The Microsoft Copilot app on Windows has changed forms many times, and now it’s getting another substantial redesign. The app is getting a new home screen, alongside a shortcut for semantic file search on Copilot+ PCs.
Before this update, opening the Copilot app would display a simple text field to start a chat, along with some recommendations for prompts. This is now being overhauled as a full-blown dashboard, with a list of recent files ready for Copilot to use, shortcuts to Windows apps and your most recent conversations, and other elements.
Microsoft said in a blog post, “The new Copilot home experience brings your recent apps, files and conversations into Copilot and at your fingertips. Now it’s easier to get guided help: when you click on a recent application in the “get guided help with your apps” section, a Vision session will begin to help you get started. Or you can have Copilot take action on a recent document or photo – click the file of choice in the left pane and it’s uploaded to the Copilot chat window. From there you can have Copilot summarize the content, identify objects in an image, or just chat about it.”
This looks a lot like the new Recall dashboard, but that is only available on Copilot+ PCs, while the Copilot app works on any Windows 11 computer. It also doesn’t seem all that helpful—the sidebar already has your recent conversations, and the app shortcuts don’t have much to do with Copilot. It also now has a photo background, like Bing’s start page and Microsoft Edge’s default New Tab Page.
This is just the latest redesign for the Copilot app on Windows, which has gone through several iterations in the short time it has existed. It started out as a sidebar in Windows 11 (and later Windows 10), then it became a simple wrapper around the Copilot web app. Microsoft then added a quick view mode as the new default view, which opened at the bottom center of the screen. Finally, a reworked version that looks and works more like a typical desktop application version started rolling out in March.
The other major update is integrated semantic file search, as long as you’re using a Copilot+ PC. This was already available through the File Explorer on compatible computers, but now you can access it through Copilot chats as well. Microsoft said it should work with prompts like “find images of bridges at sunset on my PC” or “find the file with the chicken tostada recipe.”
These changes are rolling out to PCs with Copilot version 1.25082.132.0 and higher through the Microsoft Store. The update is currently limited to Insider Channels, but it should appear for everyone after any bugs are fixed.
Source: Windows Insider Blog