Microsoft is phasing out the keyboard shortcut for accessing Copilot

It was only recently that brands began to launch laptops with a dedicated Copilot key – for quick access to Microsoft’s AI assistant. Those on older Windows laptops however could use the ‘Windows + C’ keyboard shortcut to call upon Copilot. This shortcut though will soon become obsolete as Copilot transitions to a web app with the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update.

Why is the Windows + C shortcut being removed?

Microsoft recently made the decision to transform Copilot into a standalone web-based application on Windows in a bid to provide users with more convenient access to its AI assistant.  This, in essence, will allow anyone to launch Copilot through an icon, and move, resize, or snap its window for more efficient multi-tasking.

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Bearing in mind the added ease of access, a dedicated shortcut key for a web-based application was rendered redundant, which is why it is being removed. Users will now have to access Copilot directly via the taskbar icon, the dedicated Copilot key, or via copilot.microsoft.com on the Edge browser.

Windows + C shortcut: What has it been used for in the past?

The Windows + C shortcut has been used for several purposes across different versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system. For example, on Windows 8, the shortcut was used to access the Charms Bar. The Charms Bar was a menu designed primarily for touchscreen devices, and provided quick access to features such as search, device settings, and more.

Later with Windows 10, the Charms Bar was phased out, and the Windows + C shortcut was repurposed to launch Cortana, Microsoft’s first crack at a virtual assistant. With the launch of Copilot, the shortcut was assigned to the latter.