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Microsoft's 'Time Machine' Recall Tool for Windows Enters Preview Phase

The tool will be available to Window Insiders using a Snapdragon-powered Copilot Plus PC.

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Samantha Kelly
2 min read
Screenshot of Recall working

The preview comes after months of delays following privacy and security concerns.

 Microsoft

Microsoft's controversial and delayed Recall feature will become available slightly earlier than expected.

In a blog post on Friday, the company said it is rolling out an early version of the tool to its Window Insiders, a group of users who test prerelease versions of its software. You'll need to use a Snapdragon-powered Copilot Plus PC, a Windows-powered, AI-enabled computer, to access the new Recall feature.

The announcement comes a few weeks after the company, which planned to start testing the tool in October after an initial delay, said it was conducting an internal review to ensure it delivers on security and privacy. The latest targeted preview launch date was sometime in December.

In May, Microsoft's Recall tool for Windows 11 made headlines when it teased a tool that acts like a "time machine," allowing Windows users to find anything previously displayed on their screen, from documents and images to websites, by searching for keywords.

Recall captures screenshots of the screen, stores them securely on the device, and uses AI to organize and make this data searchable. But it quickly faced scrutiny from privacy advocates, forcing Microsoft to delay the rollout for additional review. 

At the same time, Microsoft and other tech companies continue to expand and offer new AI-powered features as part of a greater effort to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Yet many companies, including Microsoft, are still trying to navigate the numerous security and privacy challenges that arise from generative AI. 

In the latest blog post, Microsoft emphasized some security and privacy guardrails, including the fact that you'll need to opt in to the Recall feature and the ability to delete any snapshots. You can also tell the tool to ignore certain apps or websites.

Microsoft said the tool will be removed by default on PCs managed by IT administrators at businesses or schools. And although IT admins can control the availability of Recall within their organization, employees must still choose to opt in to saving snapshots.

As the company rolls out Recall in preview, Microsoft said it will add support for more languages. It also encouraged early adopters to share feedback, issues or suggestions for improvement, reminding them "AI can make mistakes."