Copilot preview has disappeared from my task bar in got turned into like a normal app I dont like it.

Hello Kirito,

I am having trouble finding the Copilot preview in my taskbar settings. It seems to have disappeared and been replaced by a normal app version of Copilot. When I press the Copilot key on my keyboard, it opens the app version instead.

I'm not sure why this change happened. I turned my laptop off for a few minutes, and when I turned it back on, the Copilot preview button had been replaced.

Could you please explain why this might have happened and how I can get the Copilot preview back?

Thank you for your help.

having both (one of my PC's still has it on the taskbar) I can tell you that the one on the taskbar provides better, more succinct responses. The "app" one leads to more "story" like responses with many links to videos. the Taskbar one gets to the point. Further, in my experience, the app one has an annoying tendency to provide the same answer over and over where as the taskbar one tries different solutions. Today, I was laboring with a custom column that kept erroring when attempting to do math (a different multiplier based on the Unit of measure). I tried at least 4 answers from the app, none of which worked. One was a suggestion to return the word "error" on an error. Out of desperation, I remoted into my windows 11 PC that still had the Taskbar version and it found the error with my formula first time and provided a solution. (there were null values in the number field).

I've tried all manner of regedit's to get it back on my taskbar with no success :(

one more petty point, the taskbar version respects my theme (Dark), the app keeps eye searing white. :|

Well, if Copilot Preview was just a way to integrate the "Copilot app" more seamlessly to provide more "flexibility" and a "better user experience", Why are users missing the "Copilot Preview" so much, down there in the corner when it was more accessible and convenient? No matter where you're at or what you do, you could flip up the taskbar and it was right there. Maybe it was too convenient, or too good to be free. I am asking would you please bring it back and maybe give it a new name.

So I have asked the Copilot itself, here's the reply:

"The transition from Copilot Preview to the regular Copilot version was part of Microsoft’s plan to integrate Copilot more seamlessly into their ecosystem. Initially, the preview phase allowed users to test and provide feedback on the features and performance of Copilot. This feedback was crucial for refining the tool and ensuring it met user needs effectively.

With the release of Windows 11 version 24H2, Microsoft decided to convert Copilot from an integrated feature into a standalone app^1^. This change allows users to pin Copilot to the taskbar, resize it, and move it around like any other app, providing more flexibility and a better user experience^1^."

Unfortunately, we cannot switch from Copilot Preview to the regular Copilot. The ‘preview’ version was designed as a demo to let users experience Copilot’s features. Once the transition from Copilot Preview to the regular Copilot has been made, there isn’t an official way to revert back to the preview version. The changes were implemented to enhance user experience and integrate Copilot more seamlessly into the Windows ecosystem.

Copilot preview is being phased out and replaced with Copilot app.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/welcome-to-copilot-on-windows-675708af-8c16-4675-afeb-85a5a476ccb0