Microsoft Brings Recall Feature to Arm-Based Windows 11 Laptops via Insider Program
Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature, a standout addition to its AI-powered Copilot+ ecosystem, has finally arrived on Snapdragon-powered Arm laptops. Initially delayed and limited to x64-based systems, Recall is now accessible to Arm users via the Windows Insider Program’s Dev Channel. This development enables owners of the latest Snapdragon laptops, which gained significant attention earlier this year, to test the feature ahead of its general release.
Recall’s capabilities are as ambitious as they are contentious. The feature logs almost every user action on Windows, offering an unparalleled depth of productivity insights. However, this comes at the cost of heightened scrutiny over privacy and security concerns. Since its unveiling, Recall faced multiple delays as Microsoft addressed criticism by implementing safeguards, including the ability for regular users to restrict program access and ensuring the feature is disabled by default on enterprise systems. For workplace PCs, enabling Recall requires IT manager approval and manual activation.
A Long Road Ahead for Recall’s General Availability
Despite its inclusion in the Insider Program, Recall’s path to mainstream adoption remains uncertain. Microsoft has indicated that the feature will likely not roll out to the general release channel for Windows 11 until 2025 at the earliest. Even then, its availability will be limited to Copilot+ PCs released this year or later, which represents a small fraction of the Windows user base.
For those eager to explore Recall on Snapdragon devices, joining the Windows Insider Program is relatively straightforward, with the flexibility to revert back to stable releases once updates roll out universally or if the experience doesn’t meet expectations. While Recall is a bold addition to Microsoft’s AI-driven innovations, its polarizing nature ensures its rollout will remain a topic of significant debate in the tech community.
