Copilot is a Microsoft concept designed to help users with everyday tasks using advanced AI functions - such as planning appointments or replying to emails. The Copilot PCs developed specifically for this purpose are equipped with NPUs (neural processors) and specially optimized for AI tasks. The software, which is available for a fee can also be used with ordinary computers.

So far, the Copilot software can be called up using the Win C key combination. As can be seen from the patch notes published on June 14, 2024 for Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3785 (KB5039319), this will be removed in future. The reason given by Microsoft for the change is the further development of the Copilot function, which will now be pinned directly to the taskbar as a standalone application.

Current Copilot PCs have a dedicated Copilot button to open the AI tool. To this end, Microsoft changed the standard keyboard layout for the first time in 30 years at the beginning of the year. If you don't have a Copilot key on your keyboard, you can only start the software via a hotkey.

Even if the Copilot sidebar is abolished in favor of a separate application, it would not have been a problem for Microsoft to keep the Win C key combination for opening the software. A more obvious reason for the change is that Microsoft wants to boost sales of Copilot PCs, which enable more convenient use of the AI tool.

Win C can still be used via detours

The technology magazine TomsHardware claims to have discovered that the Copilot key triggers the key combination Shift Win F23. With the appropriate software, the Win C key combination can be programmed to trigger Shift Win F23.