Personalization Change App Copilot Key on Keyboard Opens in Windows 11


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Copilot_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to change which app opens when you press the Copilot key on the hardware keyboard for your account or all users in Windows 11.

If you have a Windows 11 Copilot+ PC, it will have a Copilot key on the keyboard. When you press this Copilot key, it opens the Copilot app by default.

With the new Copilot app, you can search and access your Copilot anytime, anywhere. Ask your Copilot anything you want, from trivia questions to creating images. Like a friend, Copilot will give you quick and helpful answers, along with suggestions for what to do next. You can even use voice to search or chat, and your history and preferences will sync across all your devices.

Starting with Windows 11 build 22631.4391 (23H2) and build 26100.2161 (24H2), Microsoft is adding the ability to configure the Copilot key. You can choose to have the Copilot key launch an app that is MSIX packaged and signed, thus indicating the app meets security and privacy requirements to keep customers safe. The key will continue to launch Copilot on devices that have the Copilot app installed until a customer selects a different experience. This setting can be found via Settings > Personalization > Text input. If the keyboard connected to your PC does not have a Copilot key, adjusting this setting will not do anything. We are planning further refinements to this experience in a future flight

Starting with Windows 11 build 22635.4435 (Beta), after disabling the ability to configure the Copilot key with Build 22635.4291, Microsoft is enabling this functionality again with refinements. Microsoft has limited the apps that can be launched by the Copilot key to those apps that have opted into this experience. This is to ensure apps targeted by the key know they will be used in this way and meet security and privacy requirements to keep customers safe. Microsoft will be publishing how apps can opt-in to this experience here in on this Microsoft Learn page soon.


Contents

  • Option One: Change App Copilot Key on Keyboard Opens for Current User in Settings
  • Option Two: Change App Copilot Key on Keyboard Opens for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor


EXAMPLE: Copilot key on keyboard of Windows 11 Copilot+ PC





Option One

Change App Copilot Key on Keyboard Opens for Current User in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Personalization on the left side, and click/tap on Text input on the right side. (see screenshot below)


Copilot_Key-1.png

3 Select an available option you want in the Customize Copilot key on keyboard drop menu. (see screenshot below)

The Customize Copilot key on keyboard setting is saved to the BrandedKeyChoiceType and AppAumid values in the registry key below for the current user.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BrandedKey


Copilot_Key-2.png

4 If you selected Custom, then select an installed app you want, and click/tap on Select. (see screenshot below)

Copilot_Key-3.png

5 You can now close Settings if you like.




Option Two

Change App Copilot Key on Keyboard Opens for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor


You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.

The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.


1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).

2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot

SetCopilotHardwareKey_gpedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of Windows Copilot in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Set Copilot Hardware Key policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (change) or step 6 (undo - default) below for what you want.

5 Change App Copilot Key on Keyboard Opens for All Users

This will override and gray out Option One.

This policy setting is saved to the SetCopilotHardwareKey string value (REG_SZ) in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CopilotKey


A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)​

B) Under "Options", Enter App AUMID in the box.​

The tutorial below will show you how find the AUMID of the app you want to open when you press the Copilot hardware key.



C) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7.​

SetCopilotHardwareKey_gpedit-3.png

6 Undo Change App Copilot Key on Keyboard Opens for All Users

This is the default setting to allow using Option One.

This policy setting will delete the SetCopilotHardwareKey string value (REG_SZ) in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CopilotKey


A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7.​

SetCopilotHardwareKey_gpedit-2.png

7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

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Last edited:
I still find it weird that some manufacturers actually went along with this (Microsoft?) and put a copilot key on their laptop keyboards.
HP, Dell, ASUS etc. Weird.

All hail Microsoft, I assume?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows Pro 23H2 Build 22631.4249
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4th Gen?)
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4 x LG 23MP75 - 2 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / MX Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    100/40Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build: 22631.4249
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
Tutorial updated to add option two for a Set Copilot Hardware Key group policy setting applied to all users. :alien:
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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