Recall: Preview version available, brings "Click to Do" to Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft has published a new Windows 11 preview version in the developer channel, which includes the new "Click to Do" function for the recall preview on Snapdragon-based Copilot+ PCs. This is intended to further simplify and improve recall usage.

In the Windows Insider blog, Microsoft's developers first write about the familiar features of Recall at – Recall comes as an app and is no longer directly integrated into the operating system, and interested parties must also opt-in to the storage of screenshots. Authentication via Windows Hello is also required to prove access authorization. If you don't already have it, you will need to activate Secure Boot and Bitlocker drive encryption.

Improvements to Recall

Microsoft is thus protecting privacy better compared to the first attempts at Recall. The function only creates searchable snapshots if users have given their consent. An icon in the system tray will now provide access to Recall actions. Screenshots can also be deleted from Recall, and apps or websites that Recall should not display can be defined. In addition, Recall does not save snapshots if they contain credit card information, passwords or PINs. In the enterprise environment, Recall is also removed by default from PCs that are managed by administrators at a workplace or in schools, for example. Employees there must also agree to the use of Recall and only they have access to the Recall data.

A new feature is the preview of the "Click to Do" function. This is designed to improve productivity and creativity when working with Recall snapshots. "Click to Do" recognizes images and text in screenshots and offers AI-based actions that are possible with them. For texts, "Click to Do" offers the actions Copy, Open with, Search the web, Open website and Send email. Images, on the other hand, can be copied, saved as, shared, opened with, brought into the visual search with Bing, the background blurred with "Photos" app, objects deleted with "Photos" app or the background removed with "Paint".

Microsoft also plans to enable even easier access in future updates, for example by pressing the Windows key together with a mouse click or the Windows key and Q, in the snipping tool and Print Screen or by searching for "Click to Do" in the Windows search box. This should enable users to continue working with content on the screen immediately. So far, "Click to Do" only supports Snapdragon-based Copilot+ PCs. Support for AMD- and Intel-based Copilot+ PCs is set to follow soon.

At the beginning of November, Windows product manager Brandon LeBlanc explained that Recall would be postponed until December and would then only be available in Insider versions for Copilot+ PCs. Now things are apparently moving a little faster than initially expected.

(dmk)