How to enable new Copilot AI on Windows 11

Here are the steps to try an early preview of the Copilot for Windows 11 on version 23H2 and 22H2.

Avatar for Mauro Huc
@pureinfotech
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Windows 11 Copilot (preview)

9/27/2023: Windows 11 comes with the new Copilot, but if it’s not available on your installation, use these instructions to enable the chatbot. Microsoft is working on “Copilot,” a new chatbot AI integration for Windows 11, which is basically the integration of the Bing Chat AI and first and third-party plugins into the operating system that allows users to interact with the chatbot.

The Copilot appears as a flyout interface that slights in from the right side when clicking the “Copilot” button in the Taskbar. Similar to the Bing Chat AI on the web and mobile and the AI experience on Microsoft Edge, the chatbot for Windows 11 can help you with complex questions, and you can ask for rewrites, summarizations, and explain content without opening the browser. Furthermore, the AI can assist users in taking actions, customizing settings, and seamlessly connecting across their favorite apps.

Starting on September 26, 2023, the Copilot AI feature is available for everyone with the KB5030310 (build 22631.2361) update for version 22H2 and version 23H2. However, you have to consider that initially, the feature will be available in North America and parts of Asia and South America, and it’ll expand to other regions over time.

If you can’t find Copilot after installing the update, you may still enable the feature in the Settings app, through the Registry, or using a third-party tool called “ViveTool,” available on GitHub.

This guide will teach you the steps to turn on this new feature on Windows 11.

Enable Copilot on Windows 11 (preview)

If you have a device enrolled in the Windows Insider Program, you can use the ViveTool command-line tool to enable the chatbot. Otherwise, use the Settings app, Registry, or Group Policy instructions.

To enable Windows Copilot (preview) on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open GitHub website.

  2. Download the ViveTool-vx.x.x.zip file to enable the Windows Copilot.

  3. Double-click the zip folder to open it with File Explorer.

  4. Click the Extract all button.

    Extract ViveTool files

  5. Click the Extract button.

  6. Copy the path to the folder.

  7. Open Start.

  8. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

  9. Type the following command to navigate to the ViveTool folder and press Enter:

    cd c:\folder\path\ViveTool-v0.x.x

    In the command, remember to change the path to the folder with your path.

  10. Type the following command to enable the Windows Copilot in the Taskbar and press Enter:

    vivetool /enable /id:44774629,44776738,44850061,42105254,41655236

  11. Restart the computer.

  12. Open Settings.

  13. Click on Personalization.

  14. Click the Taskbar tab.

  15. Turn on the Copilot toggle switch to enable the feature (if applicable).

    Taskbar enable Copilot button

    Quick note: If the icon doesn’t appear in the Taskbar, turn on and off the option a few times to make it work.

Once you complete the steps, you can get started with the chatbot by clicking the new “Copilot” button in the Taskbar or using the “Windows key + C” keyboard shortcut. The experience uses the same Microsoft account (MSA) or Azure Active Directory (AAD) account used to sign in to your account.

Copilot on build 23493
Copilot on build 23493

In this early preview, you can ask the Windows Copilot a few things. For example, “Change to dark mode,” “Turn on do not disturb,” “Take a screenshot,” “Summarize this website” (Active tab in Microsoft Edge), “Write a story about a dog who lives on the moon,” and “Make me a picture of a serene koi fishpond with lily pads.”

It’s worth noting that the feature is still not in its complete form. The Copilot for Windows 11 won’t run through Microsoft Edge. Instead, it’ll be a separate integration. Also, at the time of this writing, you can ask complex questions, but you can’t ask the chatbot to change settings or take actions on Windows 11.

If you change your mind, you can revert the changes with the same instructions, but on step 10, make sure to use the  vivetool /disable /id:44774629,44776738,44850061,42105254,41655236 command and then restart the computer.

Enable Copilot on Windows 11 (official)

On Windows 11 23H2, you can enable Copilot through the Settings app or the Registry. If you can’t turn on the chatbot, even after the feature update is officially available, you can use the above instructions to turn on the feature.

Taskbar settings

To enable Copilot on Windows 11 23H2, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 11 23H2.

  2. Click on Personalization.

  3. Click the Taskbar tab.

  4. Turn on the Copilot toggle switch.

    Windows 11 23H2 enable Copilot

Once you complete the steps, the Copilot button should appear in the Taskbar.

Registry Editor

Warning: It’s crucial to note that modifying the Registry can cause serious problems if not used properly. It’s assumed you know what you’re doing and created a full backup of your system before proceeding.

To enable Copilot through the Registry, use these steps:

  1. Open Start on Windows 11.

  2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry.

  3. Navigate to the following path:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

  4. Double-click the ShowCopilotButton DWORD and set its value to 1 to enable the feature.

    ShowCopilotButton

  5. Click the OK button.

  6. Restart the computer.

After you complete the steps the steps, the Copilot button should appear in the Windows 11 23H2 Taskbar.

Although you can’t remove the feature, it’s possible to completely disable Copilot on the Windows 11 2023 Update through Group Policy and Registry.

Enable Copilot on Windows 11 (policy)

It could also be the case that Copilot has been disabled through the Group Policy settings, and resetting the policy can re-enable the AI chatbot on your installation. The Group Policy Editor is only available for Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. If the computer uses Windows 11 Home, you will have to use the Registry.

Group Policy Editor

To enable the Copilot through Group Policy on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for gpedit and click the top result to open the Group Policy Editor.

  3. Open the following path:

    User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot

  4. Double-click the “Turn off Windows Copilot” policy.

    Turn off Windows Copilot policy

  5. Select the Not Configured (or Disabled) option.

    Group Policy enable Copilot

  6. Click the Apply button.

  7. Click the OK button.

  8. Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, the Copilot button should appear in the Taskbar.

Registry

The Registry method to re-enable Copilot should work on Windows 11 Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education.

Warning: Modifying the Registry can cause serious problems if not used properly. It is assumed you know what you are doing and have created a system backup before proceeding.

To enable Copilot from Windows 11 from the Registry, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search regedit and click the top result to open the Registry Editor.

  3. Open the following path:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot

  4. Double-click the TurnOffWindowsCopilot DWORD (if it exists) and change its value from 1 to 0.

    Registry enable Copilot

  5. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the Copilot will be disabled completely on Windows 11. This action will also remove the “Copilot” setting from the Taskbar settings page.

Update July 18, 2023: The Copilot should now be available for everyone to try on build 23493 or higher releases. If you can’t find the option in the Taskbar, you can open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and turn on the “Copilot” toggle switch or use the “Windows key + C” keyboard shortcut.

Update August 3, 2023: I have tested these instructions over and over, and they work as expected (at least until the previews that became available on August 2, 2023). However, I have received a few comments noting that the steps weren’t working. Sometimes, it can be a mistake following the instructions, or a compatibility issue with the system configuration, or in the past, Microsoft has limited certain features to specific regions. As a result, these instructions may or may not work for everyone.

Update September 23, 2023: Copilot is now available automatically as part of the latest preview of Windows 11 23H2 in the Release Preview Channel. However, the company notes that it’s only available in select regions. 

Update September 27, 2023: This guide has been updated to include the steps to enable the chatbot if it has been previously disabled through a policy. Also, Microsoft has released the September 2023 update for version 22H2 that includes the Copilot enabled by default and many other features, the new Windows Backup app, AI updates for Paint, Photos, Snipping Tool, and Clipchamp, a redesigned version of File Explorer, and more. Also, initially, Copilot will be available in North America and parts of Asia and South America, and it’ll expand to other regions over time.