Microsoft has announced the rollout of a native Copilot app for Windows, a significant upgrade from the previously available progressive web app (PWA). This update, aimed at users registered with the Windows Insider Program, will see the new app integrated into the system tray, enhancing accessibility and user experience.
Native Copilot App Rolls Out
In a recent blog post, Microsoft elaborated on the features of the new native Copilot app, which introduces a quick view functionality. This allows users to engage with the AI chatbot seamlessly via keyboard shortcuts on Windows 11 devices. By pressing Alt + Space, users can easily open or close the quick view, which is also designed to be movable and resizable according to user preference. To return to the main Copilot app window, a simple click on the icon located at the top-left corner of the quick view window will suffice.
The implementation of this shortcut utilizes the RegisterHotKey function, a common feature among various applications, including Copilot itself. This means that whichever app is launched first or is currently running in the background will respond to the Alt + Space command.
For those equipped with a dedicated Copilot key on their PCs, accessing the AI chatbot becomes even more straightforward. Microsoft has indicated plans to explore additional keyboard shortcuts for the app in the future, aiming to enhance user interaction further.
The rollout of the native Copilot app is taking place through the Microsoft Store, with the app version now at 1.24112.123.0 and higher. However, users should note that this rollout is gradual, meaning not all Windows Insiders will receive it immediately. It may take several days for the app to become widely available across the Insider community.
