Microsoft has finally given Windows 11 users the option to reprogram the dedicated Copilot key on their keyboards. This feature is available in the latest Windows 11 insider preview build (22635.4225 for beta testers). The new option can be found in the Settings app under Personalization > Text Input.
However, there’s a catch – the app that you want to assign to the Copilot key must be an “MSIX packaged and signed” app. This means that you can’t just assign the key to open any regular desktop program you want. According to Microsoft, this limitation is due to “security and privacy requirements.”
MSIX is Microsoft’s latest app package format that aims to improve reliability and take up less disk space than traditional Windows executable files. It’s become the standard for distributing apps on the Microsoft Store. However, many apps have yet to adopt this format, which means that you’ll still be stuck using the Copilot button to open the AI assistant for those apps.
Fortunately, there are alternative solutions available. You can use third-party utilities and hacks like AutoHotKey or Microsoft’s own PowerToys to remap the Copilot key to absolutely anything.
While this new feature is a step in the right direction, it’s clear that Microsoft still has some work to do in terms of giving users more flexibility and control over their keyboards.