Microsoft is reprogramming the Copilot key to open Microsoft 365 instead of the Copilot app and wants you to do the same.
Microsoft introduced the Copilot key for business laptops early this year. The key had little raison d’être outside of opening Copilot, but was nevertheless imposed by Microsoft on PC manufacturers to earn the Copilot+ label. Still within the year, Microsoft is changing the function of the Copilot test resulting in a soupçon for IT administrators.
Now the Copilot button leads to the WebView version of Copilot. WebView is a Web browser component embedded in an application. Microsoft does not actually want business users to use the Web version of Copilot, but rather the version embedded in Office applications.
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Can you still follow along? In short, the Copilot key no longer directs you to what Microsoft thinks is the correct version of Copilot.
New destination
Microsoft is reprogramming the key so that it will now automatically open Copilot in Microsoft 365, the company writes in a blog. That only applies when you configure your PC with a Microsoft Entra account for business use. With a regular Microsoft account, the Copilot key continues to direct you to the Web version, which is for personal use.
Unfortunately, for PCs already in use, Microsoft can no longer fix this shortcoming. IT admins and/or end users are now kindly asked to manually redirect the Copilot key to the 365 app for the “optimal user experience. With the policy WindowsAI/SetCopilotHardwareKey you can configure the key’s destination. A tutorial can be found here.
If you leave everything as it is, the assignment of the Copilot key remains unchanged. You can then log into the Copilot app only with your personal Microsoft account. Those logging in with an Entra account will be redirected to the browser version for business users, with built-in data protection. To avoid confusion, Microsoft further recommends uninstalling the Copilot app on business PCs.