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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Ask about a specific Windows setting, and Copilot will link to it.
- Just click the link in the conversation to open the related screen.
- The new skill is currently available only for Windows 11 Insiders.
Figuring out how and where to find every feature in Windows can be challenging, even for advanced users. If only we had a guide that could direct us to a specific setting just by asking about it. Well, that’s the idea behind a new skill coming to Microsoft’s Copilot app for Windows.
Rolling out to Insiders
Now rolling out to Windows Insiders is a cool new feature that aims to help you better navigate Windows. Ask Copilot a question about a specific setting, and the AI will provide a direct link to help you find it. The link appears right in the conversation as a button you click to reach the setting.
Also: I unleashed Copilot on my Microsoft and Google accounts – here’s what happened
You might ask Copilot to “make my screen easier to read,” “help me focus on reducing distractions,” or “show me how to brighten my screen.” In response, the AI displays the link to the specific Windows setting screen for tackling each task.
Of course, you’ve always been able to ask Copilot for assistance with any Windows setting. But before this new skill, you’d likely receive a generic list of suggestions on how to fix or change it. Using the current version of Windows 11, I told Copilot that my screen was too dim and asked it how to fix it.
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In return, the AI provided a lengthy list of recommendations, not just for Windows but also for a Mac and a mobile device. With this new capability, Copilot should be able to detect your current device and then provide the link to the appropriate setting.
How to try
To try this out, you’ll need to be part of the Windows Insiders program and running the latest Windows 11 Insider build. Even then, you may not be able to tap into the new skill right away. That’s because it’s still in the process of rolling out. But wait a few days, and you should be able to take it for a spin.
Also: Microsoft Copilot AI can now pull information directly from Outlook, Gmail, and other apps
Once the feature has arrived for you, click the Copilot icon on the Windows taskbar. At the prompt, type a question or request related to a specific Windows setting or feature. Copilot should then respond with the correct information and a link to the right screen.
Even if you don’t have the latest Insider build or access to the new skill, there’s another way to get Copilot’s help on specific Windows issues or settings. Just ask it. Open the Copilot app and click the microphone icon to strike up a conversation with Copilot Voice. From there, talk to the AI about the issue you’re experiencing, and it should be able to talk you through the proper steps.
Also: You can now edit Microsoft Copilot’s memories about you – here’s how
For example, I asked Copilot Voice to “make my screen easier to read,” then to “help me focus on reducing distractions,” and then to “show me how to brighten my screen.” In each instance, the AI talked me through the right steps to reach the appropriate setting. After the conversation ended, I could also see and review the steps through a transcript.
With this new Windows settings AI skill just now reaching Windows Insiders, we may have to wait a few months for it to pop up in the regular version of Windows 11.
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