I recently had the chance to experience Windows 11's Recall feature firsthand, and I was impressed by its refinement.

So, what is Recall? In simple terms, it's a cutting-edge AI-driven feature that has sparked controversy this year.

At its core, Recall is a personalized digital archive. By leveraging frequently captured screenshots, it saves snapshots of your PC activity, allowing you to revisit them at your convenience. This feature is particularly useful for those who often find themselves needing to recall specific details from their computer use.

Thanks to a timeline scrubber, you can browse through everything that transpired each day. Moreover, you can utilize natural language to search for specific items within your Recall history. For instance, you can search for a specific document or project you worked on in the past.

However, some security experts have raised concerns about Recall, fearing that hackers might exploit it as a means to steal user data. This concern is not unfounded, as cybersecurity threats are becoming increasingly common.

In response to these concerns, Microsoft postponed Recall's rollout and addressed these concerns by, among other measures, mandating Windows Hello (i.e., biometric authentication such as fingerprint scanning and facial recognition) to access Recall. This added layer of security ensures that users' data is better protected.

Now that Recall is more secure, Microsoft is encouraging Windows users to give it a try. If you're interested in learning more about Windows 11 features, check out t8tech.com for more information.

Hands-on with Windows Recall at Microsoft Event

I attended a Microsoft press event where a rep demonstrated Recall's capabilities.

Illustrating a practical use case, the rep pretended to be interested in running the Boston Marathon and discovered a PowerPoint-based itinerary for it — but never saved it.

He launched Recall and searched for the term “itinerary” — and, impressively, it appeared in his search results because the AI recognized the term among some screenshots in his timeline. This showcases the power of Recall in helping users quickly find the information they need.

A Microsoft spokesperson made a striking assertion, claiming that Recall boasts the capability to identify images.

After typing “Chart with purple arrow,” Recall successfully pinpointed a document featuring – as expected – a purple arrow, despite the fact that the exact phrase “chart with purple arrow” was never mentioned in the timeline.

While these advantages are undoubtedly impressive, it’s the following three features that truly won me over.

1. Accessing links in Recall’s search results is seamless

Once search results are populated in Recall, you can click on a screenshot, and a button below it will enable you to access the associated URL.

For instance, if you want to find that article about the “Lover Girl” dating trend but forgot to bookmark it, you can rely on Recall and type in the words “couple in love.”

Not only will you see the screenshot of the article (thanks to the AI-driven image recognition), but you’ll also be able to access it again via Microsoft Edge.

Recall can also retrieve files stored locally, too, if you click on a screenshot of a document you saved on your computer.

2. Interactive Recall screenshots elevate the user experience

You can engage with screenshots of documents, webpages, and more without ever leaving Recall.

For example, if a screenshot captures a PDF you opened during your PC activity history, you don’t need to pull up the actual document to interact with it.

If there is text, your PC will recognize it and allow you to copy and paste it elsewhere. You can also click on URLs.

3. Storage concerns are mitigated

I asked the Microsoft representative, “Wouldn’t Recall consume my storage?” As it turns out, in the Settings menu, there’s a way to limit Recall’s presence on your storage in the Settings app.

Tailor your PC's storage capacity to your individual needs by setting thresholds that suit your preferences:

• 25GB

• 50GB

• 75GB

• 100GB

• 150GB

A Microsoft representative revealed that 150GB is equivalent to storing “over a year’s worth of snapshots,” while 25GB will store approximately “several months” of data.

Recall's Robust Privacy and Security Features

As we reported last week, Microsoft introduced a series of updates to bolster Recall's security.

In addition to requiring a Windows Hello login, Recall necessitates an opt-in process, ensuring it’s not enabled by default.

Furthermore, users have the flexibility to uninstall Recall from their system. Microsoft also emphasized that Recall data is encrypted and isolated in a “VBS Enclave,” essentially securing your screenshots in a contained environment, safe from third-party apps and users.

Moreover, Microsoft assured that AI processing for Recall takes place locally on the device, and user data is never uploaded to the cloud.

It’s worth noting that only Copilot+ PCs, such as the Surface Laptop 7, support Recall. These laptops are equipped with NPUs, dedicated processors that enable on-device AI processing.

Obtaining Recall

I attempted to set up Recall on my own PC (i.e., Surface Laptop 7), but it required me to navigate through several hurdles. Firstly, I had to register for a free Windows Insider membership.

Secondly, I had to undergo a series of updates to ensure that my system was running the latest Windows version available.

Despite this, Microsoft's phased introduction of Recall to Windows Insiders means I'm still awaiting its arrival on my device. What a letdown!

Will Recall experience a resurgence?

Microsoft confronts a formidable challenge: revamping Recall's damaged reputation. The feature has been deemed unsettling, Orwellian, divisive, and flashy.

Nonetheless, some users retain optimism about its potential advantages. I number myself among the hopeful; I've lost track of the instances I've surfed the internet, neglected to bookmark or save something, and ended up racking my brain to relocate it.

As someone who wrestles with a faulty memory, I can envision Recall coming to my aid in those moments when my mind falters.