Where is the Copilot key setting in Windows 11?

On PCs that have received it, the remap option is in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Keyboard. An older option for choosing which app the key opens is in Settings > Personalization > Text input.

Why don't I see the option to remap the Copilot key?

Microsoft is rolling the setting out gradually with the October 2026 update, so it can take days or weeks to appear even after you install the update. PowerToys works in the meantime.

Will Right Ctrl shortcuts work after remapping?

Most will. Microsoft notes that combinations using Right Ctrl with the Windows key or with Shift may not behave normally, and recommends using Left Ctrl for those.

Can I disable the Copilot key completely?

The older Text input setting has had a 'None selected' choice on some builds. If yours doesn't, you can remap the key to Right Ctrl or the Context menu key so it no longer opens Copilot.

How to Remap the Copilot Key to Right Ctrl in Windows 11

Many newer Windows laptops replaced the Right Ctrl key (or the Context menu key) with a dedicated Copilot key. If you relied on Right Ctrl for shortcuts, games, or a screen reader, that change gets in the way fast. The good news: Windows 11 now has a built-in setting to turn the Copilot key back into Right Ctrl or the Context menu key, and there’s a reliable fallback if the setting hasn’t reached your PC yet.

Quick answer: Install the latest Windows update, then open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Keyboard and set the Copilot key to Right Ctrl. If the option isn’t there, use PowerToys Keyboard Manager to remap the Copilot key’s shortcut (Win + Shift + F23) to Ctrl.

What changed

When Copilot keys first shipped in 2024, Windows let you change what the key opens, but not turn it into a normal modifier key. Microsoft has since acknowledged that this broke workflows for people who depend on Right Ctrl or the Context menu key, including screen reader users, and added a proper remap option.

The setting was tested with Windows Insiders in September 2026 and is part of the October 2026 update (KB5127648) for Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2. It is listed as a gradual rollout, so installing the update doesn’t guarantee you’ll see it right away.

Method 1: Use the built-in Windows 11 setting

Step 1: Install the latest update

Open Settings › Windows Update.
Click Check for updates and install everything offered, then restart.
Optional: turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. This can bring gradually released features to your PC sooner, though it still may take some time.

Step 2: Remap the key

Open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Keyboard.
Find the option for the Copilot key.
Choose Right Ctrl key or Context menu key.

The exact wording on the page can vary slightly between builds. If you see options like Search or open an app but no Right Ctrl choice, the remap part of the feature hasn’t reached your PC yet. Use Method 3 for now.

A note on Right Ctrl shortcuts

After remapping to Right Ctrl, most shortcuts work as you’d expect. Microsoft notes one exception: combinations that use Right Ctrl + Windows key or Right Ctrl + Shift may not behave normally. Use Left Ctrl for those.

If your laptop maker includes its own keyboard utility with a Copilot key setting, use either that tool or the Windows setting, not both, to avoid conflicts.

Method 2: Change what the Copilot key opens

If you don’t need Right Ctrl and just don’t want Copilot to pop up, Windows has a separate, older setting:

Open Settings › Personalization › Text input.
Find Customize Copilot key on keyboard.
Choose Search to open Windows Search, or Custom to pick an app.

The Custom list only includes apps installed from the Microsoft Store or packaged as signed MSIX apps. Regular desktop programs and browser web apps usually don’t appear, so you can’t point the key at just any program this way.

Method 3: Remap with PowerToys (works now)

If the new setting isn’t available on your PC yet, Microsoft’s free PowerToys utility can do the job. The trick is that the Copilot key doesn’t send a single key code. It sends the shortcut Win + Shift + F23, so you remap that shortcut rather than a single key.

Install PowerToys from Microsoft’s website or the Microsoft Store.
Open PowerToys and select Keyboard Manager. Make sure Enable Keyboard Manager is on.
Open Remap a shortcut (not “Remap a key”).
Add a new remapping. For the original shortcut, press the Copilot key. It should register as Win + Shift + F23.
For the new shortcut, choose Ctrl (Right) or Ctrl (Left).
Click OK to save.

Recent PowerToys versions use a redesigned Keyboard Manager editor, so the buttons may look different from older guides. The steps are the same in principle.

PowerToys limitations

Users on Microsoft’s Q&A forum have reported a few catches:

Because the Copilot key includes Shift in its signal, some Ctrl + Shift combinations (like Ctrl + Shift + Arrow to select words) may not work with the remapped key.
PowerToys has to be running for the remap to work.
A few laptop models didn’t respond to this method at all. If that happens, check for a manufacturer keyboard utility or wait for the built-in setting.

If it still doesn’t work

The new setting is missing after updating: this is expected during a gradual rollout. Check Windows Update again over the next few days.
PowerToys doesn’t detect the key: update PowerToys to the latest version, and if you’re using the redesigned editor, try switching back to the classic one in Keyboard Manager’s settings.
Your laptop has a vendor app (for example, a keyboard or hotkey utility from your PC maker): look for a Copilot key option there before trying other methods.
Still stuck: send feedback through the Feedback Hub (Win + F) so Microsoft can see your hardware model.