Microsoft is distributing an updated version of its Copilot application for Windows (version 1.25034.133.0 and higher) through the Microsoft Store, targeting testers within the Windows Insider program. According to an announcement on the Windows Insider Blog, this update equips the AI assistant with two substantial new AI-driven features: an expanded Copilot Vision for screen analysis across applications and File Search for interacting with local documents.
The update is reaching Insiders across all testing channels gradually and these specific capabilities do not mandate Copilot Plus PC hardware.
Copilot Learns to Search Your PC
Marking a new direction for the assistant on Windows, File Search empowers Copilot to locate, retrieve, and even answer questions about the information contained within files stored on a user’s computer.
The initial implementation supports several common formats, including .docx, .xlsx, .pptx, .txt, .pdf, and .json. Microsoft gives users control over this feature, allowing them to adjust Copilot’s access permissions for file searching within Copilot Settings under Permission settings.
Examples provided by Microsoft include asking Copilot, “Can you find my resume” or requesting summaries from spreadsheets, like asking it to “Look at my budget file and tell me how much I spent on dining last month”. Unlike the Vision feature, File Search begins its Insider preview rollout globally.
Vision Steps Beyond the Browser
This update also represents a considerable broadening of scope for Copilot Vision. While Microsoft previously tested a version of Copilot Vision integrated into its Edge browser starting in late 2024 – initially for US Copilot Pro subscribers via its experimental Copilot Labs program, as reported previously – the current iteration, built into the dedicated Copilot for Windows app, allows users to share the view from any application or browser window by clicking a distinct “glasses icon.”
Once activated, Copilot can analyze this visual information, field questions, or offer guidance. Vision can provide coaching for Adobe Photoshop, assistance during Minecraft gameplay, and help with settings in Microsoft’s Clipchamp editor, illustrating its potential as a coaching tool for various software.
Microsoft emphasized privacy when the feature first debuted, stating in its December 2024 blog post that “Vision is entirely opt-in, so you decide when to turn it on as your second set of eyes on the web.” This contrasts with Windows Recall, being more akin to actively sharing your screen in a collaboration tool rather than passive background recording.
The app-based Vision preview is currently available only to US Insiders. Future updates are planned to add screen highlighting capabilities, allowing Copilot to visually pinpoint elements during guidance, though this is not yet enabled. A similar Copilot Vision feature exists on iOS and Android as well.
Microsoft is deploying this Copilot app update gradually, so it may take time to appear for all Windows Insiders. The phased approach allows Microsoft to gather data and user input before a wider release, which is anticipated in the coming weeks or months, contingent on the results of this testing period. Real-world performance and the practical effectiveness of the privacy controls will be key aspects to monitor during this Insider evaluation.