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Microsoft removes the Win+C key combination to boost sales of Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft Copilot costs $30 per month for individual users. (Source: Windows)
Microsoft Copilot costs $30 per month for individual users. (Source: Windows)
Microsoft is removing the Win+C key combination to open Copilot, citing the further development of the AI tool as the reason. However, it is more likely that Microsoft is hoping to sell more Copilot+ PCs as a result.

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.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2024 06 > Microsoft removes the Win+C key combination to boost sales of Copilot+ PCs
Marius Müller, 2024-06-21 (Update: 2024-06-21)