The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →On a Windows 11 PC, the setting Microsoft documents for an Edge “Copilot mode” experience is Copilot new tab page. In Edge, select More (…) > Copilot and AI, then turn on Copilot new tab page. That changes what appears when you open a new tab.
Copilot can also be opened from the Edge toolbar without changing the new-tab page. A separate Copilot app in Windows has its own launch methods, so there is no single Windows switch that enables every Copilot experience.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What “Copilot mode” means in Edge
“Copilot mode” is a common description, not the current name of one universal Edge switch. Microsoft’s support documentation separates the relevant experiences by where they appear and how you start them.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| Experience | Where it appears | How you activate it | Browser context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copilot in Microsoft Edge | Edge toolbar while you browse | Select the Copilot icon | Controlled by the Edge setting Allow Copilot to read context clues on the web |
| Copilot new tab page | Edge’s new-tab experience | Enable it under More (…) > Copilot and AI | Uses the same Edge context-control setting when browsing information is involved |
| Copilot app for Windows | Windows taskbar or Start menu | Use its Windows entry, the Copilot keyboard key, or Windows+C | It is a Windows app, not an Edge setting |
If your goal is a Copilot-powered new tab, follow the first procedure below. If you only want the assistant available while reading a site, use the toolbar procedure instead.
#1 Best Overall
- 1.1 GHz (boost up to 2.4GHz) Intel Celeron N5030 Quad-Core
Enable the Copilot new tab page
These are Microsoft’s documented desktop Edge steps. The labels can change as Edge is updated, so look for the exact names Copilot and AI and Copilot new tab page.
- Open Microsoft Edge on your Windows 11 computer.
- In the browser toolbar, select the More (…) menu.
- Select Copilot and AI.
- Find Copilot new tab page and switch it on.
Open a new tab after enabling the switch. Microsoft describes this page as combining Copilot chat, search, and web navigation in the new-tab experience. The setting affects the page Edge opens for a new tab; it does not represent a separate Windows-wide Copilot activation.
If the switch is not visible
First, open the More (…) menu from the Edge window itself and check that you are looking under Copilot and AI, rather than a Windows Copilot or Start-menu setting. Microsoft’s interface can vary by account, policy, and rollout, so a missing control does not necessarily mean that you followed the wrong path.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
On a work or school profile, an administrator may control whether the new-tab page is available. The managed-device guidance later in this article explains what to do in that case.
Open Copilot while browsing without changing your new tab
To use the assistant on the page you are currently viewing, select the Copilot icon in the Edge toolbar. This opens Copilot in Edge; it is a different action from enabling the Copilot new tab page.
Microsoft describes the Edge assistant as able to answer questions and help summarize web pages, videos, and PDFs. In practical terms, this is the option to use when you want assistance for a particular item without replacing your normal new-tab layout. You can leave the new-tab switch off and still use the toolbar entry if it is available in your Edge profile.
Choose whether Copilot can use browsing context
Edge has a separate control for information Copilot may use from your browsing session. Microsoft calls it Allow Copilot to read context clues on the web.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #2
- 256 GB SSD of storage.
- Multitasking is easy with 16GB of RAM
- Equipped with a blazing fast Core i5 2.00 GHz processor.
- Open Edge and select the More (…) menu.
- Select Copilot and AI.
- Locate Allow Copilot to read context clues on the web.
- Turn the control on or off according to the context you want Copilot to use.
Microsoft says the setting can govern use of browsing information such as:
- The current page
- The page title
- Open tabs
- Browsing history
When the control is turned off, Microsoft says Copilot will not use browsing data to answer based on websites or browsing history. The setting is about access to browser context; it is not the same thing as hiding the Copilot icon or disabling the Copilot new-tab page.
When to leave context clues enabled
Context can be useful when you deliberately ask Copilot to work from something you are reading. For example, the Edge assistant’s page-summarizing capability depends on being able to use the relevant page information. If you are reviewing a public article, documentation page, or video and want a concise explanation, allowing context gives the assistant the information your request refers to.
When to turn context clues off
Turn the control off when you do not want Copilot to use the current page, other open tabs, or browsing history to answer. This is especially relevant on a shared computer, when several unrelated tabs are open, or when the pages visible in your browser contain information you do not want used as context. The choice is yours and can be changed from the same Copilot and AI menu.
Work and school profiles: policies can override the menu
On an organization-managed Windows 11 device, the Copilot new-tab page may be enabled through policy. Microsoft says administrators have flexibility over Copilot in Edge, so the controls shown to an employee may not match those on an unmanaged personal profile.
If Copilot new tab page or the context-control option is unavailable, greyed out, or repeatedly resets, do not assume that reinstalling Edge will fix it. The profile may be governed by an organizational policy. Contact your IT administrator and ask whether Copilot in Edge is allowed for your account and whether the new-tab page is being configured centrally.
“Browse with Copilot” is a separate enterprise preview
Microsoft’s work guidance describes Browse with Copilot as a limited opt-in preview for enterprise tenants. That preview is a separate capability; it is not a prerequisite for enabling the ordinary Copilot new-tab page. An organization can therefore support, restrict, or omit that preview independently of the standard Edge setting described above.
Rank #3
- 14" diagonal, 1366x768 resolution, HD BrightView LED, Glossy NON-TOUCH Display
Do not confuse Edge Copilot with the Windows Copilot app
The Windows Copilot app is a separate experience. Microsoft documents launching it from its taskbar or Start entry, with the Copilot keyboard key, or with Windows+C. Those methods open the Windows app and do not turn on the Copilot new-tab page inside Edge.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesUse the location of the control to identify which product you are configuring:
- A control under Edge’s More (…) > Copilot and AI menu affects Edge.
- The Copilot icon in an Edge toolbar opens the browser assistant.
- A Start-menu, taskbar, keyboard-key, or Windows+C action launches the Windows app.
Changing one of these does not create a global switch for all the others. If your objective is an Edge new tab, make the change in Edge rather than in Windows settings.
Troubleshoot a missing Copilot option
1. Confirm that you are in desktop Edge
The documented path applies to Microsoft Edge on a Windows 11 PC. Make sure the menu you opened belongs to the Edge browser window and that you are not looking at the Windows Copilot app’s settings or another browser profile.
2. Use the exact menu path
Select More (…) > Copilot and AI. The feature is not documented as a general item under Windows Settings, and the toolbar Copilot icon is not the switch that changes the new-tab page.
3. Check both the toolbar and the new-tab setting
These controls serve different purposes. The toolbar icon opens the assistant for browsing; Copilot new tab page changes the new-tab experience. Seeing one does not guarantee that the other is enabled or displayed.
4. Consider account and policy differences
Microsoft’s support material does not promise an identical interface for every Windows 11 user. Personal and work profiles can have different availability, and an organization can manage Copilot in Edge. If a control is absent on a managed device, ask the administrator rather than trying to bypass the policy.
Rank #4
- 【Efficient Performance】 Powered by Intel Core i3 processor (2 cores, 4 threads, up to 3.4GHz) with 12GB RAM and 256GB SSD. Handles multitasking, office software, online classes, and HD video streaming smoothly. Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Backlit Keyboard & Complete Package】Comes with a cool backlit keyboard. Comes with awebcam, dual stereo speakers (8Ω/1.0W each), DC charger, and user manual – ready for late-night studying, online classes, video conferencing, and daily productivity
- 【Vibrant Display】 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) anti-glare screen with 16:9 aspect ratio delivers crisp images and vivid colors – perfect for studying, watching lectures, or entertainment. Thin-bezel design maximizes viewing area
- 【Fast Connectivity & Expansion】 Equipped with WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.2 for stable, high-speed wireless. Features 3 x USB 3.0, HDMI 2.1, Type-C (supports PD3.0 fast charging), and a TF card slot expandable up to 2TB – easily connect external monitors, mice, drives, or expand storage for all your files
- 【Long Battery Life & Portable】 Built-in 11.55V 5000mAh/57.75Wh high-capacity battery delivers approximately 7 hours of mixed-use battery life – enough for a full day of classes and assignments. Lightweight at just 1.63kg (3.6 lbs) and 19.5mm thin, plus a compact packing size – easily slips into a backpack for campus, library, or coffee shop
5. Recheck after Edge changes
Browser labels and feature rollout status can change. If you previously saw the control and no longer do, reopen the current Copilot and AI section and verify the labels. Microsoft recommends checking the current Edge settings because the interface may be updated over time.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verify that your setup is working
Use these checks to confirm which experience you enabled:
- After switching on Copilot new tab page, open a fresh tab. The Copilot-oriented page should appear instead of your previous new-tab layout.
- From an ordinary web page, look for the Copilot icon in the Edge toolbar. Selecting it should open the Edge assistant independently of the new-tab page.
- On a non-sensitive page, ask the assistant to summarize the page or a supported video or PDF. Microsoft lists these as examples of the assistant’s capabilities.
- Return to More (…) > Copilot and AI and review the context-clues setting so you know whether browsing information is allowed to inform answers.
If the new tab works but the toolbar icon is missing, or the toolbar opens Copilot but the new-tab page remains unchanged, treat those as separate availability or configuration issues rather than evidence that Edge is malfunctioning.
A simple privacy decision for everyday use
The context-clues control lets you choose between convenience and limiting browser-context access. Leaving it enabled allows Copilot to use the browsing information Microsoft lists when a request depends on what you are viewing. Turning it off prevents Copilot from using browsing data to answer based on websites or browsing history.
| Your situation | Reasonable setting to consider | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| You want summaries or answers about the page in front of you | Enable context clues | Copilot can use the current page and related browsing context listed by Microsoft |
| You are browsing unrelated or sensitive material | Disable context clues | Microsoft says browsing data will not be used to answer based on websites or history |
| You use a managed work profile | Follow the organization’s policy | An administrator may control availability or lock the setting |
There is no need to enable the Windows Copilot app merely to use Copilot in Edge. Configure the Edge new-tab switch, the toolbar assistant, and the context setting independently according to what you actually want to do.
Current terminology to look for
When searching Edge menus or Microsoft help pages, use Microsoft’s current names: Copilot in Microsoft Edge, Copilot new tab page, Copilot and AI, and Allow Copilot to read context clues on the web. Searching only for “Copilot mode” can be confusing because that phrase may refer to the toolbar assistant, the new-tab page, or the separate Windows app.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Feature availability and menu labels can change as Edge evolves. If your screen does not match these steps, check the current Copilot and AI area in Edge and, for a work profile, confirm the policy with your administrator.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
