Microsoft Introduces New Keyboard Shortcut for Copilot on Windows 11

Microsoft is urging Windows 11 users to adopt a new keyboard shortcut to summon its AI-powered Copilot assistant. The company is rolling out a pop-up notification after updating the Copilot app, recommending the Alt + Space combination to fire up the app.

The pop-up window also provides an option to enable or disable the shortcut, allowing users to opt-out if they prefer not to use it. This change was spotted in testing last month, where it was introduced to enable the quick view feature in Copilot.

Analysis: Interfering with Workflows

The new shortcut could cause issues for some Windows 11 users, as Alt + Space is already used by some apps, such as PowerToys, and is also part of the core Windows 11 interface. By default, this key combination brings up the context menu for the active window, which may be a crucial workflow for some users.

This change could potentially disrupt workflows and lead to frustration, especially for users who rely on the context menu. Microsoft acknowledged this issue in testing, stating that Windows will register the app that is launched first on the PC and running in the background as the app that is invoked when using Alt + Space.

Users can disable or enable the Alt + Space shortcut for Copilot in the app’s Settings, accessible via the three-dot menu at the top-right. While the company may be pushing forward with this change, it’s still possible for Windows 11 users to provide feedback and potentially alter the course of this update.

(Image credit: Future)

For now, it remains to be seen how widespread this issue will be and whether Microsoft will make adjustments to accommodate users who rely on the context menu. One thing is certain, however: the new keyboard shortcut is now a part of the Copilot experience on Windows 11.