You can now say "Hey Copilot" to trigger the AI assistant in Windows 11

If you’ve ever used voice triggers like “Hey Siri,” “Hey Google,” or even “Hey Cortana!” when using Windows 10, this new update will feel familiar. Microsoft is bringing “Hey Copilot!” to Windows 11, allowing you to launch Copilot Voice just by speaking.

Just say “Hey Copilot” in Windows 11 and get things done, it’s that easy

As one can guess, you don’t need to press anything. Just say “Hey Copilot!” and the assistant will start listening in Windows 11. The feature is rolling out now to Insiders with version 1.25051.10.0 or newer. It builds on the March update, which added Alt + Space as a keyboard shortcut for voice access.

Talking about the feature, Microsoft notes:

Copilot wake word: Windows Insiders can now invoke Copilot with the phrase ‘Hey, Copilot!’ This opt-in feature gives people a new way to easily start a conversation with Copilot Voice, anytime the feature is enabled, and their PC is unlocked,” Microsoft said in a blog post.

If you used “Hey Cortana!” back in the day, the experience is similar—but it’s now faster, more accurate, and AI-powered. The wake word “Hey Copilot!” is off by default in Windows 11. You’ll need to turn it on manually in Copilot’s settings. It also runs on-device, meaning no voice data is sent to the cloud unless voice mode is active.

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To enable it, open Copilot, tap your avatar, go to Settings, scroll to Voice mode, and switch on “Listen for Hey, Copilot!” When it’s on, you’ll hear a short chime or greeting when Copilot activates. You can close it by pressing X or staying silent for a few seconds.

Remember, Microsoft is gradually rolling out this update. Therefore, some Insiders will get the feature later. But once it shows up, “Hey Copilot!” could be the fastest way to start using AI on Windows 11.