You can invoke Copilot by saying aloud the phrase “Hey Copilot”. This opt-in feature makes it easy to start a conversation with Copilot Voice whenever the feature is enabled and your PC is unlocked. This hands-free experience helps you stay in your flow when you need answers to a question or just need to bounce an idea off of Copilot.
The “Hey Copilot” wake word is only available when using Copilot on Windows. While it is available worldwide, the “Hey Copilot” wake word is currently only supported in English. After starting a conversation, you can continue speaking in any language supported by Copilot Voice.
How to use “Hey Copilot”
To use this feature, the following must be true:
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Your Windows PC is on and unlocked
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You are connected to the internet
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The Copilot app is running
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This feature is enabled in Copilot settings
To enable or disable this feature in your Copilot settings, go to Account > Settings > Listen for ‘Hey, Copilot’ to start a conversation and toggle the switch.
Once enabled, simply start a question with “Hey Copilot” and Copilot Voice will respond. For example, ask “Hey Copilot, what is the weather in Palm Springs this weekend?” or whatever question you have.
Once enabled, simply start a question with “Hey Copilot” and Copilot Voice will respond. For example, ask “Hey Copilot, what is the weather in Palm Springs this weekend?” or whatever question you have.
You can end a conversation with Copilot in any of the following ways:
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Saying “Goodbye”
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Tapping the X on the Copilot Voice interface
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Waiting a few seconds without speaking and the call will end automatically.
The Copilot Voice interface will disappear once the call has ended.
For more information, read more about how to use Copilot Voice.
How “Hey Copilot” works
Windows will show Copilot in use of the microphone via the Windows System tray when “Hey Copilot” is enabled in Copilot settings and the Copilot app is running (open, minimized, or running in the background). Voice recognition of the wake word is performed locally on your PC. An on-device spotter service listens for the wake word while the app is running. This spotter service uses a 10-second audio buffer in local memory on your PC. This audio buffer is never recorded or stored anywhere.
When the wake word is detected, the Copilot Voice interface will appear and begin to establish a Copilot Voice conversation. In parallel, the audio buffer will send audio from when “Hey Copilot” was first detected to Copilot Voice service in the cloud so it can be used to answer your question.
Considerations when using “Hey Copilot”
If your PC is offline, Copilot will attempt to establish a connection after you say the wake word, but then it will not succeed, and the call will end. Copilot voice responses require internet access and cloud processing, similar to text-based interactions with Copilot.
While “Hey Copilot” is optimized to work on a broad variety of devices, some users may find impact on their battery when using this feature. This impact can vary depending on battery size, system configuration, and environment. Users should verify they have the latest updates from Windows Update. Some Bluetooth headsets may experience reduced audio quality playback when “Hey Copilot” is enabled.
Users can check with their headset vendor for the latest firmware or drivers which may address the problem. If the issue persists, users can disable “Hey Copilot” and may prefer to use Press to talk to quickly access Copilot Voice instead.
