default, such as passwords and personal identification numbers, to alleviate concerns further.

YouTube controversy and public confusion

Despite Microsoft’s clarifications, rumors have been circulating that Recall is secretly embedded in the latest version of Windows 11. IT manager and YouTuber Chris Titus recently raised alarms about hidden references to the feature within the operating system, claiming that Recall was mandatory, fueling even more public concerns, particularly on social media and tech forums.

However, according to the company, those Recall references were artifacts left from development processes, not indicative of an active or pre-installed version. Windows enthusiast Albacore explains that Microsoft’s effort to add an uninstall option for Recall has led to configuration bugs, which some have misinterpreted as hidden feature installations.

Next public release

As Microsoft is now targeting a December release for Recall’s first preview, it seems unlikely that the feature will become widely available outside the Windows Insider Program until well into 2025. The company has already noted that the first preview will be exclusive to ARM-based Copilot+ PCs initially, with further availability across Copilot+ PCs featuring Intel and AMD chips expected at a later, unspecified date.

It’s important to note that the Recall feature requires special hardware, including modern components like an NPU (Neural Processing Unit). Unless you recently purchased a certified Copilot+ PC, you won’t have access to the feature and won’t be able to enable it manually.

I understand that Microsoft needs more time to enhance this AI feature, but I have one question: why did the company initially consider Recall ready for rollout? It’s clear that the original plan didn’t include all these additional security measures.

What are your thoughts on the Recall feature? Are you interested in using it, or would you rather pass? Let me know in the comments.