The recent Windows 11 update introduces the Copilot key customization feature for test users. This feature allows users to personalize the Copilot key on compatible PCs and future keyboards with integrated Copilot keys. The customization feature is included in the Windows 11 Insider Preview build 22635.4225 for beta channel testing.
With this update, Windows 11 users can reassign the function of the Copilot key to open applications other than the Copilot AI assistant. This customization provides greater flexibility, particularly for users who infrequently use Copilot and prefer to use the key for accessing other applications.
To customize the Copilot key, users can navigate to Settings, select Personalization, and then go to Text Input. From there, they can choose another application with the “MSIX” format, which is a packaged and signed format introduced by Microsoft to ensure security and privacy requirements. While this format enhances reliability and saves network bandwidth and disk space, it also limits the Copilot key customization feature as not all applications support the MSIX format.
However, users have the option to employ third-party tools to customize the Copilot key beyond Microsoft’s official functionality. Some experts have identified the Copilot key as the F23 key, historically associated with IBM keyboards. This recognition allows users to utilize third-party software to assign Copilot keys to key combinations or open applications not packaged according to the MSIX standard.