Microsoft’s Copilot chatbot is still accessible on both Windows 11 and Windows 10, albeit with a different integration approach than its initial rollout. This guide will walk you through the updated Copilot experience available on these operating systems.
When Microsoft first unveiled Copilot for Windows 11, it was designed to be deeply embedded within the OS, effectively replacing Cortana across laptops, tablets, and desktops. The vision was to create an assistant capable of engaging in natural language conversations, answering a wide array of questions, and executing various tasks, including adjusting system settings. In contrast, Windows 10 has always hosted Copilot as a web application, lacking the same level of integration but still allowing users to modify system settings.
How to navigate on Copilot
The Copilot experience on Windows 11 is designed to be minimalistic and user-friendly. Here’s how to access the chatbot:
Launch Copilot
- Open Start.
- Search for Copilot and select the top result to open the app.
You may also find the Copilot button pinned to your Taskbar. If it’s not there, you can launch it from the Start menu, right-click the button, and choose the pin option. Since Copilot is now an app, its settings are no longer available on the “Taskbar” settings page.
Additionally, you can invoke the chatbot using the Copilot button while performing a query in the Windows Search experience. This action will redirect you to the chatbot’s website at Copilot.Microsoft.com via the Microsoft Edge browser. If you’re using Edge, you can access the same version of Copilot through a button located at the top-right corner of the browser, maintaining the experience that was initially branded as Bing Chat.
Sign in account
If you need to log into your account, follow these steps:
- Click the Sign in button at the top right.
- Click the Sign in button again.
- Enter your credentials to access your account.
Once logged in, you can begin interacting with Copilot using natural language.
Customize experience
To tailor your Copilot experience, use the following steps:
- Click the account menu from the top right.
- Select the Voice setting.
- Choose your preferred voice for the chatbot.
- Click the Language setting (if applicable) and select your desired language.
- Click the Theme setting and choose between Dark or Light themes.
After completing these steps, your new settings will take effect immediately.
Change Copilot privacy settings
If you wish to prevent Microsoft from using your data for AI training, follow these steps:
- Open the Copilot app.
- Click the user account menu from the top right.
- Select your account.
- Click on Privacy.
- Quick tip: Click on “Name” to change how the chatbot addresses you.
- Toggle off the Model training switch to stop uploading your conversations for AI training.
- Toggle off the Personalization switch to prevent the chatbot from using your chats and activities for personalization.
Once these steps are completed, your data will no longer be sent to Microsoft servers for training or personalization purposes while using Copilot on Windows 11, Windows 10, mobile, or web.
How to interact on Copilot
Engaging with the Copilot chatbot is straightforward, featuring a warm and inviting interface that includes a message box at the bottom of the page. The latest version has simplified the interaction by removing the option to change conversation styles.
Text prompt
To communicate with Copilot, follow these steps:
- Open the Copilot app.
- Type your prompt in the “Message Copilot” box and press Enter.
Quick tip: You can ask anything using natural language. For example, you might request, “Make me a picture of a serene koi fishpond with lily pads,” “Write a story about a dog who lives on the moon,” or “Create a five-day itinerary to visit Chicago in November.”
- Copilot understands context, allowing you to ask follow-up questions without repeating keywords.
- Click the plus (+) button to upload an image for further inquiries.
It’s advisable to verify the AI’s responses, as it can occasionally make errors.
Voice prompt
To initiate a voice conversation with Copilot, follow these steps:
- Open the Copilot app.
- Click the microphone button.
Quick note: This feature requires access to a microphone; devices without one will not be able to utilize this function.
- Engage in a conversation using natural language.
- (Optional) Click the Settings (gear) button to adjust the chatbot’s voice.
- Click the Close (X) button to return to the main interface.
You can converse with the chatbot as you would with another person, though this feature may still require refinement, as some users have noted choppy responses during interactions.
Copilot discovery
To explore the Copilot discovery feature, follow these steps:
- Open the Copilot app.
- Click the Copilot button in the “Message Copilot” box.
This discovery page allows users to engage with content without needing to type prompts. It features a virtual news presenter dubbed “Copilot Daily,” which offers AI-generated summaries of news and weather tailored to individual preferences.
Currently, Microsoft is collaborating with a limited number of media sources for this feature, with plans to expand partnerships in the future. As you navigate the page, you’ll encounter various prompt suggestions to inspire further interactions with Copilot.
While on the discovery page, you can access your previous conversations by clicking the history button at the bottom. If you wish to delete all your activities with Copilot, this action must be completed through your Microsoft account.
How to install and remove Copilot
If Copilot is not currently available on your device, you can install it from the Microsoft Store. Conversely, if you have it installed but wish to remove it, the process is akin to uninstalling any other app.
Remove Copilot app
To uninstall the Copilot app, follow these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Apps.
- Navigate to the Installed apps section on the right.
- Open the main menu (three dots) next to the app.
- Click the Uninstall button.
- Click the Uninstall button again to confirm.
After completing these steps, the Copilot app will be removed from your computer, although the button will still appear in the Windows Search experience from the Taskbar. The Copilot feature in Microsoft Edge operates independently from the dedicated app in the operating system, and you can disable it through Microsoft Edge Settings > Sidebar > Copilot.
Install Copilot app
To install the Copilot app, follow these steps:
- Open the Copilot app page.
- Click the “View in Store” button.
- Click the Get (or Install) button.
Upon completing these steps, Copilot will be accessible from the Start menu.
What’s next on Copilot
Copilot is currently undergoing significant transformations. Beyond text and voice interactions, Microsoft is poised to introduce new features, including “Copilot Vision,” which will allow users to share website content with the chatbot for conversational inquiries about text, images, and other materials. Furthermore, “Copilot Suggestions” may soon debut in Windows 11, providing AI-driven recommendations in specific applications when the chatbot recognizes potential assistance opportunities.
For instance, Microsoft has previously demonstrated how the Settings app could display suggestions for troubleshooting or enabling features at the top of a page. In File Explorer, hovering over an image could activate Copilot, enabling users to ask questions about it or perform actions like background removal or resizing.
Additionally, users may receive toast notifications for new emails, suggesting summaries for document attachments. While the latest iteration of Copilot boasts a more streamlined interface, it has also phased out several legacy features, including plugins, notebook mode, content export, conversation sharing, text-to-speech, and prompt editing.
More resources
For additional articles, coverage, and answers to common questions regarding Windows 10 and Windows 11, please explore the following resources:
