These new Windows Recall features are hidden in the latest build of Windows 11
The latest Insider build of Windows 11 includes hidden Windows Recall features that make it easier to locate snapshots.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
What you need to know
Windows Recall was set to ship with Copilot+ PCs this week, but that is no longer the case. Following public backlash and a"PR disaster,“Microsoft delayed the launch of the new feature and decided totest Recall through the Windows Insider Program. The tech giant has a lot of work to do regarding privacy and security when it comes to Recall, but those are not the only areas Microsoft plans to improve the tool.
The latest Windows 11 Insider build in the Canary Channel includes hidden changes to Recall that are in testing. The additions were spotted by well-known Windows sleuth Albacore, who then reported on the changes forTom’s Hardware.
A new utility called Screenray allows you to analyze what’s on your screen without opening the full Recall experience. The feature works with text, links, and images that appear on the screen. For example, you could have Screenray translate text on a page or search the web based on what’s on your screen. The tool can also open contents with the app of your choosing.
The same interface for searching content through Screenray also appears when viewing older snapshots. The experience is powered byCopilot.
A new Recall home page is also in the early stages of testing. As a hidden feature in a Canary build, there’s a good chance it will see several changes before shipping, but it is a welcome addition. At the moment, the default action when opening the Recall experience is to take a new snapshot. Recall already takes a snapshot every few seconds and I suspect the purpose of opening it in most cases will be to search for a previous snapshot. If you need a Snapshot at a specific time, you can click the “Now” button in the tool.
Recall’s home page organizes snapshots into topics, which is also a new addition. Below those topics is a timeline of all previous snapshots. You can create a shortcut to specific tags by searching for a tag and then saving it as a collection.
Can Microsoft save Windows Recall?
-A PR disaster: Microsoft has lost trust with its users-How Microsoft promises to keep Windows Recall data safe-Microsoft addresses Windows Recall backlash-Microsoft postpones Windows Recall-How to disable Windows Recall-Windows Recall clones are popping up-Hands-on with Windows Recall
From the moment Microsoft announced Windows Recall, the feature drew criticism. Since the feature did not go through the Windows Insider Program, Microsoft did not receive feedback from the general public. That proved disastrous since it only took a few days for users to find flaws in Windows Recall, such asdata not being encryptedwhen a device was logged in. Microsoft has since announced several changes to Recall and will put the feature through the Windows Insider Program.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
I understand why Recall did not go through the Windows Insider Program from a logistics perspective. How could users test a feature that’s exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, which weren’t available at the time? But I’d argue that’s a very good case for not shipping such a revolutionary feature at launch. Copilot+ PCs got paired with Recall in the eyes of the public and many said they would not purchase a Copilot+ PC due to Recall.
Windows Recall won’t just get better when it comes to security. Feedback from the public will help shape the user experience, interface, and other parts of the tool. Having Recall launch to a home screen by default rather than taking a new snapshot every time you launch the tool is a perfect example of the type of change that usually comes to features tested among Insiders.
In our recent poll asking readers if they trust Microsoft with a feature like Windows Recall, over 76% said no. Our Senior Editor Zac Bowdenran the same poll on X(formerly Twitter) and over 73% of voters on that platform said they did not trust Microsoft with a feature like Windows Recall.
Bowden’s breakdown of the “PR disaster” surrounding Recall illustrates the trust issues Microsoft has created and how the tech giant handled the rollout of its flagship feature for Copilot+ PCs.
Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
