I always enjoy a good conversation with Microsoft Copilot. I use the Wave voice, which offers a friendly and sociable personality with a charming British accent. Our conversations can be casual chit-chat -- he always greets me by name and asks how I'm doing. Or they can be more direct if I have a specific question or request.

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The only impediment is that using Copilot in conversation mode currently requires a couple of steps. You have to manually launch the app and then press the microphone button. Instead, I wish I could jump directly and quickly into a conversation. Well, my wish has been granted.

Press to Talk

Now, in the latest Windows 11 Insider build is an update to Copilot equipped with a feature called Press to Talk. Using the new version, you'll be able to trigger the AI in conversation mode with just a single hotkey. To start a voice chat with Copilot in Windows, hold down the Alt key + Spacebar for two seconds. Copilot will greet you and kick off the conversation.

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If you stop speaking for several seconds, the AI will automatically end the conversation. Otherwise, just press the Esc key to stop chatting, and the microphone on the screen will disappear.

Currently, you can already trigger Copilot in Windows by pressing Alt + Spacebar. But doing so places you at the standard prompt. From there, you have to either type your request or select the microphone to chat with the AI. You can also enable or disable the hotkey and set Copilot to automatically launch when you start Windows.

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To change the voice for Copilot or tweak other settings across the board, click your profile icon at the top. From the menu, you're able to switch the voice, language, or theme.

Rolling out to Windows Insiders

This latest update to Copilot (version 1.25024.100.0 and higher) is rolling out gradually to Windows Insiders. So, even if you're running a Windows Insider build, you may not see it right away. But just be patient, and it should arrive before too long.

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And what about regular Windows users? Assuming the testing and feedback are positive, new features in an Insider build invariably wend their way to the production version of Windows. That could take anywhere from a few months to a year. But with Microsoft keen on improving and enhancing Copilot, we could see this new version pop up sooner rather than later.

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