Microsoft Introduces Customization Features for Copilot Key
Microsoft is planning to let Windows 11 users customize the Copilot key that has started arriving with new laptops and keyboards.
The company has designed the Copilot key to run the Copilot app by default across Windows 11, though the software giant is now testing the ability to use it to run other apps instead.
A new Windows 11 beta includes customization changes. “You can choose to have your Copilot key run a compiled and signed MSIX app, which means the app meets security and privacy requirements to keep customers safe,” the Windows Insider team explains in a blog post . “The key will continue to run Copilot across devices with the Copilot app until the customer chooses a different experience.”
The Copilot key is the first major change to Windows keyboards in 30 years and part of Microsoft's push to encourage Windows users to try out its AI assistant.
Copilot Plus AI PCs started arriving to users earlier this year with this key included, though Microsoft has reduced the utility of the Copilot experience on these new devices by turning Copilot into a web app in the latest Windows 11 update.
This web app version of Copilot no longer integrates with Windows 11 settings, so you can't use the AI assistant to control whether to enable dark mode or a variety of other settings.
It's still unclear how Microsoft intends to evolve the Copilot experience in Windows, nor whether the company might turn the Copilot key into something that can be used in a similar way to the way the Windows key is used to launch shortcuts.
Since the customization options for the Copilot key are available to Windows 11 beta testers, the options are expected to reach all Windows 11 users in the coming months.
Microsoft Introduces Customization Features for Copilot Key