Finally, that dedicated Copilot key can do more than just summon the AI chatbot

Ever wondered what that dedicated Copilot key on your Copilot+ PCs can do, other than opening the Copilot side panel on Windows? Well, Microsoft is testing a new way to make it more useful.

In a recent Windows 11 beta version, the KB5043186 update for the Beta channel for insiders, Microsoft lets users change the dedicated Copilot key to open any MSIX packaged app instead of just the Copilot app. This update improves user experience and safety by only allowing secure apps.

Microsoft added a dedicated Copilot key earlier this year, as it pushed for Copilot+ hardware. That’s why newly-launched laptops that arrived on the market this year have it for such AI-friendly laptops, whether it’s the high-end devices with a Snapdragon X Elite chip or the pocket-friendly 8-core X Plus.

And, that’s also the biggest keyboard change we’ve seen in decades after the Windows key on PC keyboards back during the Windows 95 days in 1994. While we also saw a dedicated Office key that replaced the right-hand Windows key back in Windows 10 days, let’s be real, it’s nowhere to be seen now.

Speaking of the update (Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4225), Microsoft also adds features like sharing files directly from File Explorer with Android devices and smaller media controls on the lock screen. The update also includes various fixes, like resolving issues with the emoji panel and improving User Account Control prompts during application repairs.