Remap the Copilot key to Ctrl in Windows 11?

Question

Remap the Copilot key to Ctrl in Windows 11?

Tomas B 10

Is there a way to remap the key that normally opens the awful Copilot feature (the one next to Alt Gr on the keyboard)?

I'm left handed, so I use my right hand to press Ctrl and plus/minus keys on keypad to zoom in and out in Photoshop and other programs. It's kinda hard to reach the left Ctrl key and anything on the keypad at the same time.

I heard somewhere it should be possible, but never found a way for this and I could not find anything in Windows settings, unfortunately.

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4 answers

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Answer 1

GsN5034 - IA 75,235 Independent Advisor

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

To remap the Copilot key, you can use the PowerToys tool that can be downloaded from the Official Microsoft Website here:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/

Once installed, go to the Keyboard Manager Tool to use the Remap a Shortcut Feature.

Enable the "Enable Keyboard Manager" toggle.

Copilot uses the Windows + SHIFT + F23 shortcut. To remap it,

Expand Remap a Shortcut feature not the Remap a key. Then, > Add Shortcut Remapping > Click the Shortcut (Pencil icon) and press "Windows + Shift + F23".

Select F23 from the dropdown arrow.

Then, in the Send section, select either Ctrl (Left) or Ctrl (Right).

Click OK, and the Copilot key should now work with your new remapping.

User's image

(Open the image in a new tab for easy understanding.)

Let me know if you still need more help.

Lovro Ilijašić 10 Reputation points

2026-01-13T15:07:33.53+00:00

Let me know if you still need more help.

Please, I desperately need your help. This solution almost works. Ctrl-Left and Ctrl-Right now indeed move cursor one word left or right.

But I very, very, VERY OFTEN (I didn't even know how often until I bought a new laptop) use it with left shift to quickly select entire words. But this doesn't work because the remap script kills off Shift (Left). So, I can't now use Ctrl-Shift-Left or Ctrl-Shift-Right (i.e. Copilot-Shift-Left and Copilot-Shift-Right). And I REALLY need it! Literally, every minute of my typing.

What do you suggest? Staying longer at work, buying an older computer that has all the buttons, or something else? :(

Any explanation for us stupid ordinary people why we need this Copilot button? Do we also need a dedicated Word instead of Enter and a dedicated Edge button instead of Backspace? Is switching to Apple the only solution?
Lovro Ilijašić 10 Reputation points

2026-01-13T15:14:29.63+00:00

Also, it's impossible to map Copilot-Shift (Left) into Ctrl-Shift because Copilot already has Shift (Left) in it, and PowerToys Keyboard Manager won't accept Shift (Left) twice in the shortcut definition.
Andrew Jackson 0 Reputation points

2026-02-24T16:43:42.4833333+00:00

It seems like the real answer is to uninstall windows and run Linux. Windows' relevance is directly related to country's lack of computer education.

Why is microsoft suggesting to install an entirely separate app to remap a single key on a keyboard when the remapping feature already exists in the settings -- it's just restricted to more microsoft decisions for you like A DIFFERENT VERSION OF COPIOLOT.

I promise you microsoft, this is a non-winning game plan to rely on the ignorance of the people -- because the people always get more educated over time, right now they are just a little slow.

Linux > Windows > ios
Steve B 0 Reputation points

2026-04-02T16:55:02.0966667+00:00

I have the same concern, and following these directions in Windows PowerToys DOES NOT WORK on my Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3.

This change is INFURIATING! I use the copy [CTRL-C], cut [CTRL-X], paste [CTRL-V], and undo [CTRL-Z] commands quite frequently, and they all require the right-side control key and a left-handed letter key without removing my hands from the keyboard. Having to use the mouse commands, or worse, using my left hand on the Control key and moving my right hand to the left side of the keyboard, breaks my workflow signifcantly.

Changing the keyboard layout for something so basic and integral to rapid inputs is ludicrously unintelligent, and has made me seriously consider switching to Apple for the first time in my life...and I've been a DOS and Windows user since 1986!

Someone at Microsoft, please work with Lenovo and the other manufacturers to find a SIMPLE way for users to individually remap this Copilot key immediately!
Milo Smith 0 Reputation points

2026-06-18T23:42:12.0766667+00:00

this does not work on a standard laptop keyboard. there is no way to input f23. i need a solution that doesn't require a specialized keyboard. my left ctrl key is broken and i need to rebind the copilot key and i do not have the money to purchase either software or hardware.

Answer 2

Thank you so much for this!!

Slight update that some may encounter...

When I opened my PowerToys, I discovered Keyboard Manager has a new Editor.

It is mentioned on this page - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/keyboard-manager - find on page "To create mappings" - note about "Use the new editor". (In my PowerToys v0.98.1 - toggle to enable; v0.100.2 - enabled by default, with an option to Switch back to the classic editor.) But they don't seem to have screenshots there yet. Despite my being new to Keyboard Manager, I'm glad to say I figured it out!

Here's how the new editor looked as I did this remapping of the Copilot key: User's image

User's image

Answer 3

To remap the Copilot key to Ctrl in Windows 11, you can use the Microsoft PowerToys Keyboard Manager utility. Here are the steps to do this:

Install PowerToys: If you haven't already, download and install Microsoft PowerToys from the official Microsoft website.
Open Keyboard Manager: Launch PowerToys and navigate to the Keyboard Manager section.
Remap a Key: Click on the "Remap a key" option. This will allow you to set a new function for the Copilot key.
Select the Copilot Key: In the remapping interface, you will need to select the Copilot key (which is usually mapped as Win + C) as the key you want to change.
Assign Ctrl: Choose the Ctrl key as the new function for the Copilot key.
Save Changes: After setting this up, make sure to save your changes.

Please note that if the remapping does not work, it could be due to the Copilot key being intercepted by other applications or running PowerToys without administrative privileges. Make sure to run PowerToys as an administrator if you encounter issues.

References:

Answer 4

Simple Simon 5

I also remapped Ctrl(Left)+Win(Left)+Shift(Left)+F23 to Win(Left)+Shift(Left)+F23.
This gives me back the original CoPilot key action as Ctrl+CoPilot - just in case I ever want it. User's image

Note that when you create it, it will show as I typed it with Ctrl(Left) first,
but as soon as you exit and re-enter the Editor it shows that as "Off" and the rearrangement "On".
I just deleted my original and let the replacement stand - it works.

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