Microsoft Tests Customizable Copilot Key in Windows 11 Preview Build

New Windows 11 build lets you use Copilot key to launch things that aren't Copilot

The Copilot button on a Surface Pro keyboard cover. Credit: Andrew Cunningham Whether you care about Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant or not, many new PCs introduced this year have included a dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard; this is true whether the PC meets the requirements for Microsoft's Copilot+ PC program or not. Microsoft's commitment to putting AI features in all its products runs so deep that the company changed the Windows keyboard for the first time in three decades. But what happens if you don't use Copilot regularly, or you've disabled or uninstalled it entirely, or if you simply don't need to have it available at the press of a button? Microsoft is making allowances for you in a new Windows Insider Preview build in the Dev channel, which will allow the Copilot key to be reprogrammed so that it can launch more than just Copilot. There are restrictions. To appear in the menu of options in the Settings app, Microsoft says an app must be "MSIX packaged and signed, thus indicating the app meets security and privacy requirements to keep customers safe." Generally an app installed via the Microsoft Store or apps built into Windows will meet those requirements, though apps installed from other sources may not. But you can't make the Copilot key launch any old executable or batch file, and you can't customize it to do anything other than launch apps (at least, not without using third-party tools for reconfiguring your keyboard).

Don't like Copilot? Microsoft might let you preprogram the new Copilot button

Windows Insiders are now testing out this potential feature When Microsoft launched its new Copilot + PCs earlier this year, it also introduced the first change to the standard Windows keyboards in over 30 years by adding a new dedicated Copilot Key. Not every new PC meets Microsoft's requirements to be considered a Copilot + PC though but even some of them have been outfitted with this new key. However, when the company's Copilot AI was released major features like Recall were almost immediately...ahem, recalled. As mentioned, some PCs just didn't get Copilot, or some people have never even used the feature. As spotted by Ars Technica, for those who find themselves not using Copilot or using it less frequently, Microsoft is testing the ability to program the Copilot key inside its Windows Insider beta program with a recent Preview build. Functionally, this would enable the Copilot key to be shortcut for launching other tools or programs. The customization of the Copilot key isn't a free-for-all however. "You can choose to have the Copilot key launch an app that is MSIX packaged and signed, thus indicating the app meets security and privacy requirements to keep customers safe," Microsoft wrote in their Insider Blog. In general, though, apps installed via the Microsoft Store or those that ship with Windows will more than likely meet those requirements. Apps from other sources may not and will have to be checked. Additionally, the Copilot key will only launch apps, not a batch file or another executable. Copilot itself was already remappable though but doing so left the special new key mostly functionless. Microsoft's take on AI also received a huge update this week with several new features and enhancements, which include the return of the bungled Recall feature that has now become opt-in and isn't enabled by default. The current Preview build is based on Windows 11 24H2 which is the update that Microsoft just release this week. It's worth noting that the Microsoft's Insiders program is more of a testing environment and this feature may never even see the light of day in public Windows 11 builds. Likewise, it may get totally reworked between now and a release. If we had to bet though, this one will more than likely actually make it to the public in the coming months.