How can I customize the Copilot key to also function as Right Ctrl for key combinations?

Question

Hello Microsoft Community,

I recently purchased a new laptop with an inbuilt Copilot key, which replaces the traditional Right Ctrl key. This key, as I understand, sends the shortcut Win + Shift + F23. While it works well to activate the default Copilot functionality, I am facing an issue when trying to use it for standard keyboard shortcuts, such as Ctrl + A or Ctrl + C.

I am looking for a way to achieve the following behavior:

1. Single Press: When I press and release the Copilot key alone, it should trigger the default Copilot action.
2. Combination Press: When the Copilot key is held down and used with another key (e.g., Copilot + A), it should function as the Right Ctrl key to allow traditional shortcuts.

An alternative could be to make the Copilot key work like the Fn key. For example:

• When pressed alone, it triggers the Copilot functionality.
• When combined with other keys, it acts as Right Ctrl, enabling keyboard shortcuts seamlessly.

I would appreciate any advice on achieving this through settings, registry edits, or third-party tools. If this functionality isn’t currently possible, I hope it can be considered for a future Windows update.

Thank you for your help!

Answer 1

Not having a straightforward option to just disable Copilot shortcut key stroke sequence is pathetic.

To manage this for a company-wide setting is not possible. The solution to install Power Toy is great for the personal user, but not a corporate-managed device.

MS needs to update the Personalization | Text Input | Customize Copilot Key on Keyboard | to have Nothing as an option.

Having Search, Copilot and Custom (but no items to choose) is just sad.

😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫

Answer 2

Thanks a ton. This solution worked for me. I was so frustated when I saw right Cntrl gone.

Answer 3

I couldn't agree more with the owner of this issue,

When I was writing code, the comment shortcut key of right "ctrl+/" had to be mapped to other keys

Such a stupid business behavior to force the Copilot function

What's worse is that the HP EliteBook 840 G11 Notebook distributed by the company does not take effect after the modification of the PowerToys tool

At present, there is no solution to modify the registry or BIOS, which makes people hate Copilot and fall into the arms of ChatGPT and Gemini.

Answer 4

Is there a solution without Powertoys? Our company Policy doesn't allow the installation of Powertoys. As a left-handed person I really miss the right controll button, since I used it heavily with toghether with the mouse scroll lwheel, e.g. to zoom in and out of content.

Answer 5

This is my office laptop, and they don't allow me to install powertoys . then what should I do