Microsoft has officially rolled out voice activation for its Copilot AI assistant on Windows 11, enabling users to summon it simply by saying "Hey Copilot." This marks a significant shift towards more natural, conversational interaction with the operating system, moving beyond keyboard and mouse inputs.

Previously available to Windows Insiders since May, the feature requires users to manually enable it within the Copilot app's settings. Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft Executive Vice President, explained the setup: "To get started, enable 'Hey, Copilot' in the Settings of your Copilot app, then simply ask a question starting with 'Hey, Copilot'." A chime confirms activation and listening status, while saying "Goodbye," tapping 'X,' or inactivity ends the session.

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Copilot listening interface (Microsoft)

Privacy is a key consideration. Microsoft states that wake word detection uses a local 10-second audio buffer stored on-device, never recorded or sent to the cloud. While wake word recognition works offline, processing user queries still requires an internet connection. Once activated, Copilot Vision can analyze the screen content to troubleshoot issues, provide app guidance, or explain Windows tools.

"People are already talking at their PCs every day... Now, your PC can understand you. We're seeing that when people use voice, they engage with Copilot twice as much as when they use text. This ease of use leads to deeper engagement within Copilot," noted Mehdi.

The voice activation launch coincides with other Copilot expansions. Microsoft recently enabled Copilot to generate Office documents and connect to accounts like Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar (also opt-in features). This follows the rollout of the Gaming Copilot for users 18+ and the integration of content-aware Copilot Chat into Microsoft 365 business apps. Together, these updates cement Copilot not just as a sidebar tool, but as a core, increasingly proactive layer of the Windows experience, fundamentally changing how users command their devices.

Source: Based on reporting from BleepingComputer