Recall is Microsoft’s key to unlocking the future of PCs

Microsoft’s launching Recall for Windows 11, a new tool that keeps track of everything you see and do on your computer and, in return, gives you the ability to search and retrieve anything you’ve done on the device.

The scope of Recall, which Microsoft has internally called AI Explorer, is incredibly vast — it includes logging things you do in apps, tracking communications in live meetings, remembering all websites you’ve visited for research, and more. All you need to do is perform a “Recall” action, which is like an AI-powered search, and it’ll present a snapshot of that period of time that gives you context of the memory.

As a matter of fact, everything you do on the PC appears on an explorable timeline you can scroll through. You can also search live meetings and videos thanks to Live Captions, which transcribes and even translates speech.

If this technology sounds familiar, Microsoft tried something less powerful in Windows 10 with Timeline but discontinued the feature in 2021. It’s also because there’s already a very similar app for Mac called Rewind. The software works on M-series Macs and, like Recall, logs everything you do, listens to all of your meetings, and gives you access to a chatbot to recall anything. With Recall, however, you’re getting deep, native integration into Windows, while Rewind is a third-party app you have to install and hand over system permissions.

Recall won’t work with every Windows 11 computer. You’ll have to buy one of several fresh new “Copilot Plus PCs” powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Elite chips, which have the neural processing unit (NPU) required for Recall to work.

Microsoft is promising users that the Recall index remains local and private on-device. You can pause, stop, or delete captured content or choose to exclude specific apps or websites.