Microsoft: Copilot comes as a native app instead of a progressive web app

Microsoft originally wanted to embed its "Copilot" AI in the operating system, but after pressure from the EU, Copilot came as an installable app. After Microsoft initially developed a Progressive Web App (PWA), a preview version of a native Copilot app is now available for Windows Insiders.

Microsoft announced this in the Windows Insider blog. The update for the Microsoft Copilot app for Windows is now available in the Microsoft Store. After installation, an icon now appears in the system tray, the developers explain. The Copilot app is therefore available for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

New quick view for Copilot

Pressing ALT and the space bar at the same time should open the Copilot Quickview window. It should be possible to move and resize it so that users can adapt it to their workflows. Microsoft's developers explain that clicking on the icon at the top left of the Quickview window takes you to the main Copilot app. PCs with a Copilot+ button open the main window by pressing it.

Microsoft points out that the keyboard shortcut ALT and spacebar is used by many apps. By using the RegisterHotKey function, Windows registers the first app that uses the shortcut that is started on the PC and runs in the background and calls it up when the key combination is pressed. It can therefore happen that the shortcut does not work under certain circumstances.

Microsoft is distributing the Copilot app update with version number 1.24112.123.0 or newer in all Insider channels through the Microsoft Store. The software is distributed in phases so that not all Insiders receive the update immediately.

When Microsoft published the preview of the 24H2 release of Windows 11 in May, it became clear that the Redmond-based company would implement Copilot as an app. However, what Microsoft had initially planned for the EU has now been implemented on a global level.

(dmk)