Today, we start to roll out Copilot in Windows (in preview) [1] for Windows 10, version 22H2 to Windows Insiders in the Release Preview Channel. Bringing Copilot to Windows 10 [2] enables organizations managing both Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices to continue considering a rollout of Copilot in Windows and provide this powerful productivity experience to more of their workforce.
Why you should try Copilot in Windows
People who work with information daily are excited about the capabilities of generative AI to help them discover and create new content. They may already be using generative AI by accessing Microsoft Copilot (previously Bing Chat) or ChatGPT in the browser.
Copilot in Windows powers the generative AI experience in managed Windows 10 and 11 PCs. As an IT professional, you want to help your organization be at the forefront of AI, but also hold the bar on protecting corporate data that employees may share with AI models. We are here to help you do both. With Copilot in Windows, you can offer a managed version of Copilot to Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices so employees do not accidentally share confidential or proprietary information.
By using Copilot, employees can:
- Save time and effort by prompting for information and services in one place by typing prompts in natural language or using their voice.
- Explore new possibilities and ideas by generating creative and innovative content that includes both text and images.
Try Copilot in Windows today
Copilot in Windows is turned on by default in Windows 11, version 23H2. If you are looking to try Copilot on Windows 10, version 22H2 devices today, you can do so through the Release Preview Channel in the Windows Insider Program for Business. This will help you understand what to expect and make an informed decision about when and how you will roll out Copilot in Windows to your employees.
Availability of Copilot in Windows 10
Copilot will begin rolling out to devices running Home and unmanaged [3] Pro editions of Windows 10, version 22H2 in the near term. We will roll out this experience in phases using Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) technology over several months.
Devices running Enterprise or Education editions of Windows 10, version 22H2, or managed Pro devices, are not included in this initial rollout. Additionally, users with eligible non-managed devices running Windows 10, version 22H2 who are interested in experiencing Copilot in Windows as soon as possible can choose to do so by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and turning on ”Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” and then selecting Check for updates.
Copilot in Windows 10 will be released in preview to select global markets. The initial markets for the Copilot in Windows previews include North America and parts of Asia and South America. We intend to add additional markets over time, aligned with our release policy for Copilot in Windows 11.
Windows 10 desktop with the Copilot icon on the taskbar and Copilot open on the right side of the desktop. (Screen simulated, subject to change. Feature availability and rollout timing varies by market and device.)
How to use Copilot in Windows 10
To use Copilot in Windows 10 (in preview), employees must click the Copilot icon on the taskbar to open a chat window to type queries or requests. Copilot will then respond with relevant information or suggestions that can help achieve the goals the employees are after. They can also use voice to interact with Copilot by clicking on the microphone icon in the chat window. The experience in Windows 10 is similar to the experience released for Windows 11.
In September 2023, we made Copilot in Windows available for Window 11, version 22H2 and then, in October, for version 23H2. Not all Copilot functionality for Windows 11 will initially be available for Windows 10. The core experience of discovering and creating content is the same, but employees will not be able to take actions such as customize preferences and settings or open applications by using simple commands in this initial release.
How to manage Copilot in Windows 10
If you need to manage Copilot access in Windows 10 for certain groups in your organization, you can do so by using MDM or Group Policy settings. When you remove access to Copilot, the people in these groups will not be able to use it and the Copilot icon will not appear on the taskbar.
To learn more about how to manage Copilot in Windows, see Manage Copilot in Windows.
When you enable Copilot in Windows for all or some of your Windows 10 users, we recommend that you ensure that Copilot with commercial data protection is enabled for the best experience. For guidance on how to do so, see the Copilot documentation.
What about Windows 11?
We want to make generative AI in Windows broadly available so all organizations and individuals can take advantage of this progress in productivity and creativity. However, Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14th, 2025. Many organizations have already started or completed their migration to Windows 11.
Westpac, one of Australia’s largest financial services institutions, leveraged Windows Autopatch and App Assure when moving its 40,000 employees to Windows 11 to support both IT cost savings and employee accessibility initiatives. The Alabama Appellate Court System transitioned to Windows 11 to stay on the latest and most secure version of Windows, and to prepare for the new era of AI, with the goal of “harnessing the power of AI to discover and create in new ways” and to “integrate AI-driven solutions to enhance search capabilities and facilitate comprehensive legal research.”
Moving your employees to Windows 11 brings you the most secure Windows yet, simplified IT management, and a modern user experience, including the full-fledged Copilot integrations. You can heighten your organization’s security and benefit from a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) with Windows 11.
Next steps
We encourage you to start your trial of Copilot in Windows today so you can validate what is available and what is coming. Learn more by reading our Copilot in Windows documentation.
We also recommend that you continue your migration to Windows 11.
- Use Windows Autopatch for in-place upgrades of eligible devices, for a less costly and smooth experience for your employees. Windows Autopatch is included with Windows Enterprise E3/E5 or Microsoft 365 E3, E5, or F3 subscriptions. Learn more about Windows Autopatch.
- Enable the Windows 11 experience with Windows 365 in Microsoft Intune or via the web, delivering Cloud PCs on Windows 10 devices that are ineligible for the Windows 11 upgrade. Learn more about Windows 365.
- Replace the ineligible Windows 10 devices with new Windows 11 Pro devices.
Continue the conversation. Find best practices. Bookmark the Windows Tech Community, then follow us @MSWindowsITPro on X/Twitter. Looking for support? Visit Windows on Microsoft Q&A.
[1] Copilot is currently available in preview in select global markets. It is our intention to add additional markets over time.
[2] Devices require > 4GB RAM and Display adapter that supports +720p resolution. If we detect that your device may have an issue, such as an application incompatibility, we may put a safeguard hold in place and not offer Copilot in Windows (in preview) until that issue is resolved.
[3] Devices are considered managed if they are running Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions of Windows, and are managed by an MDM or Configuration Manager, or have their Windows Updates managed through Windows Update for Business, Windows Autopatch, or Windows Server Update Service (WSUS).