Copilot on Windows: Semantic Search and new home begin rolling out to Windows Insiders

Hello Windows Insiders, we are excited to begin rolling out a new update for the Microsoft Copilot app on Windows that introduces the following changes and improvements:

Semantic file search*, available on Copilot+ PCs, is a smarter and faster way to find your files using natural language. With today’s update, you can now leverage the power of improved search capabilities right from the Copilot on Windows app. This provides yet another way to find your documents and photos on your PC without having to remember the exact file names or exact words in file content. For example, you can find images by typing “find images of bridges at sunset on my PC”, find your resume documents with similar terms like “find my cv” or describing content of the file that you’re looking for like “find the file with the chicken tostada recipe”. You can adjust your permissions for what Copilot can access, retrieve, or read in Copilot Settings under Permission settings.

The new Copilot home experience brings your recent apps, files and conversations into Copilot and at your fingertips.

Now it’s easier to get guided help: when you click on a recent application in the “get guided help with your apps” section, a Vision session will begin to help you get started. Or you can have Copilot take action on a recent document or photo – click the file of choice in the left pane and it’s uploaded to the Copilot chat window. From there you can have Copilot summarize the content, identify objects in an image, or just chat about it.

How does Copilot know what files I have?

Copilot shows you files you’ve recently opened on your device by referencing the standard Windows “Recent” folder.  Like any application on Windows, Copilot can show those recent files used by apps like Word or Photos to help you quickly find your work.  These are local files stored on your computer, and Copilot doesn’t scan your entire system or upload anything automatically.

Only files that are compatible with Copilot** and have been recently accessed will appear in the list. If you choose to attach a file and send it to Copilot, that action gives Copilot permission to process it — nothing is shared unless you explicitly do so.

Use Vision to get real-time guidance on what’s on your screen or attach a file to your Copilot conversation for summaries, insights, and helpful pointers. Whether you’re planning, creating, or catching up, Copilot is ready to help you.

This Copilot app update (version 1.25082.132.0 and higher) is beginning to roll out across all Insider Channels via the Microsoft Store. The above-mentioned features are gradually rolling out so not all Insiders will get the update right away. We are excited to be previewing improvements with our Insiders to ensure all our customers have a great Copilot experience on Windows.

FEEDBACK: Please provide feedback directly within the Copilot app by clicking on your profile icon and choosing “Give feedback”.

Thanks,
Microsoft Copilot Team

*Works with specific text, image, and document formats only; optimized for select languages (English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Japanese, and Spanish). See aka.ms/copilotpluspcs.
**File types currently supported for file upload include .png, .jpeg, .svg, .pdf, .docx, .xlsx, .csv, .json, and .txt.