Windows 11 will let you cut Copilot key from your life, no knife or screwdriver required

Windows 11 will let you cut Copilot key from your life, no knife or screwdriver required

What you need to know

  • Windows 11 Build 27729 allows you to configure the Copilot key to launch other applications.
  • That build is in testing among Windows Insiders in the Canary Channel.
  • Apps need to be MSIX packaged and signed to be opened with the Copilot key due to security requirements.

As a seasoned Windows user with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the latest development in Windows 11 Build 27729 has certainly piqued my interest. The ability to customize the Copilot key to launch other applications is a much-needed feature for many of us who either find Copilot unnecessary or prefer to use a different keyboard shortcut for it.


In the near future, Windows 11 will allow users to customize the Copilot key to open a preferred application. This update is eagerly anticipated by many who either find Copilot superfluous or prefer using a distinct keyboard shortcut for this tool. The modification is currently being tested in Windows 11 Build 27729, now accessible to Windows Insiders within the Canary Channel.

If you find this information reminiscent, it’s because Microsoft has been trialing this feature with both Dev and Beta Channel Insiders for a month now. Today, this option has also been introduced to the Canary Channel users.

All models of Copilot+ computers come equipped with a dedicated Copilot key, which is also found on several modern keyboards. Presently, this key cannot be personalized, leaving it underutilized for individuals who don’t use Copilot. The CEO of Salesforce could potentially reassign the Copilot key to another application, given his statement that “Copilot is similar to Microsoft Clippy; it doesn’t function or provide value.

If the tests are successful, you’ll soon have the option to personalize the Copilot key, enabling you to set it up to open your preferred application using the Windows 11 Settings app.

The Copilot key only allows you to access a selected number of applications, as Microsoft has confined this feature exclusively to apps wrapped in MSIX packages and digitally signed for enhanced user safety and data protection.

It’s interesting to mention that Microsoft didn’t create a unique key for Copilot; instead, they programmed it to work with the key combination Shift + Windows Key + F23. This particular combination of keys is rarely associated with other shortcuts as not many computers are equipped with an F23 key.

Windows 11 Build 27729: Fixes

  • General
    We fixed an underlying issue causing some games, including Microsoft Solitaire & Casual Games, to crash on launch after installing Build 27718+.
  • Windowing
    Fixed an underlying issue which could cause the screen to go black for a few seconds for some people when using ALT + Tab.
  • Other
    We fixed an issue causing BitLocker to not work correctly for a small number of Insiders in the last 2 flights.

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2024-10-18 16:08