Microsoft scraps Windows 11 Recall feature release after security issues were raised

The release of Recall, a feature designed for the new line of Windows 11 Copilot+ devices, was scheduled for June 18. This feature, which enables devices to capture screenshots of every action on a user’s PC, was initially promoted by Microsoft as a tool to “recreate moments from the past.”

However, last Friday, Microsoft Vice President Pavan Davuluri acknowledged in a blog post that significant negative feedback from the security community, along with the rapid development of hacking tools that could exploit this feature, led the company to disable it by default. Users will now have to opt in proactively if they wish to use Recall.

In a statement Microsoft Said :-

Today, we are communicating an additional update on the Recall (preview) feature for Copilot+ PCs. Recall will now shift from a preview experience broadly available for Copilot+ PCs on June 18, 2024, to a preview available first in the Windows Insider Program (WIP) in the coming weeks. Following receiving feedback on Recall from our Windows Insider Community, as we typically do, we plan to make Recall (preview) available for all Copilot+ PCs coming soon.  

We are adjusting the release model for Recall to leverage the expertise of the Windows Insider community to ensure the experience meets our high standards for quality and security. This decision is rooted in our commitment to providing a trusted, secure and robust experience for all customers and to seek additional feedback prior to making the feature available to all Copilot+ PC users. Additionally, as we shared in our May 3 blog, security is our top priority at Microsoft, in line with our Secure Future Initiative (SFI). This is reflected in additional security protections we are providing for Recall content, including “just in time” decryption protected by Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS), so Recall snapshots will only be decrypted and accessible when the user authenticates. The development of Copilot+ PCs, Recall and Windows will continue to be guided by SFI. 

When Recall (preview) becomes available in the Windows Insider Program, we will publish a blog post with details on how to get the preview. To try Recall (preview) WIP customers will need a Copilot+ PC due to our hardware requirements. We look forward to hearing Windows Insider feedback.