Microsoft is finally introducing the capability to reprogram the Copilot key on Copilot+ PCs (and future keyboards equipped with a Copilot button) to open something other than the — love-it-or hate-it — Copilot AI assistant. The software giant rolled out this functionality in a new Windows 11 insider preview build, 22635.4225, to the beta channel for insiders to test.
Starting with this beta build, Windows 11 users can change the functionality of the Copilot key to open other programs besides the Copilot AI assistant the button is designed to open, improving the key's flexibility for users who might not use Copilot often enough to warrant a dedicated key just for opening the app. The key can be reprogrammed in the Settings app — under the personalization, then text input sub-menu, to launch a different app that is "MSIX packaged and signed" of the user's choosing. This restriction was implemented to meet "security and privacy requirements to keep customers safe."
