Microsoft has again postponed the rollout of its AI-powered Windows Recall feature, initially expected to launch in October for Windows Insiders with Copilot+ PCs.
This marks the second delay for Recall, a feature first introduced in May and initially scheduled for a June public preview. Microsoft cited additional privacy and security updates as the reason for the delay after significant customer pushback and the need for more robust protections.
According to Windows senior product manager Brandon LeBlanc, Microsoft is focused on delivering a secure, trustworthy experience with Recall. The company has now moved the feature’s preview release to December, stating that it’s taking extra time to implement privacy and security improvements. Originally designed to capture screenshots of active windows at intervals, Recall stores the data locally in an SQLite database. Users can later search their captured history using natural language, making it easier to retrieve past windows.
However, the feature has raised alarms among privacy advocates and cybersecurity experts, who worry it could become a data privacy risk. They warn that such data could be exploited by malicious actors. To address these concerns, Microsoft has introduced several privacy controls: Recall requires users to opt in, confirm their identity with Windows Hello, and includes options to exclude certain apps, websites, or private browsing sessions. Additionally, David Weston, Microsoft’s VP for Enterprise and OS Security, highlighted that Recall will feature malware defenses, including anti-hammering and rate-limiting mechanisms.
With these additional measures, Microsoft aims to provide users with the functionality of Recall while ensuring data remains secure, although the company continues to face scrutiny over its approach.
