Microsoft is updating Copilot on Windows once again, rolling out a new taskbar UI and keyboard shortcut for Windows 10 and 11 users.
After demoting Copilot to a Progressive Web App (PWA) earlier this year, the new update brings a more native experience, complete with a quick view that floats above the taskbar.
To trigger the quick view, users can now press the new Alt + Space keyboard shortcut or click through the system tray.
Once activated, Copilot stays on top of other apps until dismissed. This floating quick view is designed to offer more immediate access to Copilot without interrupting your workflow.
However, there’s a catch. Some apps already use Alt + Space, and Microsoft notes that whichever app is launched first will be invoked when pressing the shortcut. This could lead to some conflicts if multiple apps share this key combination.
The new update is available on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, despite Microsoft’s focus on Windows 10’s upcoming end-of-support in October 2025.
With this iteration, Copilot is still technically a web app wrapped in a more native UI, marking a shift from its previous role as a sidebar in Windows 11.
While the update improves accessibility, Microsoft says it’s still experimenting with keyboard shortcuts for Copilot, hinting at possible further changes down the line.
For now, this quick view offers a fresh way to interact with Copilot, though it remains to be seen how well it will coexist with other shortcuts and apps on Windows.
