At the beginning of 2024, Microsoft mandated device manufacturers to add to the right side of the keyboard's spacebar a separate Copilot key.
As the name suggests, the key automatically opens the Copilot AI assistant in Windows and most Microsoft applications.
The key has been a quite universally hated change, because especially on laptops, manufacturers completely removed one of the previously used keys and slapped the Copilot key in its place. Most often, the right-hand Ctrl key was removed from the keyboard.
Even if one doesn't use Copilot for anything, the key has still sat on the keyboard unnecessarily. Linuxissa, the key's function could easily be changed to one's liking, and even in Windows, it has been possible in some cases with Microsoft's own PowerToys tool.
But now Microsoft has clearly listened to users, and the key's function can henceforth be changed directly from Windows settings back to the right-hand Ctrl key or the so-called Menu key, which has been the other option for several device manufacturers, in place of which the Copilot key was installed.
Written by: Petteri Pyyny @ 20 May 2026 13:06
