Microsoft Delays Release of Windows Copilot+ Recall Feature Due to Privacy Concerns

Microsoft has announced an additional delay for its much-anticipated Recall feature in Windows Copilot+ PCs, citing the need to enhance privacy and user experience. Initially planned for a preview release in October, the Recall feature is now set to be available for Windows Insiders by December, as reported by The Verge.

“Delivering a secure and trusted experience with Recall is our priority,” Microsoft stated in an updated announcement on Thursday. “To ensure this, we’re taking extra time to refine the experience before releasing it to Windows Insiders.”

First introduced in May, Recall was designed as a “visual timeline” to help users track and locate information across applications, websites, images, and documents, essentially giving PCs a “photographic memory” of user activities. However, following privacy and security feedback, Microsoft has decided to disable the feature by default, rebuild it with enhanced privacy controls, and make it an opt-in feature.

Since June, Microsoft has emphasized that the development of Windows Copilot+, including the Recall feature, aligns with its Secure Future Initiative (SFI). In line with this commitment, the company has introduced additional safeguards for Recall, such as “just-in-time” decryption through Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS). This ensures that Recall snapshots are only decrypted and accessible when users authenticate, further protecting their privacy.