Microsoft has opened an early preview of Windows Copilot with Bing Chat to some Windows Insiders. The assistant appears inside Windows 11 as a sidebar, bringing text requests for system controls and other tasks into the desktop interface.
What the preview can do
The initial release focuses on how people use the Windows interface. Users can ask Copilot to switch to Dark Mode or Do Not Disturb, take a screenshot, or ask questions about Windows features.
Its requests can also reach beyond settings. Copilot can summarize a web page and create stories or pictures based on a topic. These examples show the range of tasks Microsoft is testing, though the preview currently supports native Windows features rather than third-party apps.
Who can try Windows Copilot
The preview is distributed through an update in the Windows Insider Dev Channel. To use it, a device must run Windows build 23493 or later and Microsoft Edge version 115.0.1901.150 or later.
Once those requirements are met, users can open the assistant from a new taskbar button or press the WIN+C shortcut. Copilot then appears in a docked panel on the right side of the screen, where users can type instructions or questions.
Microsoft plans to make the preview available to more Windows Insiders over time. It also plans to provide IT administrators with guidance for managing the assistant in their organizations. Support for third-party apps is a future possibility; the preview described here is limited to native Windows features.
Recommendations and feedback
Microsoft has indicated that Copilot responses may include “inline recommendations we think are relevant.” The article also notes that Microsoft places ads in Bing Chat, making monetization part of the broader context around the assistant.
Preview users can send feedback through the three-dot menu in the sidebar’s upper-right corner. That gives early testers a way to report their experience as Microsoft continues developing the feature.
A wider role for Copilot
Microsoft first introduced Copilot in late May. The company’s stated ambition is to make “every user a power user,” and the assistant could eventually connect more directly with Bing Chat and internet search.
That direction could bring Windows, Office, and web search closer together through a conversational interface. If people can use one assistant for tasks ranging from finding files to planning a vacation, they may spend less time choosing separate search tools. The article frames this integration as a possible competitive advantage for Microsoft and an opportunity for Bing to compete with Google.
For now, the preview offers a limited view of that idea: a sidebar that can respond to questions, adjust selected Windows settings, and handle a few content tasks. Its future reach will depend on the additional features and integrations Microsoft develops.