TechBytes with a Twist
“Ask Copilot” is coming to your Taskbar (but only if you want it to)
Ask Copilot in Windows 11: Microsoft Is Upgrading the Taskbar Search (and It Could Save Businesses Serious Time)
Have you ever wished your computer just understood what you were trying to do… instead of forcing you to dig through menus, settings, and search results to get there?
Microsoft is working on exactly that.
In the latest Windows 11 preview builds, they’re testing a new feature called Ask Copilot, and it’s taking a front-row seat on the Windows taskbar.
What is “Ask Copilot”?
Traditionally, the Windows taskbar search is pretty straightforward. You type a keyword, and Windows returns a list of apps, files, or settings that match.
Helpful… but still limited.
Ask Copilot is designed to take that same search box and make it smarter. Instead of simply pulling results, it uses AI to better understand what you mean and help you take action.
For example, instead of searching “invoice,” you could type:
“Open the invoice template I used last month”
“Connect to the projector”
“How do I split this PDF?”
Rather than giving you a list of guesses, Copilot aims to guide you to the right place (or complete the task for you).
In other words: less searching, more doing.
It’s not just typing
Microsoft is also pairing Ask Copilot with quick-access icons for things like:
👓 Copilot Vision (so it can understand what’s on your screen)
🎙️ Voice support (so you can speak instead of type)
This is Microsoft’s bigger vision in action: turning Windows into something that’s context-aware and actively helpful, instead of reactive.
Don’t want more AI in your taskbar? You’re still in control.
This feature is opt-in.
You’ll only see Ask Copilot if you enable it in your settings:
Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Ask Copilot
If you leave it off, Windows Search stays exactly the way it is.
What does this mean for business owners?
This might seem like a small change, but it’s actually a productivity upgrade.
The biggest time-wasters we see in everyday business IT aren’t always major outages, they’re the constant little interruptions:
searching for the right document
digging through settings
Googling “how to do this in Windows”
asking coworkers for help
Over a week, those minutes add up fast.
If Ask Copilot delivers on what Microsoft is promising, it could help teams stay focused and get tasks done faster, with fewer distractions.
When is it coming?
Right now, Ask Copilot is still being tested in Windows 11 preview builds. But the direction is clear, and we expect it to roll out more widely once testing is complete.
Want to make sure your business is ready for what’s next in Windows 11?
At Soarin Group, we help businesses stay productive and secure as technology evolves, from Windows upgrades and device planning to Microsoft 365 support and cybersecurity.
If you're wondering whether your current setup is ready for Copilot features (or Windows 11 improvements in general), we’d love to help.
👉 Visit www.soaringroup.com to connect with our team.
How can we help?
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“Ask Copilot” is coming to your Taskbar (but only if you want it to)
Ask Copilot in Windows 11: Microsoft Is Upgrading the Taskbar Search (and It Could Save Businesses Serious Time)
Have you ever wished your computer just understood what you were trying to do… instead of forcing you to dig through menus, settings, and search results to get there?
Microsoft is working on exactly that.
In the latest Windows 11 preview builds, they’re testing a new feature called Ask Copilot, and it’s taking a front-row seat on the Windows taskbar.
What is “Ask Copilot”?
Traditionally, the Windows taskbar search is pretty straightforward. You type a keyword, and Windows returns a list of apps, files, or settings that match.
Helpful… but still limited.
Ask Copilot is designed to take that same search box and make it smarter. Instead of simply pulling results, it uses AI to better understand what you mean and help you take action.
For example, instead of searching “invoice,” you could type:
“Open the invoice template I used last month”
“Connect to the projector”
“How do I split this PDF?”
Rather than giving you a list of guesses, Copilot aims to guide you to the right place (or complete the task for you).
In other words: less searching, more doing.
It’s not just typing
Microsoft is also pairing Ask Copilot with quick-access icons for things like:
👓 Copilot Vision (so it can understand what’s on your screen)
🎙️ Voice support (so you can speak instead of type)
This is Microsoft’s bigger vision in action: turning Windows into something that’s context-aware and actively helpful, instead of reactive.
Don’t want more AI in your taskbar? You’re still in control.
This feature is opt-in.
You’ll only see Ask Copilot if you enable it in your settings:
Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Ask Copilot
If you leave it off, Windows Search stays exactly the way it is.
What does this mean for business owners?
This might seem like a small change, but it’s actually a productivity upgrade.
The biggest time-wasters we see in everyday business IT aren’t always major outages, they’re the constant little interruptions:
searching for the right document
digging through settings
Googling “how to do this in Windows”
asking coworkers for help
Over a week, those minutes add up fast.
If Ask Copilot delivers on what Microsoft is promising, it could help teams stay focused and get tasks done faster, with fewer distractions.
When is it coming?
Right now, Ask Copilot is still being tested in Windows 11 preview builds. But the direction is clear, and we expect it to roll out more widely once testing is complete.
Want to make sure your business is ready for what’s next in Windows 11?
At Soarin Group, we help businesses stay productive and secure as technology evolves, from Windows upgrades and device planning to Microsoft 365 support and cybersecurity.
If you're wondering whether your current setup is ready for Copilot features (or Windows 11 improvements in general), we’d love to help.
👉 Visit www.soaringroup.com to connect with our team.
