Copilot External Launcher

A Python wrapper to pin Copilot (Bing Chat) to your Taskbar.

copilot.mp4

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This launcher acts as a simple link opener that opens Copilot's side panel on Windows 11:

microsoft-edge:///?ux=copilot&tcp=1&source=taskbar

The .exe file can be pinned to the Taskbar and do the same as the official implementation does.

1. Windows preparations

Before going through the following steps, check for the latest updates in Settings > Windows Update. You also might want to set the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle to "On".

1.1. Check if you already have Copilot available

Depending on your Windows version, you might already have the toggleable switch for Copilot in the Taskbar settings.

Open Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar > Copilot (preview) > On.

If you do, set it to "On". You can skip the next steps since you already have Copilot on your Windows 11.

1.2 Check if Copilot opens with the link

Simply put the following link into your browser's address bar if it's just a normal https:// link and open it. It doesn't have to be Microsoft Edge.

microsoft-edge://?ux=copilot&tcp=1&source=taskbar

If it doesn't open Copilot but rather opens Microsoft Edge, follow step 1.3. If it does, skip step 1.3 and proceed to step 2.

1.3 Try ViVeTool

1. Download the tool for your platform

https://github.com/thebookisclosed/ViVe/releases

2. Extract the tool
3. Launch Command Prompt
4. Navigate to the folder where the extracted ViVeTool is, for example:

cd C:\Users\user\Desktop\ViVeTool

5. Execute the following command that enables Moment 3-specific features:

vivetool /enable /id:44774629,44776738,44850061,42105254,41655236

6. Reboot your PC

Check if it made Copilot available on your PC natively:

Open Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar > Copilot (preview)

If it's there, you can skip the next steps since you already have Copilot on your Windows 11. If it's not, check if the link from step 1.2 opens it.

microsoft-edge://?ux=copilot&tcp=1&source=taskbar

If it does open Copilot, proceed to step 2. If it doesn't, proceed to step 1.4.

1.4 Switching to the Release Preview channel

In my case, Copilot isn't available on Windows Build 22621.2428 but is available on Windows Build 22631.2428. If the previous steps didn't help and you still can't launch Copilot, switching to the Release Preview channel might let you do it.

Disclaimer.

Keep in mind that you have to enable sending optional diagnostic data to Microsoft to be able to switch to any of the Windows Insider channels. You'll only be able to switch back to the Stable Windows build with the next major version of Windows or by completely reinstalling the system.

1. Open Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Programme > Get Started.

2. Follow the instructions and set the channel to Release Preview. If the Settings freeze on one of the "Continue" steps, close the Settings app and open it again.

3. Reboot your PC and check for any missing updates in Settings > Windows Update (you might have to click "Check for updates").

4. Check if it made Copilot available on your PC natively:

Open Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar > Copilot (preview)

5. If it's not available in the Taskbar settings, check if the link from step 1.2 opens it.

microsoft-edge://?ux=copilot&tcp=1&source=taskbar

Now you either have Copilot available natively in your system and don't have to do anything else, or have the Copilot sidebar opening when you follow the link and can proceed to Step 2.

2. Creating a convenient .exe file

Download the copilot.exe file from the repository or build it yourself.

2.1. Grabbing the .exe from the repository

Download the copilot.exe from this repository and launch it to ensure it opens Copilot. Pin it to the Taskbar, and now you can access Copilot conveniently.

2.2. Build the copilot.exe yourself (optional)

Executing someone else's .exe file might not be desirable, but you can build it yourself. In this example, we'll be using Miniconda.

1. Download and install Miniconda:

https://docs.conda.io/projects/miniconda/en/latest/index.html

2. Download the file copilot.py from this repository and place it into the copilot folder on the Desktop.
3. Find a transparent logo for Copilot, place it in the same copilot folder, and rename it to logo.png. I can't add the logo to this repository, but a quick Google search with the query "copilot logo png" should help.
4. Launch Miniconda by opening the Anaconda Prompt (miniconda3) app in the Start menu.
5. Navigate to the copilot folder:

cd Desktop\copilot

6. Check if copilot.py is working as intended:

python copilot.py

7. Create a new conda environment:

conda create --name pyinstaller python=3.10

8. Activate the new environment:

conda activate pyinstaller

9. Install the necessary packages:

conda install pyinstaller pillow

10. Convert the script into a .exe file

pyinstaller --onefile --noconsole --icon=link.png copilot.py

11. The resulting copilot.exe file should be in the copilot\dist folder. Copy it to a desired location and pin it to the Taskbar.
12. (Optional) Deactivate the environment and delete it:

conda deactivate && conda remove --name pyinstaller --all -y