Microsoft is testing AI Copilot directly inside Windows 11 File Explorer

Microsoft continues to deepen the integration of artificial intelligence into Windows 11. This time, the company is experimenting with placing Copilot directly inside the File Explorer interface in the form of a side panel. This was reported by Windows Latest, citing test builds of the operating system.

How Copilot currently works in File Explorer

In the current versions of Windows 11, the Copilot assistant is already present in File Explorer, but its capabilities are limited. To invoke the AI, users have to right click on a file or folder and select the corresponding option from the context menu. This approach is auxiliary in nature. Copilot can help rename files, create descriptions, or perform simple actions, but it is not a permanent element of the interface.

The new experiment with a side panel

In the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7523, testers discovered a hidden button located near the View panel. When activated, it opens Copilot as a full side panel inside File Explorer. This makes it possible to use the AI continuously without leaving the file manager. For example, it can quickly analyze the contents of folders, search for documents by meaning, or generate text directly within the workflow.

At the moment, this feature is not active by default and is only available in a hidden experimental form. Microsoft has not officially confirmed whether such a side panel will be included in the public release of Windows 11 or remain an internal test feature.

Parallel change with the option to remove Copilot

At the same time, another test build, Build 26220.7535, introduced a group policy called RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp. It allows administrators on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions to remove the preinstalled Copilot application.

The activation conditions are quite strict:

the system must have both the free Copilot app and the paid Microsoft 365 Copilot service installed at the same time;
the app must not have been installed manually;
it must not have been launched within the last 28 days.

Even after the free version is removed, the corporate Copilot included in the Microsoft 365 subscription will remain available. Experts point out that the 28 day requirement is difficult to meet in practice because Copilot is often launched automatically through startup processes, keyboard shortcuts, or dedicated keys on some keyboards.

In brief

Microsoft is testing the integration of AI Copilot as a side panel directly inside Windows 11 File Explorer, which would turn the assistant into a постоянный helper for working with files. At the same time, test builds introduce the ability to remove the free version of Copilot under strict conditions, including 28 days without any launches and the presence of a paid subscription. For now, both changes remain experiments for insiders. Interest in Copilot is declining: according to SimilarWeb, the web version accounts for only about 1.1 percent of the market, compared to 64 percent for ChatGPT.