Windows 11 Dev Build 26120.2415: AI Features Recall & Click To Do

Big news for Windows Insiders has just dropped like a new album from your favorite artist. Microsoft’s Dev channel is roaring into action with a fresh build that promises to shake up the Windows 11 experience. Say hello to Windows 11 Dev Build 26120.2415 (KB5046723), which officially introduces two highly anticipated AI-powered features: Recall and Click To Do. If you're lucky enough to be cruising on a cutting-edge Copilot+ enabled PC (sorry traditional x86 users, you're left in the dust for now), you're about to get a taste of what the future of AI-driven productivity might look like.

Let’s Talk About Recall: Snapshotting Your Way Through Time​

Ever wished you could turn back time to quickly reopen past work or missed pieces of information? That’s where Recall comes into play. Recall is like having your own DeLorean for your desktop—it takes real-time snapshots of your workspace, threading a timeline of your activities into a neat package you can revisit anytime. Here's the nitty-gritty:

How It Works:​

• Snapshot Creation: Recall automatically saves 'snapshots' of the apps, documents, and files you’re working on.
• Timeline Integration: These snapshots are cataloged into a visually rich timeline, enabling Insiders to click back to specific moments in time and re-enter their workflow instantly.
• Secure Boot Dependency: The cherry on top (or maybe the gatekeeper) is that Secure Boot must be enabled for Recall to save your snapshots. So, make sure this feature is toggled on in your firmware settings to enjoy seamless functionality.

Known Glitches:​

As with any new feature, Recall comes with a handful of quirks:

• Delayed Snapshot Loading: Occasionally, snapshots might take a few minutes to populate on the timeline. If this happens, Microsoft suggests a quick restart of your PC.
• Accessibility Shortcomings: Recall currently has limited functionality with some assistive technologies, which might leave certain users underserved—this could be a critical point for broader inclusivity conversations.
• Cache Caution: While testing, the system caches Recall binaries on your disk even after disabling. A future update promises to remove obsolete files completely.

What’s particularly intriguing is that Recall also taps into Microsoft 365 integration to let users jump straight back into the right Word docs, spreadsheets, or presentations, making this feature a potentially massive timesaver for productivity nerds.

Click To Do: Your AI Task Manager Gurus​

While Recall handles the "where was I" problem, Click To Do steps in to tackle "what should I do next?" This feature aims to transform task management by embedding actionable, smart reminders directly into your workflow. Think of it as a to-do list that’s so intelligent, it might qualify for Mensa.

What Makes Click To Do Special:​

• AI Contextual Understanding: It scans your ongoing activities and creates actionable lists based on your working habits.
• Integrated Suggestions: Working on an email draft? Click To Do might encourage you to set a calendar event or reminder for the follow-up steps—all without switching apps.
• Natural Input Support: For those who love using narration tools or dictation, Click To Do plays nice with speech-based inputs, blending seamlessly into accessibility features like Voice Access and Narrator.

A glaring caveat? Unlike Recall, Click To Do is seemingly more polished out of the gate and has fewer publicly flagged bugs or glitches. However, don’t get too comfy—Microsoft’s crack team is already collecting Insider feedback for refinements.

Evolution Beyond Recall And Click To Do: Notable Changes & Fixes​

Although the headline is dominated by those two AI marvels, Dev Build 26120.2415 is packing other goodies for Insiders to chew on:

• Revamped Windows Hello UX: A modernized sign-in experience is arriving, featuring sleek visual overhauls and quicker onboarding, previously teased in Beta and Canary channels.
• Narrator on Steroids: Insiders can now skip links (press N) or jump to lists (L) while using Narrator Scan Mode, shaping up the browsing game for users reliant on assistive navigation.
• Speech-to-Text Pipeline Improvements: Enhanced live captions, translations, and voice typing capabilities accompany this update, although some tweaks require manual language pack updates via Microsoft Store.

Fixes:​

Dev Channel users should immediately notice stability and UI improvements:

1. Explorer.exe Stability Improved: An issue causing explorer.exe crashes has been resolved, ensuring smoother interaction with taskbar icons.
2. File Explorer Search Refinement: No more stray UI issues where the search bar sticks out awkwardly.
3. Desktop Background Quirks Fixed: Goodbye, unsightly black voids stretching across your multi-monitor setup.
4. Hardware Input Corrections: Scrolling issues with Windows wheel devices (ah, the frustration!) have been addressed in this release.

What About Issues?​

Not everything lands perfectly. Microsoft has released a transparent list of known issues impacting Recall and other adjustments in Build 26120.2415:

• Feedback Hub links from Recall might be sluggish in opening.
• Secure Boot’s role in enabling snapshots introduces potential setup confusion for newcomers.
• Multi-taskers using split-screen or sidebar panes in Edge might see issues with Recall saving snapshots of website filters. A future patch should handle this.

Broader Implications: What Does This Mean for Windows Users?​

This build signals a future fundamentally shaped by AI, from memory-assisted workflows via Recall to task refinement with Click To Do. But Microsoft is also laying the groundwork for enhanced security (Secure Boot dependencies) and inclusivity (expanded Narrator shortcuts). Such updates beg questions:

• Does User Control Take a Hit? Adding AI-driven decisions sparks debates over autonomy. Will Microsoft strike a balance between convenience and user freedom?
• Compatibility Fragmentation: By centering innovation around Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft may alienate a chunk of its user base relying on x86 architecture. Is backward compatibility fading as a value?
• Performance Trade-offs: With AI taking center stage, lesser hardware might struggle to keep up, leaving users contemplating system upgrades.

Windows 11’s trajectory here goes far beyond stability patches—it’s evolving into a hybrid OS-as-a-service, with AI integrated at every core interaction point.

How Can You Get Started?​

If you're ready to jump off the edge (or just the Dev Channel), ensure your device meets these criteria:

1. Be enrolled in the Windows Insider Dev Channel for early previews.
2. Confirm that your hardware supports Secure Boot for retrospective Recall snapshots.
3. Be patient with AI—it’s smart, but not infallible; bugs and hiccups are part of the journey.

What features are you most excited about in this new build? Do Recall and Click To Do look like game changers or just experimental fluff? Share your thoughts and feedback below!

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Source: Neowin Windows 11 Dev build 26120.2415 adds Recall, Click to Do, and more