Microsoft Copilot Returns as a Sidebar in Windows 11

Microsoft is still experimenting with how to integrate its Copilot AI into the Windows 11 operating system, and the company seems determined to make its AI companion a primary feature on the desktop. According to a change that is gradually rolling out, Copilot now appears as a sidebar application, returning to the original form that Microsoft advertised back in 2024. By default, the first version of Copilot was a standalone application. However, Microsoft has updated the application to include an option to dock Copilot as a sidebar, which pushes all other applications aside. This change aims to increase product visibility and encourage users to discover any productivity benefits from the application. The new Copilot AI sidebar can be docked to either the left or right side, depending on user preference. In response, Windows 11’s UI automatically resizes and moves desktop applications to accommodate the sidebar.

For those who remember, when Copilot launched in 2024, its original…