The much-anticipated Windows 11 Recall feature, designed to give PCs “photographic memory,” is encountering problems during testing. Early previews reveal that the snapshot saving functionality, crucial for Recall’s operation, is experiencing significant issues.
Tech reviewers have reported various problems, ranging from lengthy delays in snapshot saving to a complete failure of the process. CNBC noted that saving a snapshot could take “several minutes,” potentially hindering AI processing. Tom Warren of The Verge reported on Bluesky that snapshots weren’t saving at all during his testing. He questioned if others were experiencing similar issues:
anyone else having issues with Recall? I can't get it to save snapshots at all
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren.co.uk) 2024-11-25T02:08:27.321Z
Microsoft’s Recommended Solution: Reboot
In response to these reported issues, Microsoft’s current solution is the classic computer restart. The company issued an advisory notice to Windows Insiders in the Dev channel, the primary group testing Recall, recommending a reboot if snapshots don’t appear within five minutes or if saving ceases altogether.
“Some users experience a delay before snapshots first appear in the timeline while using their device. If snapshots do not appear after 5 minutes, reboot your device. If saving snapshots is enabled, but you see snapshots are no longer being saved, reboot your device,” Microsoft explained in a blog post.
Recall’s Journey and Functionality
Initially slated for a June preview, Recall is currently available only to Windows 11 update beta testers on Copilot+ PCs equipped with Snapdragon X chips.
The feature aims to provide users with the ability to search their PC’s activity history using natural language. Beyond search, Recall also promises to restore previous work states, allowing users to seamlessly resume tasks after system crashes or shutdowns.
This functionality relies on capturing and saving snapshots of user activity. Previous privacy and security concerns surrounding this data collection led to the feature’s initial withdrawal and subsequent delays. Now, its re-emergence is plagued by technical challenges.
Competition in the AI Feature Landscape
While Recall offers a unique approach, other tech companies are developing similar AI-powered features. Google’s ChromeOS 130 update introduced “Welcome Recap,” enabling users to recall and select previous desktop states or start fresh with a new one.
The ongoing issues with Windows 11’s Recall feature highlight the complexities of implementing such ambitious functionalities. Whether Microsoft can resolve these problems and deliver on Recall’s promise remains to be seen.
