Microsoft is officially rolling out a trio of features designed to give Copilot+ PC’s new AI-powered capabilities. On Friday, the software giant introduced three new tools for most Copilot+ PCs: Recall, a new AI-powered Windows search, and Click to Do.
Launched earlier in April to Windows Insiders, the three features have been in preview mode only. Now, Microsoft is gradually pushing them out to all qualifying consumer PCs through the April 2025 Windows non-security preview update.
Also: Microsoft at 50: Its incredible rise, 15 lost years, and stunning comeback – in 4 charts
The launch will unfold over the next month via a controlled rollout. This means the company will likely monitor how the new features are received and adopted, especially Recall.
Recall
<!–>
Initially announced in May 2024, the AI-powered Recall has had a short but checkered history. Promoted by Microsoft as a type of photographic memory for your computer, Recall takes a series of snapshots of virtually everything you see and do in Windows. Think of it as an advanced AI-powered search tool designed to retrieve any file, setting, activity, or other content you have accessed.
Also: Copilot just knocked my AI coding tests out of the park (after choking on them last year)
However, any feature that takes snapshots of your Windows activity also raises concerns about privacy. This is how Recall was initially received by Windows users and some security experts, who called it a “privacy nightmare.”
Taken aback by the response, Microsoft adjusted Recall’s audience and availability. Initially designed as a preview for all Copilot+ PCs, the feature was restricted to Windows insiders. Even then, Microsoft continued to pause and delay Recall while fine-tuning some of its more controversial aspects.
With the new rollout, Microsoft stresses that Recall will be an opt-in feature, disabled by default unless you choose to enable it. You’ll need to use Windows Hello authentication to access it. Your data is encrypted and processed only on your device. Microsoft also promises that the information won’t be sent to the cloud or shared with the company or third parties.
Also: The best Windows laptops of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed
Still concerned about Recall snooping on your Windows activities? You can completely remove it from your PC, though there is one caveat. Even after you remove Recall, Windows may store temporary copies of non-executable binary files used by the feature. However, these are eventually removed over time.
To use Recall, you’ll need a PC equipped with the following:
- A Copilot+ PC that meets the Secured-core standard
- A neural processing unit capable of 40 TOPs (Trillions of Operations Per Second)
- At least 16 GB of RAM
- 8 logical processors
- 256 GB or more of storage capacity with at least 50 GB of free space
- Device Encryption or BitLocker enabled
- Windows Hello authentication enabled with at least one biometric sign-in option, such as facial recognition or fingerprint scanning
Improved Windows search
<!–>
Next on the list of new features is an AI-enabled Windows search. To find a specific file in File Explorer, you typically need to remember all or part of the name. With the improved Windows search rolling out, you’ll be able to simply describe the file you’re seeking.
Also: Microsoft’s Copilot Vision is now free for all Edge users – here’s how it works
Available in File Explorer, the Windows Search box, and Settings, the new feature lets you find documents, images, settings, and other content by using natural language. Microsoft claims that finding and copying an image to a new folder using the improved search takes 70% less time than performing the same task with traditional search in Windows 10.
Copilot+ users will soon be able to assess if that’s true. This feature requires the same type of Copilot+ PC as Recall.
–>
Click to Do
–>
