Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Copilot New Tab in Microsoft Edge Browser

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Copilot New Tab in Microsoft Edge Browser

If you’re looking to enhance your browsing experience in Microsoft Edge, setting Copilot as your default feature for new tabs can be a game changer. While this option remains disabled by default to cater to the preferences of traditional users, frequent Copilot users will find it significantly boosts their functionality. Let’s walk you through how to activate this feature and transform your new tab experience.

Activating Copilot for a Fresh New Tab Experience in Edge

Microsoft has integrated the Copilot chat interface into the new tab layout of Edge. However, for those who prefer a seamless experience without disruptions, the feature is initially disabled. Follow the steps below to manually enable the captivating features of Copilot.

First, download Edge Canary from the official Microsoft Edge site. During the download process, make sure you click Agree and download to accept the licensing terms.

Download link for Edge Canary on Windows devices.

Upon installation, you will notice Edge Canary appearing on your taskbar alongside your other Edge icons. Rest assured, this version operates independently and doesn’t interfere with your usual browsing sessions, unlike the Beta or Dev versions.

Taskbar icon for Edge Canary on Windows.

Next, to proceed, type edge://flags into your browser’s address bar and hit Enter. On the flags page, search for “NTP Composer.”

Locate the first flag labeled NTP Composer; it will show a Default setting. Change this to Enabled with experimental features. Additionally, you’ll notice more related flags beginning with “NTP” such as Chat Ranking, Composer Focus, and Copilot Search. Ensure all these flags are set to Enabled.

Enabled NTP Composer settings in Edge flags.

After enabling the flags, restart the browser. Voila! The Copilot chat window will now appear prominently every time you open a new tab. If at any point you wish to revert your changes, you can simply disable the flags or reset the flags page to its default settings.

Copilot set as default in the New Tab page of Edge.

Unlocking Benefits of Copilot in Edge’s New Tab Page

Initially, the familiar Edge address bar is still accessible at the top. Additionally, the Copilot interface in Default mode provides another streamlined way to directly access URLs. This dual access method enhances user functionality and maintains the drop-down suggestion feature for related queries.

Launching a web URL through Copilot in default mode.

Besides the new ways to surf the web, here are two prime benefits of using Copilot in new tabs:

  • Search and Navigate: With Copilot, you’re equipped to explore your search queries more deeply. Once a secondary feature, Copilot is now placed at the forefront, providing a superior search tool compared to other AI offerings.
  • Chat: Thanks to the chat functionality, you can articulate your queries in a more natural, conversational tone rather than relying on keywords, resulting in richer and more accurate outcomes than typical search engine results.
Three search modes available in Copilot's new tab interface: default, search and navigate, and chat.

While the traditional address bar has been a mainstay of web browsers, integrating Copilot into the foremost view may feel unconventional, yet for regular Copilot users, this adjustment offers significant advantages.

The rise of AI tools like Copilot is transforming various aspects of our online interactions. For instance, it can even streamline operations on Android directly from your desktop! However, if AI features aren’t your thing, you have the straightforward option to remove Copilot from your Edge experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I access the Edge flags page?

To access the Edge flags page, simply enter edge://flags into the browser’s address bar and press Enter. This page allows you to modify experimental features in Microsoft Edge.

2. What if I want to disable Copilot later?

Should you wish to disable Copilot in the future, return to the Edge flags page, locate the flags you enabled, and change their settings back to Default. You can also reset all flags to their original settings.

3. What are the advantages of using Copilot in Edge?

Using Copilot in Edge offers enhanced search capabilities and natural language processing for queries. This creates a more intuitive browsing experience, allowing users to interact with the browser in a more conversational manner.

Source & Images

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *