Microsoft's finally letting you change the Copilot key back to what it was before Windows 11's AI assistant existed

https://www.techradar.com/author/darren-allan· May 19, 2026 · 12:00 AM UTC ·10 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 42 views

#microsoft #windows11 #technology

TL;DR · WeSearch summary

Microsoft is allowing users to remap the Copilot key back to its original function as the Right Control key or as the Context menu key. This change addresses accessibility concerns for users who rely on keyboard shortcuts. An update will be released later this year to implement these new remapping options.

Key facts

▪Microsoft is introducing options to remap the Copilot key on Windows 11 devices.
▪Users can redefine the Copilot key to function as the Right Ctrl key or the Context menu key.
▪This change aims to improve accessibility for users who depend on keyboard shortcuts.

How this story was covered

3 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 20 hours. All of the coverage we found sits in one bucket: centre. That one-sidedness is itself worth noticing.

Centre · 2

▪ Microsoft finally admits the Copilot key wasn't a great idea, and it'll let you change it back soon — XDA Developers
▪ Microsoft admits Windows 11's dedicated Copilot key breaks certain workflows — Windows Central

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Original publisher	TechRadar
Canonical URL	https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsofts-finally-letting-you-change-the-copilot-key-back-to-what-it-was-before-windows-11s-ai-assistant-existed
Publication time	Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-05-19T00:04:57.018Z
Last seen	2026-05-19T00:04:57.018Z
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Excerpt source	publisher body
Excerpt method	First ~120 words (~800 chars) of extracted publisher body, fair-use limited.
Summary	WeSearch · cerebras-chat (WeSearch summarizer)
Summary source text	contentText
Citation coverage	Summary is a WeSearch-generated derivative; primary citation is the original publisher URL.
Cluster	33Akj9-X7BLp · 3 stories
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Publisher visit	Yes — open original
Substitutes article?	No — link-out required for full text

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Retrieval / RAG	May the content be exposed for third-party retrieval-augmented generation?	Not asserted
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Basis: Derived from the published RSS/Atom feed. Contact: [email protected]. Reviewed: 2026-07-24.

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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

Computing Software Windows Microsoft's finally letting you change the Copilot key back to what it was before Windows 11's AI assistant existed News By Darren Allan published 19 May 2026 Taking back Right Control When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Future / James Holland) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Microsoft is bringing in more options for remapping the Copilot keyYou'll be able to redefine it to invoke the context menu, or use it as Right CtrlThis used to be the Right Ctrl key before Microsoft jettisoned it to make room for the…

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