- Microsoft may allow you to flip the Copilot key again into the previous ‘Menu’ key
- That key brings up a context menu (like right-clicking along with your mouse)
- That is helpful in some eventualities, however many will desire a fuller vary of customization choices for the important thing
Microsoft may quickly give individuals whose keyboard has a Copilot key the power to redefine it so a press of the important thing opens a context menu as an alternative.
That is in keeping with a well known supply of Home windows-related rumors and happenings, PhantomOfEarth on X (previously Twitter).
Future builds will add the choice to remap the Copilot key to open a context menu.February 9, 2025
Bear in mind, that is only a declare that Microsoft would possibly do that in future take a look at builds of Home windows 11 – presumably primarily based on clues discovered by the leaker digging round in present preview builds – and it nonetheless could not occur.
If not one of the above makes a lot sense, and also you’re scratching your head as to what’s doubtlessly occurring with the keyboard right here, allow us to rewind a bit and clarify.
What’s truly taking place (or could possibly be) is Microsoft is permitting the selection to revert the Copilot key again to what it was beforehand (on many laptop computer keyboards, anyway).
This previous key that the Copilot button changed was often called the ‘Menu’ key and it usually carries an icon with three horizontal strains (maybe with a pointer, too), indicating that it’s used to summon the aforementioned context menu.
That context menu is similar one you invoke by right-clicking along with your mouse, to offer you choices that are frequent actions in any given context (with recordsdata for instance, you’ll be able to click on to see properties, or rename, and so forth).
Evaluation: Extra selection is nice, however…
Why would you need this previous ‘Menu’ key that brings up the right-click context menu again, anyway? Effectively, it may be helpful in conditions the place you don’t have a mouse (which is why this secret is extra usually discovered on laptops) and so can’t essentially right-click to convey up stated menu. Microsoft used to have this key on its Floor gadgets, for instance, between the ‘Alt’ key on the suitable and the arrow keys – however now it’s the Copilot key.
Not for those who change it again by remapping, although – and for those who discover the context menu shortcut extra helpful than the Copilot key, properly, apparently you might need your want granted later this 12 months. Albeit with the above caveats about this not even being in testing simply but.
Microsoft launched the power to remap the Copilot key to launch an app in preview (late final 12 months). This transfer has since arrived in Home windows 11, and you’ll swap the important thing to invoke a search, too, however remapping to an app comes with a notable (and annoying) catch that stated software program have to be an MSIX-packaged software (not many apps are). This has been carried out that manner for safety causes, in case you have been questioning.
At any charge, a context menu possibility would at the least be one thing, however I’m hoping that Microsoft will give us much more freedom finally to redefine the Copilot key to do, properly, something we wish (and act as a shortcut for any app in any respect, not only a restricted choice). Not less than these all look like steps in the suitable course for higher customization, if solely small strides.
Microsoft actually seems to be giving up the notion that the Copilot key represented an important introduction to the keyboard on Home windows PCs for the reason that Home windows key itself.
Through XDA Builders
You may additionally like…
