Microsoft delays Windows' controversial 'Recall' feature for third time this year

Microsoft has once again postponed the rollout of its AI-powered Recall feature for Copilot Plus PCs, pushing the launch from October to December, the company announced Tuesday.

According to The Verge, Microsoft senior product manager Brandon LeBlanc said the delay would allow the company to "deliver a secure and trusted experience" and refine the feature before previewing it with Windows Insiders .

This marks the third delay for Recall, which was originally scheduled to debut in June. The feature is designed to automatically capture screenshots of users' PC activities and allow them to search through their computer history using natural language queries.

The repeated delays stem from significant privacy and security concerns raised when Microsoft first unveiled Recall in May. The feature initially stored user data in an unencrypted database and activated automatically without user consent .

In response to the backlash, Microsoft has implemented several changes. The Verge reports that Recall will now be completely optional, requiring users to explicitly opt in. The company has also added encryption to the screenshot database and mandated Windows Hello authentication for accessing stored data.

Users will have the ability to fully uninstall the feature and exclude specific applications, websites, and private browsing sessions from being captured. Microsoft is also implementing anti-malware protections, including rate-limiting measures to prevent abuse.

Despite these modifications, questions remain about user interest in the feature when it eventually launches. The multiple delays and initial privacy concerns have dampened enthusiasm for what Microsoft had intended to be a flagship AI capability for its Copilot Plus PCs.

Microsoft has committed to launching Recall for Windows Insiders by December, though given the feature's troubled history, further delays remain possible.