It is very commonplace to hate the ways Microsoft has forced Copilot on its users. Seeing it in Notepad was bad enough, but now that I have to deal with it on my keyboard, I feel fed up. It’s as if the company would rename itself to Copilot if it had the chance. If you are like me and have hated the Copilot key the moment you pressed it by accident, then you’ll be happy to know it is replaceable.

Dealing with that annoying Copilot button

That button is the worst part of typing

Credit: Corbin Davenport / How-To Geek

When you buy a new laptop or computer keyboard today, you’ll see a noticeable physical change to the standard keyboard layout. Microsoft put a dedicated Copilot button on its new Windows 11 computers and keyboards. This is the first big adjustment to the standard Windows keyboard in almost thirty years.

This was obviously meant to put the AI assistant right in front of users. I hate it, though. The new Copilot button usually sits on the right side of the spacebar. It replaces the Menu key or the right Ctrl key on laptops and small keyboards. Microsoft supposedly made this change hoping to give you quick access to its generative AI features, but it seems obvious the company wanted to use muscle memory against its users. It’s almost as if the company knows the the AI is useless.

Hitting the right Ctrl key without looking is something most of us have in our muscle memory from years of typing. When you reach for common keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + P to print a document or Ctrl + C to copy, you expect the computer to respond right away. Since the Copilot key now takes up the same spot, those familiar finger movements lead to presses you didn’t mean to make.

I am a very patient person when playing games or using a computer, but I was so frustrated when I started using my new keyboard and hitting these keys. Seeing the screen get taken over by the Copilot chat assistant made me angry.

This is an unwanted interruption that makes me lose my train of thought every time. It’s like Microsoft knows people hate Copilot and wants any reason to force it on them. This could be the company trying to pretend people are using it, even though most of those presses are probably accidents.

The key itself acts like a hidden macro instead of a completely new input. Underneath, the button sends a sequence of Left Shift plus the Windows key plus F23 to the operating system. While that technical workaround lets Microsoft add the key without changing the main keyboard architecture, it doesn’t change what it’s like for the person typing. You’re still dealing with a button that triggers a distracting pop-up panel every time your pinky finger miscalculates a stretch for the control key.

Get your keyboard back to normal with PowerToys

PowerToys is the best solution to this

Microsoft PowerToys is a free collection of system tools that lets you adjust Windows to fit your needs, which helps you fix layout issues caused by the new Copilot button. Since this tool doesn’t come built into Windows by default, you’ve got to download it yourself. You can get the installer directly from the Microsoft Store by searching for PowerToys and selecting the install button. If you prefer a direct download, Microsoft hosts the project on GitHub, which provides a file you can run from your browser.

Opening the application takes you to a settings dashboard where you can see all the different modules available. It’s a good idea to set PowerToys to run at startup, so your keyboard changes remain active every time you boot your computer. Once you have the application open, look at the menu on the left and pick the Keyboard Manager utility.

First, you’ll need to turn the Keyboard Manager on by picking the toggle switch if it isn’t active already. Right below that toggle, press ‘Remap a key’. A new window appears on your screen with two columns showing what key you want to change and what action you want to send. Select the plus icon to create a new keybinding row. Press the Select button and then the Copilot key.

With your target key selected, move to the second column called ‘To send’. Select the dropdown menu in this column and scroll until you find the Ctrl key, specifically the right Ctrl button. Select the OK button to save your new configuration.

I have a bunch of features I don’t use

You might have downloaded Microsoft PowerToys just to remap that frustrating key, but the software comes with a lot of other utilities to adjust your computer. Microsoft designed this open-source toolset for power users. However, it’s become a practical toolbox that can help anyone fix common Windows annoyances.

FancyZones is one of the more popular additions. It gives you more control over your desktop layout compared to the built-in Snap feature. If you use an ultrawide monitor or work across multiple screens, FancyZones is a good idea. I use a real TV as my monitor, so I have a lot more space to move large windows around.

It lets you create custom grids or overlapping window arrangements. You can choose from built-in templates like columns or rows, or build a custom design from scratch. Once you set up your ideal layout, hold the Shift key while dragging a window. It automatically resizes to fit into your chosen zone.

You can even adjust settings, so specific applications automatically open in their assigned zones. This removes the need to constantly drag and resize individual windows manually.

The Color Picker is another very useful tool included in the package. It’s good if you do graphic design or web development and need to get specific colors from your screen. You start it with a quick keyboard shortcut. A small eyedropper tool appears. You click on any pixel on your display.

The tool copies the color code to your clipboard in any format you prefer, like HEX or RGB. Choosing a color opens an editor that keeps a history of your previous picks.

I think PowerToys is one of the best parts of Windows, just because there’s much more freedom than you get with the default settings.

PowerToys gives you back your keys

Microsoft has a habit of adding Copilot to its apps, even when it is not needed. However, we can fight back in little ways, like using the company’s own app to change it back to Ctrl. I think we’ll have to deal with aggressive pushes like this until Microsoft either makes Copilot an AI that is worth using or until the company stops trying to make Copilot the center of its universe. Hopefully, that will be soon because I have yet to meet anyone who thinks this Copilot key was a user-friendly idea.

CPU

Snapdragon X Plus

GPU

Qualcomm Adreno

RAM

16 GB

The HP OmniBook 5 is a lightweight laptop featuring a 14-inch 2K OLED touchscreen and a powerful Snapdragon X Plus processor. It includes 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, and has a battery life of up to 34 hours. It is also a Copilot+ PC.