Enabling and Utilizing Copilot Mode in Microsoft Edge: A Step-by-Step Guide

As AI-driven technologies increasingly integrate into our daily web interactions, Microsoft Edge emerges as the pioneer by fully incorporating AI-powered assistants into its browser framework. The innovative Copilot Mode transforms Edge into an AI-centric browsing experience, allowing users to have their inquiries handled seamlessly by Microsoft’s Copilot assistant. If you’re eager to enhance your browsing efficiency, follow this comprehensive guide on enabling and utilizing Copilot Mode in Microsoft Edge.

How to Activate Copilot Mode in Edge

By default, Copilot Mode is not activated, so a manual activation is necessary. Start by ensuring you are signed into your Microsoft Account and that you have the latest version of Microsoft Edge installed (version 138 or higher).To verify your version, navigate to Edge’s main menu located in the top-right corner, then select Help and feedback followed by About Microsoft Edge.

Microsoft Edge About Page showing Edge's version

Next, access the Settings from the Edge menu and locate the AI innovations section in the left panel. Here, switch on the Copilot Mode option.

This will trigger an information page prompting you to toggle Copilot Mode once more and guide you through a tour of its features.

Enabling Copilot Mode on Microsoft Website

If the Copilot Mode option is not visible in the Settings, you may need to enable an associated Edge experimental feature. Input edge://flags in the Edge address bar to access the experimental features. In the search bar, type “copilot mode” and enable the Edge Copilot Mode flag. Be sure to restart Edge afterward to see Copilot Mode reflected in the AI innovations section.

Utilizing Copilot Mode in Microsoft Edge

Once you have enabled Copilot Mode, initiate it by opening a new tab or refreshing an existing one. The standard search field will be replaced with a Search & Chat feature, where Copilot will automatically interpret your query to determine the best course of action—either providing an answer or conducting a Bing search.

For basic queries like website names, Copilot directs you to Bing for further information. However, it more commonly attempts to provide direct answers to general questions. Interestingly, if you ask about a site, it often relies on Bing; otherwise, it seeks to answer queries independently.

You also have the option to switch to traditional Copilot modes, such as Ask Copilot or Think Deeper, should you prefer not to search the web. The address bar at the top remains functional with the default search engine, allowing you uninterrupted access to web searches.

Crucially, Copilot adds a dedicated button to the address bar, enabling you to inquire about information associated with the active tab. This feature impressively comprehends context across all open tabs, allowing users to receive coherent responses from a unified interface.

Leveraging Copilot Quick Assist

When navigating an open webpage, clicking the Copilot button on the left side of the address bar activates the Quick Assist panel. This valuable feature allows users to ask questions about the current tab’s content while offering options to summarize or delve deeper into topics.

You can inquire about specific details within the page, extracting information without having to read the entire content, or seek additional context regarding specific sections. The feature also enables resetting conversations to start new sessions while saving access to previous discussions via the dots menu.

Analyzing Content Across Multiple Tabs

The Copilot Quick Assist panel, combined with the Copilot search functionality, supports inquiries about all open tabs simultaneously. Therefore, you can ask about information from other tabs without switching between them. Note that the current tab will dominate focus, so be specific when mentioning other tabs for accurate responses.

This multi-tab capability facilitates comprehensive answers, allowing users to compare information or summarize content from several sources within a single interface. For instance, if you have various recipes open, you can request Copilot to generate a consolidated list of all necessary ingredients.

Copilot comparing two mice in quick assist panel

For a more streamlined response, you can restrict Copilot’s answers to specific tabs only. To execute this, click the + (Plus) icon within the Quick Assist panel and select Add tabs. Choose your desired tabs from the list and direct your inquiries accordingly.

Importantly, enabling Copilot Mode does not eliminate the regular search functionality available in the address bar. Microsoft has confirmed plans for further enhancements to this feature, offering users improved control and automation capabilities for completing tasks. However, these advancements may also raise important privacy considerations that users should weigh.

Source & Images