Microsoft’s “Hey, Copilot” Wake Word Arrives for Windows Insiders

A Hands-Free Future—With Caveats

Microsoft is testing a new voice-activated shortcut for its AI assistant, bringing Copilot one step closer to behaving like a true digital companion. Windows Insiders can now opt into a “Hey, Copilot” wake word feature, allowing them to summon Copilot Voice without touching their keyboard—as long as their PC meets a few strict conditions. The move mirrors voice assistants like Alexa and Siri but with Microsoft’s signature enterprise-grade privacy spin.

“The wake word is detected locally using a 10-second in-memory audio buffer; only post-detection audio is sent to the cloud for processing.”

Enabling the feature requires diving into the Copilot app settings, where users must toggle on the wake word option. Once activated, saying “Hey, Copilot…” triggers a chime and an on-screen microphone icon, signaling the AI is listening. Conversations persist until manually ended or after a period of inactivity—though Microsoft hasn’t specified the timeout duration. Notably, the feature won’t work if your PC is locked, offline, or set to a non-English language.

Privacy First, But Cloud-Dependent

Microsoft emphasizes local processing for the wake word itself, using a fleeting 10-second audio buffer that discards data unless the phrase is detected. This approach aims to ease privacy concerns, but there’s a catch: actual queries still rely on cloud servers for processing. If your internet drops, Copilot Voice becomes unusable, highlighting the feature’s current limitations as a cloud-powered tool.

The rollout is gradual, starting with Windows Insiders running version 1.25051.10.0 or higher in English-language configurations. Microsoft plans to expand support, but for now, non-English users are out of luck. Feedback is encouraged via the Copilot app’s profile menu, suggesting the company is still fine-tuning the experience.

“The feature works only when the PC is powered on, unlocked, and online; offline use fails as responses require cloud processing.”

While “Hey, Copilot” isn’t revolutionary—competitors have offered similar functionality for years—it signals Microsoft’s ambition to make its AI omnipresent across Windows. Just don’t expect it to replace your keyboard anytime soon.