Microsoft packs Copilot+ PCs with Click to Do and a reworked Recall

Microsoft just gave its AI PCs the software arsenal they were actually built for.

Microsoft officially released the Windows 11 2024 Update (version 24H2) alongside a wave of exclusive features heading to Copilot+ PCs starting this holiday. The lineup brings a redesigned Recall, a universal screen interaction tool called Click to Do, offline natural-language search, and 8X photo upscaling across Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, and Surface devices starting at $699.

Recall gets locked down, and Click to Do takes the screen

Recall is finally making its comeback after being pulled in May over massive privacy pushback. Microsoft has completely rebuilt its security posture: it is now strictly opt-in, requires Windows Hello biometric presence to unlock snapshots, and automatically filters sensitive information like credit card numbers and personal IDs. Snapdragon-powered machines get the preview in October, while Intel and AMD laptops join in November.

Alongside Recall comes Click to Do, an interactive overlay accessible from any screen via the Windows key and a mouse click. It contextually analyzes whatever you are looking at. Click text, and you get instant options to rewrite, summarize, explain, fire off an email, or search the web. Click an image, and it hooks directly into Bing visual search, background blur, or generative tools in Paint.

Natural-language search without the cloud

Finding files on Windows has traditionally been miserable if you forgot the exact file name. Copilot+ PCs can now parse natural queries like "BBQ party" across local documents, settings, and OneDrive photos, even without an internet connection, powered entirely by the onboard 40+ TOPS NPU. The feature rolls out first to File Explorer before expanding to Windows Search and Settings.

Native apps are also getting supercharged. The Photos app adds an on-device Super Resolution tool that upscales older or low-res images by up to 8X to 4K in seconds for free. Paint picks up generative fill and generative erase backed by an upgraded diffusion model.

For regular PCs, the 24H2 update is a full OS swap delivering Wi-Fi 7 support, HDR backgrounds, improved Bluetooth LE Audio for hearing aids, and an Energy Saver profile that works even when plugged in.

Why it matters

For months, early adopters of Copilot+ PCs have been sitting on capable NPUs with almost nothing meaningful to run on them. These additions change that dynamic.

Instead of trapping AI inside a dedicated chatbot window, Microsoft is baking it invisibly into core workflows: snapping screenshots, searching obscure files offline, and manipulating images right in Paint. If natural-language search works reliably offline, that alone justifies the upgrade for mobile professionals who spend their lives digging through disorganized local folders.

Strategically, this is Microsoft firing a direct warning shot at Apple Intelligence. By making these features native to 40+ TOPS machines across Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD chips, Microsoft is turning PC hardware specs into visible software perks, nudging the sub-$1,000 laptop market into an AI-first upgrade cycle.

We think shifting from a conversational UI to ambient tools like Click to Do is the smartest move Microsoft has made all year. However, the reputational risk around Recall remains radioactive. Even with opt-in switches and Windows Hello locks, asking users to trust their operating system to record their every move is an uphill battle. Any slip-up in execution could poison customer sentiment across the entire Copilot+ lineup.