Microsoft is making it easier to access Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 apps. But instead of adding a bunch of ways to access the AI assistant, Microsoft is giving users just two options.
The two main ways to access Copilot will be an icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen and through a contextual entry point like selecting text.
The streamlined approach keeps Copilot consistent across apps.
Copilot will also offer proactive suggestions from the Copilot button. Those actions will be accessible through keyboard shortcuts or hovering your cursor over the Copilot icon.
"Before you know it, Copilot will be editing your content directly from conversation," promises Microsoft in a Tech Community post.
Microsoft also updated the keyboard shortcuts that open the Copilot pane. Rather than having to press Alt + H, F, or X to open it, you can press F6. That shortcut moves focus to the Copilot button. You can then use the up arrow to navigate between suggestions.
Copilot shortcuts are being unified across Microsoft 365 apps, though the change is only rolling out to Outlook and Word at the moment. Eventually, the Microsoft 365 apps will support the below shortcuts.
Platform |
Shortcut |
Action |
|---|---|---|
Windows (Win32 and Web) |
Alt + C |
Sets focus on the Copilot button in the canvas. If the Copilot Chat pane is already open, focus moves to the chat edit box so you can begin typing immediately. |
Mac (Desktop and Web) |
Cmd + Control + I |
Sets focus on the Copilot button in the canvas. |
All platforms |
F6 |
Moves focus to the Copilot button in the canvas. |
People will have to wait a bit to use the Alt + C and Cmd + Control + I shortcuts in all Microsoft 365 apps. But the new Copilot button and other shortcuts are rolling out to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and will become generally available in June.
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