Microsoft confirms Windows 11 update will let users remap the Copilot key back to Right Ctrl or Context Menu

Back in 2024, Microsoft almost started forcing laptop manufacturers to replace the Right Ctrl key on new Windows 11 PCs with a dedicated Copilot key, similar to the two Start keys. A few OEMs replaced the right-hand Ctrl or Context Menu key outright, while others made space for it. In all cases, the key has been practically useless to anyone uninterested in Microsoft's AI assistant.

Microsoft has finally acknowledged the obvious. In a recently published support document, the company stated that customers who rely on the Right Ctrl key or Context Menu key for keyboard shortcuts or assistive technologies experienced workflow challenges on these devices.

As a result, Microsoft has confirmed that a Windows 11 update coming in 2026 will add a setting to remap the Copilot key to either the Context Menu key or the Right Ctrl key. The new setting will be available under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Keyboard. Some PC manufacturers already offer Copilot key remapping in their own software, but Microsoft's solution will be distinct in that it will apply across all Windows 11 PCs with a Copilot key, regardless of manufacturer.

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Microsoft is not entirely rolling back on its original decision since the hardware is already out there, making a software fix the natural solution. It is also not going as far as allowing users to freely reprogram the Copilot key to run macros or launch specific apps. Those who need more flexibility will still have to rely on third-party software. Nonetheless, this update allows anyone who relies on the right control or context menu key to restore that functionality natively within the OS.

The change comes as Microsoft shifts away from its 2024 "year of AI PC" mantra and is now actively removing what it calls "unnecessary Copilot entry points" across Windows 11. That transition has already produced a number of welcome updates in recent weeks, with more highly requested features in the pipeline, including the ability to move the Taskbar and pause Windows updates indefinitely. Microsoft has not yet confirmed exactly when this particular update will arrive.