Copilot Is Now in Windows: Here’s How to Use It

TLDR: Microsoft has embedded Copilot directly into core Windows apps like File Explorer, Paint, Photos, and Notepad. If you run a business or team using Windows 10 or 11, you now have an AI assistant already installed that can summarise notes, organise tasks, edit images, and find documents fast. This post explains what’s changed, how to activate it, and how to make it useful without needing any technical skills.

 
What’s changed with Windows and Copilot?

In late 2024, Microsoft rolled out native Copilot support across Windows 10 and 11. That means it’s now built into your operating system—no separate download or Office 365 subscription required.

You’ll find it:

• In the taskbar (as a Copilot button)
  
• Integrated into apps like Paint, Photos, and Notepad
  
• Context-aware—meaning it can assist based on what’s open or selected
  

The idea: Copilot becomes part of your flow, not a separate tool you have to open or remember to use.

 
What can you actually do with it?

The integration is light but useful. Here’s what’s now possible directly in-app:

1. File Explorer: Ask Copilot to find recent documents, sort by type, or suggest file actions (e.g. rename all screenshots from last week).
   
2. Notepad: Summarise meeting notes, clean up spelling, or rewrite text in plain English.
   
3. Photos: Auto-tag, resize, or generate alt text for accessibility with one prompt.
   
4. Paint: Add text labels, suggest colour adjustments, or prep images for web.
   
5. Settings: Ask natural-language questions (“How do I stop apps launching at startup?”) and Copilot will navigate for you.
   

You don’t need to learn prompts. Copilot sits in the sidebar and adapts to whatever app you’re in.

Real example: Internal workflows made faster

We tested this setup with a small community services team that handles reporting, client notes, and promotional flyers—none of them technical.

Here’s what changed:

• Photos: They used Copilot in Photos to auto-tag and sort images from outreach events, which saved an hour per week.
  
• Notepad: After meetings, they’d paste rough notes in, then use Copilot to summarise and clean them up before sending.
  
• File Explorer: A junior team member used natural language (“find the PDFs we made last Friday”) to pull files faster.

No AI rollout. No integration project. Just daily friction removed.

Why this matters if you're in operations, comms, or admin

Most Copilot coverage focuses on Office 365 or big enterprise setups. This update matters because it skips all of that. It’s already in your tools.

If you handle tasks like:

• Writing team updates
  
• Preparing reports
  
• Sorting through folders
  
• Editing images for internal decks
  
• Cleaning up client documentation
  

You can now do those 10–15% faster without leaving your current workflow.

Where this fits with low-code AI implementation

If you’re testing AI inside a team that doesn’t have technical staff, this is the lowest-risk starting point.

You don’t need to connect APIs or adopt a new tool.

You need to:

• Identify repetitive admin or creative tasks
  
• Test what Copilot can now handle natively
  
• Build a short internal guide for your team’s common tasks
  
• Track where it saves time or removes blockers
  

We help teams do exactly that audit what’s possible, structure light-touch AI workflows, and embed them using tools you already own.

Copilot isn’t a strategy. But it is a step. Use it to get familiar with embedded AI before you try anything more complex.

 
FAQ

Q: Do I need Windows 11 to use Copilot?
A: No. Microsoft has rolled out Copilot to both Windows 10 and 11 (2023 and later builds).

Q: Do I need to install anything?
A: No. It’s built in. You may need to enable the Copilot button in your taskbar settings.

Q: Can I use this without Office 365?
A: Yes. This is not tied to Office or Teams. It’s part of the Windows experience now.

Q: Is this secure for client files?
A: Copilot works locally where possible. But for sensitive data, check your organisation’s IT policies before enabling AI features on shared devices.

Q: What’s the fastest way to train my team on it?
A: Start with a 15-minute walkthrough using real tasks (notes, images, files). Build a short “when to use Copilot” guide and let them try it in-app. We can help run that session or design the setup if needed.