Say goodbye to the Copilot key on Windows 11, or at least say hello to the option to make the key open other apps

What you need to know

Microsoft released a Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 today.
The update includes all the improvements that were part of the KB5044384 update, which shipped in preview late last month.
Among those changes is the ability to reprogram to Copilot key to open different applications.
The update also includes several fixes.

As a seasoned tech analyst with decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen many updates come and go, but today’s Windows 11 update seems particularly noteworthy. The ability to reprogram the Copilot key on Windows 11 is a game-changer for those who don’t use Copilot or prefer to utilize that key for other purposes. It’s always refreshing when tech giants like Microsoft listen to user feedback and make changes accordingly.

On the second Tuesday of this month, I find myself greeted with an update for Windows 11. The KB5046617 update specifically propels my operating system to Build 26100.2314 if I’m using the Windows 11 version 24H2 (Windows 11 2024 Update). However, it’s not just about build numbers and update names; what truly stands out is that this update allows me, for the first time, to reprogram the Copilot key on my Windows 11 system.

In future models of Copilot+ PC keyboards, the Copilot key will be present. However, some users may not utilize Copilot and might prefer not to assign a key on their keyboard. For such individuals, there’s good news: the Copilot key can now be customized to launch any app that comes in a signed MSIX package.

Previously, Microsoft unveiled a preliminary version of this upgrade towards the end of last month, giving us a hint of what was to follow. Now, however, this upgrade is being distributed to users who weren’t part of the preview group. Furthermore, there are some extra modifications included, as mentioned in a support document from Microsoft. The main problems tackled with the most recent Windows 11 update, according to the tech giant, include:

[Task Manager (known issue)] Fixed: The count for the number of groups is wrong or always zero (0) on the Processes tab. This occurs when you turn on “Group by type.”
[Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)] Fixed: You cannot access your Dev Drive.
[Internet connection] Fixed: A small number of devices cannot connect to the internet. This occurs when a DHCP server response has duplicate DHCP options. This stops IPv4 connections on certain networks.

The only known issue in this update is a bug that stops players on Arm devices from playing Roblox if the game was installed through the Microsoft Store. Installing the game from Roblox.com should fix work around the issue.

In simpler terms, you can either download the update directly from the “Settings” app on Windows 11 using Windows Update, or you can find it in the Microsoft Update Catalog if you prefer to manually install the update.

If you’re using an older version of Windows, like 23H2 or 22H2, you can find out about the changes in the latest update by referring to the updated information provided on Microsoft’s support page.

Below are the changes shared by Microsoft that first rolled out in preview last month.

Windows 11 Build 26100.2161: Gradual rollout

[Notifications] New! You can now stop the suggestions to turn off notifications from certain apps. Select the ellipses (…) in the notification and turn it off. You can also go to Settings > System > Notifications and turn it off from there. Look for “Notification Suggestions” in the senders list. An entry will only appear in the list after you receive a notification.
[Wi-Fi password dialog] New! The dialog now has the Windows 11 visual design. Go to Settings > Network & internet.
[Narrator]
New! This update adds a new Narrator shortcut. Press the Narrator key + Ctrl + X to copy what Narrator last spoke to the clipboard. This shortcut is useful when you want to quickly copy some content, like codes or numbers for use.
New! It will now auto read the contents of an email message in the new Outlook. This is like the behavior in Outlook classic.
[Start menu] New! “All apps” has the new name, “All.”
[ALT + Tab] Fixed: The screen goes black on some PCs for a few seconds when you switch between certain windows.
[Scanning apps] Fixed: They don’t detect certain scanners although they are connected.

Windows 11 Build 26100.2161: Normal rollout

[Web sign-in] Fixed: You cannot sign in to your account from the web because the screen stops responding.
[Copilot key settings] New! You can configure the Copilot key on the keyboard. On new devices, the key opens the Copilot app. If you sign in to your account using a Microsoft Entra ID, the key opens the M365 app. You can make the key open a different app or open Search. To do this, go to Settings > Personalization > Text input. To make the key open a different app, the app must be in a signed MSIX package. This ensures that the app meets security and privacy standards to keep you safe. If your PC’s keyboard does not have a Copilot key, changing this setting will do nothing.
[WindowsDisk Cleanup app] Fixed: This update addresses some of the causes for the wrong free space estimates and improves its accuracy.

2024-11-12 22:09

What you need to know

Windows 11 Build 26100.2161: Gradual rollout

Windows 11 Build 26100.2161: Normal rollout

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