Microsoft Plans Guided Tour for Copilot in Windows 11 to Enhance User Experience

Microsoft could offer a guided tour of the Copilot app to help Windows 11 newbies, but I'm still waiting for the big changes to the AI assistant

It covers the basics such as how to upload a file to have Copilot examine it, and the major interface elements of the app Microsoft is apparently planning on introducing a guided tour for the Copilot app, in order to show the uninitiated what the AI assistant can do in Windows 11. The fresh introduction for Windows 11 preview builds was noticed by PhantomOfEarth on X, as you can see in the below post. The leaker provides a quartet of screenshots to show you how the guided tour is currently implemented. (I should note that although it isn't stated explicitly, the assumption is that this is hidden in Windows 11 test builds, and not yet enabled by Microsoft). The offer of the guided tour is placed at the top of the screen, above the Copilot text and prompt panel. If you click to take it, the tour in its current form is something of a whirlwind affair. We're shown three of the six steps which introduce the prompt box (where you ask Copilot to do things), the button to upload files for Copilot to work with, and the icon to click to transform the app into a mini-window (for multitasking). A guided tour for newbies to this particular facet of AI in Windows 11 seems like a sound enough move. Not everyone is familiar with Copilot in its new standalone app form, and a gentle introduction to the basic functions isn't going to hurt. And if you're not interested, obviously you can just ignore it (dismissing the prompt by turning down the tour). Indeed, Microsoft might even work to beef up the tour a bit, although that may not be the case given that its purpose is just to deliver a brief introduction to the key elements of the Copilot app. All of this is assuming that the piece of functionality makes the cut for inclusion in Windows 11, although as noted, I can't see why it wouldn't. As you may recall, Copilot wasn't always an app. When the AI assistant first arrived in Windows 11, it was integrated directly into the OS as a side panel (that pulled out from the right-hand side of the desktop). Microsoft then changed its mind and split off the AI into a standalone application, so it could be interacted with like a normal app - even though decoupling it from the operating system in this way kind of felt like a step backwards. Particularly when the Copilot app was so basic to begin with, although that has now changed. Exactly where Copilot is going in Windows 11 remains to be seen, and there's no shortage of folks who are rather underwhelmed at the progress made with the AI assistant so far. (And some who might've been quite glad to encounter a recent bug that accidentally deleted Copilot from Windows 11, rather unbelievably). A lot of big initial promises about Copilot being able to enact sweeping changes to settings based on broad natural language prompts (such as "make my games faster") still seem a long, long way off from where we stand right now. Currently, the Copilot app for Windows 11 isn't that much different to using Copilot on the web.

Microsoft might add a Copilot guided tour to Windows 11 to help new users

Microsoft could be adding a guided tour to its Copilot app in Windows 11, making it easier for users to get started, according to TechRadar. The six-step guide appears at the top of the app for easy access, and it was Windows leaker @PhantomOfEarth who first spotted it. Microsoft has not officially confirmed the feature, and it is unclear which Insider build it may be tied to, if any. If you want to try the guided tour, the prompt to start it appears above the Copilot panel. The guide, in its current form, moves at a reasonably fast pace. The first step introduces the prompt box, where users can type or speak requests. This is the main way to interact with Microsoft's AI assistant. The third step guides you through the upload button, which allows you to add documents, images, and other files for Copilot to work with. The pop-up also notes that Copilot can summarize, rewrite, or edit supported content. Recommended Videos The fifth step is Quick View mode, a feature that minimizes Copilot into a smaller window for more effortless multitasking across open apps. This can be especially helpful for Windows users who want to keep the AI assistant available while working in other parts of Windows 11. To move through the guide, you can click the "Next" button at the bottom right of each pop-up step. If the Copilot guided tour eventually rolls out to all users, it could make Microsoft's AI assistant easier to approach. It's a small but useful addition for new users who might otherwise find Copilot confusing at first. Microsoft already offers resources such as the Get Help app, which can walk users through troubleshooting steps or answer their questions. There is also Agentic AI, which allows Copilot to perform multi-step tasks on your behalf. While these tools won't solve every issue, it's good to see Microsoft trying to ease the learning curve in Windows 11. Please enable Javascript to view this content