Microsoft began offering a dedicated Copilot key with PCs in 2024 to bolster the AI branding. However, the initial idea was to keep Copilot on one side and launch it when the user pressed the key. But the plans have changed now.
Copilot is now pinned on the Taskbar as a web app. So, a dedicated key isn’t super-helpful when a user can open Copilot from the Taskbar, system tray, or the Start menu. If you don’t want to keep the key unused, you are not alone.
We at YTECHB recently got a Copilot+ PC and were wondering what to do with the now redundant key. Fortunately, there’s an option to customize it to open another app or launch Windows Search. Let’s look at all the options.
Changing Copilot Key Behavior on Windows 11 24H2
Currently, Windows 11’s Copilot Key bindings only allow two customization options. To access it, navigate to Settings > Personalization > Text Inputs section.
Now, expand the Customize Copilot key on the Keyboard option and select Search from the list. When you press the Copilot key, it’ll launch Windows search.
If you want to make it an app launch key, pick the Custom option from the list. You’ll see another window in which all the available apps will appear. Click on any one and then click the Select option.
Now, the Copilot key press will force launch the selected app instead of Copilot.
Can You Configure the Copilot Key to Open Any App?
Unfortunately, no. This feature only allows signed MSIX packages to launch and won’t show any third-party app names in the list. Also, there isn’t a browse section now, which restricts you from choosing apps from the presented list.
In our tests, we only saw system apps, so the options are surely limited. You can always use a third-party key binding adjustment tool like PowerToys to remap a shortcut to start an app. It’s a tab more complicated than Microsoft’s settings design, but it will make your useless Copilot key do the job you want.
Also, if you are not using PowerToys, you’re missing out on many features that you wish Microsoft would include in Windows 11 by default, like Mouse Sharing, File Explorer adjustments, Peek, and New. Microsoft is even testing an option to open a context menu with the Copilot key, and we’ll keep tracking it and update the post when the feature arrives.
Can You Remap Keys in Windows 11?
Yes. Even Microsoft has a dedicated page on how to remap keys on your PC, and it suggests using PowerToys, as we mentioned above. This way, you can remap any of the unused keys to do something useful.
Wrapping Up
We’re glad there is an option to make the Copilot key do something better than what it was designed for. Not everyone is a fan of Copilot or will get a Copilot+ PC unless AI CPUs are the only CPUs that come with Windows PCs.
The context menu opening option seems promising, and we’ll keep checking builds and updating the page.
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