There's a nifty new Windows 11 feature that you've probably heard about called Copilot. This is a new Microsoft AI assistant that, like Clippy from the good ol' days, is designed to help make your Windows PC easier to use. It lives in a sidebar to the right of your screen and has a chat-based UI that currently integrates with some Windows features like taking screenshots, enabling dark mode, and even accessing things from Bing Chat. So, if you're eager to try Copilot, here's how you can get started with it.

How to enable Windows Copilot in Windows 11

As of the time of writing, if you want to try out Copilot, you need to be running the latest version of Windows 11 on your laptop or desktop PC, currently called version 22H2. You'll also have to check for updates to get Copilot, just as you would a routine security update. Here's what to do:

  1. Open the Windows 11 Settings app by pressing Windows + I on your keyboard.
  2. Click on Windows Update.
    Checking for updates in Windows 11
  3. Click the Check for Updates button.

Your PC will download and install a Windows 11 update, and it'll prompt you to restart. Once you restart, you should see the Copilot icon in the taskbar, right next to the search box. If you don't, try to trigger it by clicking Windows + C. If that doesn't work, try the following:

  1. Open the Windows 11 Settings app by pressing Windows + I.
  2. Go Windows Update.
  3. Enable the toggle switch for Get the latest updates as soon as they're available.
    Previewing updates in Windows 11
  4. Click Check for updates.

Your PC will download a preview version of Windows 11 and then prompt you to restart. Again, you should see the Copilot icon in the taskbar. If you don't want to click the icon, you can also trigger it with Windows + C.

I've been trying Copilot ever since it was in testing in the Windows Insider program, and it's pretty nifty. Not only can you use it to help you diagnose issues with your PC and switch things like dark mode on or off, but it's also useful for summarizing websites and even recognizing photos. The experience is still in preview, though, and more features will be added over time.