Microsoft Launches Windows Recall And New AI Features For Copilot+ PCs

After months of delays and privacy-related controversy, Microsoft has officially started rolling out Windows Recall for Copilot+ PCs. The feature is part of the April 2025 update and will be gradually made available to devices running Snapdragon, Intel, and AMD processors.

Originally introduced in May 2024, Windows Recall faced immediate criticism over privacy concerns, specifically regarding how user data was stored locally. Due to the backlash, Microsoft delayed the launch to strengthen the feature’s security and privacy measures.

Windows Recall works by taking encrypted snapshots of the user’s on-screen activities and saving them locally. These snapshots allow users to easily retrieve past information, creating a detailed history of their activity. Users have control over what is recorded, with options to exclude specific apps and websites or to manually delete stored data.

Access to the saved snapshots requires authentication through Windows Hello, using facial recognition, fingerprint, or PIN, ensuring that the information remains secure and accessible only to the device owner.

Along with Recall, Microsoft is introducing two additional AI-driven features to Copilot+ PCs. The first is Click To Do, an enhancement built on top of Recall. Click To Do adds an AI overlay to the system, allowing users to interact with on-screen content quickly by pressing the Windows key and clicking with the mouse. This tool makes it easier to edit and copy images and rephrase or summarize text directly from the desktop, streamlining workflows and boosting productivity.

The second major improvement is an AI-enhanced Windows Search. With this update, users can search for files, apps, and system settings using natural language, making the process faster and more intuitive. The new search functionality improves key areas of the system, including the search panel, the Settings app, and File Explorer, aiming to create a more seamless and intelligent user experience.

Improved Windows search can understand the contextual meaning of words or phrases, making search more natural and intuitive. (Image: Microsoft)

These new features are already being distributed through the April 2025 preview update. Users who want early access should enable the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option in the Windows Update settings. However, users in Europe will have to wait longer, as both Recall and Click To Do are scheduled for release there later in the year due to additional regulatory approvals.

Filed in Computers. Read more about AI (Artificial Intelligence), AMD, Intel, Microsoft, Microsoft Copilot, Snapdragon and Windows.