Summary

This article shows you how to use Microsoft Copilot — the free AI assistant on Windows 11. Copilot can answer questions, generate text and images, summarize content, and point you to the Windows setting you are looking for — all without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. It runs as its own app; the sidebar that older guides describe has been retired.

Before You Start

• Windows 11 (version 23H2 or later).
• An active internet connection.
• No admin rights required. No paid Copilot license required — this is the free, system-level assistant.

Instructions

1. Open Copilot

Copilot on Windows 11 is now a normal app with its own window. Earlier versions docked a panel to the right edge of the screen; that sidebar was retired, so if a guide tells you to look down the right-hand side, it is out of date.

1. Press Windows + C. A quick tap opens Copilot ready for you to type. Press and hold for about two seconds instead, and it starts listening so you can talk to it.
2. On a newer laptop, press the dedicated Copilot key — a ribbon symbol, usually on the bottom row of the keyboard near the right-hand Alt.
3. Otherwise click Start, type Copilot, and open the Copilot app. If it is not there, it is a free download from the Microsoft Store.
4. If none of those work, open any browser and go to copilot.microsoft.com.

Verification: A Copilot window opens with a chat box at the bottom. You can move and resize it like any other window — if what you are looking at is pinned to the edge of the screen and cannot be moved, you are on an old Windows build.

2. Ask Questions and Get Answers

Use Copilot as a smart assistant to look things up, explain concepts, or solve quick problems.

1. Click the text box at the bottom of the Copilot window.
2. Type a question in plain English. Examples:
   • What is the difference between OneDrive and SharePoint?
   • How do I freeze the top row in Excel?
   • Write a polite email declining a meeting invitation
3. Press Enter or click the Send button.
4. Copilot generates a response in the chat. Responses may include text, bullet points, links, or step-by-step instructions.
5. To ask a follow-up question, type in the same text box — Copilot remembers the context of your conversation.

3. Generate and Edit Text

Copilot can draft emails, messages, summaries, and other text you can copy into any app.

1. Open Copilot (Windows + C).
2. Type a writing prompt. Examples:
   • Write a professional out-of-office message for next Monday through Friday
   • Summarize the benefits of cloud storage in 3 bullet points
   • Draft a short thank-you note for a colleague who helped with a project
3. Review the generated text in the chat.
4. To refine: type a follow-up instruction such as Make it shorter or Change the tone to casual.
5. To use the text: select it with your mouse, right-click, and click Copy (or press Ctrl + C). Then paste it into Outlook, Word, Teams, or any other app.

4. Find Windows Settings with Copilot

This is where Copilot earns its place: you describe the problem in your own words, and it tells you which setting fixes it. It does not flip the switch for you — that ability went away with the old sidebar — so expect directions rather than action.

1. Open Copilot (Windows + C).
2. Describe what you want rather than guessing the setting's name. Examples:
   • Make my screen easier to read
   • Help me focus by reducing distractions
   • Stop notifications while I'm presenting
   • My screen is too bright at night
3. Copilot names the setting and, in most cases, gives you a link that opens the right page in Settings.
4. Click the link and make the change yourself.

Note: Because you are the one changing it, you can only change what your account already allows. If the setting is greyed out when you get there, your organization has locked it — see the troubleshooting table for what to tell IT.

5. Summarize Content from Your Screen

Copilot can help you understand long text, web pages, or documents.

1. Open a web page or document you want to summarize.
2. Open Copilot (Windows + C).
3. Type a request such as:
   • Summarize the page I have open in Edge
   • What are the key points of this article?
4. If you are using Microsoft Edge, Copilot can read the current page and provide a summary.
5. For content outside Edge, copy the text you want summarized (Ctrl + C), then tell Copilot: Summarize this: and paste the text into the chat.

6. Use Copilot for Image Generation

Copilot can generate images from a written description.

1. Open Copilot (Windows + C).
2. Type an image request. Examples:
   • Create an image of a sunrise over a mountain lake
   • Draw a simple flowchart icon for a presentation
3. Copilot generates one or more images in the chat.
4. Click an image to view it full size. Right-click and select Save as to download it.

7. Start a Fresh Conversation

If Copilot's responses become confusing or irrelevant, reset the conversation.

1. Start a new chat — look for New chat (a pencil-and-paper or refresh icon) near the top of the Copilot window.
2. The conversation history clears and Copilot starts fresh.
3. Type your new question or request.

Troubleshooting

INFO

Windows Copilot is the free AI assistant included with Windows 11. It is separate from Microsoft 365 Copilot, which is a paid feature that works inside Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams. If you need in-app Copilot for M365, see How to Use Microsoft 365 Copilot Basics.

Symptom / Error	Potential Cause	Solution
No Copilot icon anywhere	The app is not installed	Copilot is a separate app now, not a taskbar toggle. Install Copilot free from the Microsoft Store, then right-click it in Start and choose Pin to taskbar.
"Copilot isn't available right now"	Internet connection issue	Verify your internet connection. Copilot requires an active connection to function.
Windows + C does nothing	The app is missing, or the shortcut is pointed elsewhere	Confirm the Copilot app opens from Start first. The shortcut can be remapped to open a different app — check the keyboard shortcut settings inside the Copilot app itself.
Copilot gives irrelevant or outdated answers	Conversation context is cluttered	Start a New chat to clear the history, then try a more specific prompt.
The setting Copilot pointed me to is greyed out	Your organization locked it by policy	Copilot shows you where a setting lives but cannot override policy. Tell IT the exact setting and what you need it set to — for example: "I need Focus assist enabled during meetings; it is greyed out in Settings on my machine."
Copilot is very slow	High system load or slow connection	Close unnecessary apps and check your internet speed. Try again in a few minutes.

Related Articles

• How to Use Microsoft 365 Copilot Basics
• How to Use Microsoft Copilot in Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams — Practical Prompt Guide
• How to Use Focus Assist on Windows
• How to Use Windows Search to Find Files, Apps, and Settings
• How to Take Screenshots on Windows
• How to Change Your Desktop Wallpaper and Lock Screen
• Understanding Windows Recall — What It Records and Your Privacy

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