Microsoft tests 'Context Vault' for Windows 11, replacing automatic screenshots with manual content addition
Microsoft is testing a new Windows 11 app called 'Context Vault' as an alternative to the controversial Recall feature. Unlike Recall, it requires users to manually add content and leverages cloud AI rather than automatic local screen capturing.
According to TechRadar, Microsoft is testing a new application called 'Context Vault' designed to offer an AI-powered supercharged search experience for Windows 11, but with a fundamentally different privacy mechanism than Recall. Unlike Recall, which is built into the OS and automatically takes regular screenshots of PC activity, Context Vault must be actively installed from the Microsoft Store and requires users to manually add files, web pages, or clipboard text to the vault for the AI to process and retrieve them.
This design shift directly addresses public concerns about the privacy implications of Recall's automatic screen recording. In Context Vault, users maintain full control over what data is indexed. Additionally, the app does not strictly require a Copilot+ PC with a powerful local NPU, as it can leverage cloud-based AI, although this introduces its own set of privacy considerations. Reports indicate Microsoft is also considering further security measures such as encryption, per-app access controls, and requiring Windows Hello login to protect the vault.
The feature is currently in early testing and is not yet officially listed in the Microsoft Store. Initial reactions are mixed, with some skeptics viewing it as solving a non-existent problem, while others welcome the more controlled approach to AI search. Whether Microsoft will ultimately integrate this functionality into Windows 11 remains uncertain.