How to use Copilot AI on Windows 11 (preview)

Microsoft is finally rolling out the first public preview of the new “Windows Copilot” for Windows 11 devices enrolled in the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider Program. The Copilot is a new experience that combines Bing Chat AI and first and third-party plugins, allowing you to interact with the chatbot using natural language to get complete answers to questions and change system settings.

The Copilot appears as a flyout interface that slights in from the right side when clicking the new “Copilot” button in the Taskbar or using the “Windows key + C” keyboard shortcut.

Once in the interface, the experience is consistent across applications, and it doesn’t overlay on top of other applications (such as the case of Quick Settings and Notification Center). Instead, it pushes the content on the screen to the left, allowing you to interact with the assistant without obscuring existing apps.

Similar to the Bing Chat AI on the web and mobile and the AI experience on Microsoft Edge. However, in this first preview, the interface is still incomplete since the company notes that this release aims to present the graphical user interface (GUI), and additional functionality will be available in future previews.

As part of the improvements, Microsoft says that it’s working on adding the necessary policies to allow network administrators to manage the chatbot according to the organization’s policies.

This guide will teach you the steps to get started using the Windows Copilot feature on Windows 11.

Get started using Copilot on Windows 11

Although the Copilot is a significant addition to Windows 11, it’s a straightforward experience. You can control the icon in the Taskbar without disabling Copilot and changing some basic settings. While in the interface, you can as questions as you would ask when using the Bing Chat AI on the web, but with the difference that the Windows Copilot can also change system settings.

Add or remove Copilot to Taskbar

To add or remove the Copilot icon from the Taskbar, use these steps:

Open Settings on Windows 11.
Click on Personalization.
Click the Taskbar tab.
Turn on the Copilot toggle switch to add the button to the Taskbar.
(Optional) Turn off the Copilot toggle switch to remove the button to the Taskbar.

Once you complete the steps, the new setting will apply to the Taskbar.

Change settings with Copilot

On Windows 11, the chatbot can do much more than answering questions. It can also help you to change and customize system settings. For example, you can change the color mode, turn features on or off, and perform different actions.

To change settings with Copilot on Windows 11, use these steps:

Click the Copilot button or use the “Windows key + C” keyboard shortcut.
Compose the action in the “Ask me anything” box. For example, “Change to dark mode,” “Turn on do not disturb,” or “Take a screenshot.”

Quick note: If you’re copying the question to the clipboard, the Copilot will prompt you if you want to send the clipboard’s content directly to the chatbot.
Click the Yes button to confirm the action.

After you complete the steps, the new configuration or action will apply to Windows 11.

Get answers with Copilot

Similar to using the Bing Chat AI, you can ask the Copilot any question in natural language to get a complete human-like response.

To ask questions in Copilot, use these steps:

Click the Copilot button.
Choose the conversation type. For instance, the default conversation style for the chatbot is “Balanced,” which allows the chatbot to respond more neutrally, meaning it will try not to take sides on a specific topic. However, you can change the tone to “Creative,” which will generate more playful and original responses, or “Precise,” to generate the most accurate response with more facts.
Compose the question in natural language in the “Ask me anything” box. For example, “Write a story about a dog who lives on the moon,” or “Make me a picture of a serene koi fishpond with lily pads.”

Once you complete the steps, the Copilot will display a complete answer using natural language.

Microsoft Edge and Copilot

Originally, opening the Bing Chat experience on Microsoft Edge would open a flyout inside the browser. However, in the new integration, the button opens the Windows Copilot instead. As a result, the “Coponse” feature, which allowed you to generate different types of content (such as emails, articles, ideas, or paragraphs), and the “Insights” feature are no longer available in the browser.

To use Copilot with Microsoft Edge, use these steps:

Open Microsoft Edge.
Click the Copilot (Bing Chat) button in the top-right.
Compose the question in natural language in the “Ask me anything” box. For example, “Summarize this website” (assuming you have the web page already open in the browser.)

After you complete the steps, the Windows Copilot will generate an answer based on your request.

Restart Copilot chat

Since when using Windows Copilot, you’re technically interacting with the Bing Chat AI, you still have turns limitations to chat with the AI. At the time of this writing, you’re limited to 30 questions per session. If you want to reset the chat, you have to refresh the experience.

To restart the Copilot on Windows 11, use these steps:

Click the Copilot button.
Click the menu (three-dots) button on the top-right corner and choose the “Refresh” option to restart the experience.

Once you complete the steps, the chatbot will restart, resting the conversation.

Change Copilot settings

The Copilot also includes a settings page, but you can only customize one specific setting in this first preview.

To change the Copilot settings on Windows 11, use these steps:

Click the Copilot button.
Click the menu (three-dots) button on the top-right corner and choose the “Settings” option.
Turn the “Let Copilot use content from Microsoft Edge” toggle switch on or off.