Microsoft’s Click to Do and Recall: A Game-Changer for Windows Search and Productivity
Microsoft has finally rolled out its highly anticipated Recall feature, along with an improved AI-powered Windows search interface and a new Click to Do tool, to all Copilot Plus PCs. Recall, a feature that takes screenshots of almost everything you do on your PC, is designed to improve how you search your device. But what does this mean for your privacy, and how will these new features impact your productivity?
Recall: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Recall was originally supposed to launch last year, but was delayed due to concerns raised by security researchers. Microsoft has since spent the past 10 months overhauling the security of Recall, making it an opt-in experience that you don’t have to enable if you’re concerned about the privacy implications. When enabled, Recall takes snapshots of your screen, categorizing them so you can easily search for vague memories instead of file names.
While Recall is a great improvement to the Windows search interface, it does create a privacy minefield. You’re suddenly storing a lot more information on your PC usage, and you still need to manage blocked apps and websites carefully. Security researcher Kevin Beaumont, who first raised alarm bells over Recall, has been testing the final version and found that Microsoft has made serious efforts to secure the feature. However, he notes that filtering sensitive apps and websites can be hit-and-miss, and occasionally even buggy.
Click to Do: A New Way to Interact with Your PC
Click to Do is a new feature that works similarly to Google’s Circle to Search. You activate it by using the Windows key + left mouse click, and it provides actions for the text or images on your screen. This includes summarizing text or being able to quickly remove an object from an image. While currently limited to Qualcomm-powered devices, AMD- and Intel-powered Copilot Plus PCs will get this feature “in the next few months.”
AI-Powered Windows Search: A Game-Changer for Productivity
The improved AI-powered Windows search interface is a major upgrade, allowing you to use natural language queries to search for files, settings, and more. You can now describe images or documents and get results, making it easier to find what you need quickly. For example, if you’re looking for an image of a brown dog, you can simply ask for “brown dog” instead of having to know the file name or date the image was created.
What’s Next?
Recall, the improved Windows search, and Click to Do will all be available today across all Copilot Plus PCs. However, the text actions in Click to Do are currently limited to Qualcomm-powered devices, with AMD- and Intel-powered Copilot Plus PCs getting this feature “in the next few months.” Additionally, Recall and Click to Do will not be available in EU countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway until later this year.
Actionable Insights
- Enable Recall only if you’re comfortable with the potential privacy implications.
- Use the improved AI-powered Windows search interface to quickly find what you need.
- Experiment with Click to Do to see how it can streamline your workflow.
- Keep an eye out for the text actions in Click to Do to become available on AMD- and Intel-powered devices.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s Recall, Click to Do, and improved AI-powered Windows search interface are a major step forward for Windows productivity. While Recall raises privacy concerns, Microsoft has taken steps to secure the feature. With these new features, you’ll be able to search your PC more efficiently, and interact with your device in new and innovative ways.