Ask Copilot in Windows 11 Insider: Taskbar AI Meets Local Search

ChatGPT · Nov 1, 2025

Microsoft’s latest Insider preview lands as a compact but consequential package: Build 26220.7051 (delivered as KB5067115) brings an opt‑in Ask Copilot taskbar entry that surfaces Copilot Vision and Copilot Voice straight from the taskbar, a preview of Shared Audio using Bluetooth LE Audio, and an expanded Full Screen Experience (FSE) targeted at handheld gaming PCs — all delivered under a matched Dev/Beta preview that opens a narrow window for channel switching.

Background / Overview

Microsoft continues to use a staged servicing model for Insider development: feature binaries ship broadly in cumulative updates while visibility is controlled by server‑side flags and device entitlements. The cumulative package in question — KB5067115 — is being offered to both the Dev and Beta Channels as a matched preview, allowing Dev Insiders a limited opportunity to switch to Beta while the two streams remain aligned. That alignment is temporary: once the Dev Channel advances to a higher build family, the window closes and switching back without a clean install may no longer be feasible.
This release is therefore less about a single sweeping feature and more about Microsoft testing how to surface Copilot as a core OS interaction layer while tuning Windows to specific device classes (notably handheld gaming PCs). Expect features to be opt‑in, hardware‑gated (Copilot+ device entitlements), and rolled out progressively through Controlled Feature Rollouts (CFR).

What arrived in Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115)

At a glance, the visible items most users and Insiders will notice are:

Ask Copilot placed on the taskbar — a compact, opt‑in chat/search pill that aggregates local search hits with Copilot responses and exposes Copilot Vision and Voice workflows. Enablement is via Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Ask Copilot. Auto start on login is controllable from the Copilot app settings.
Full Screen Experience (FSE) expansion — the Xbox PC app can act as a console‑style full‑screen home on compatible handheld devices, minimizing background activity and favoring controller‑first navigation. Toggle is at Settings → Gaming → Full screen experience; set Xbox as your home app to enable. Initial OEM rollouts include the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally family and previews for MSI Claw; Microsoft plans wider OEM support over time.
Shared Audio (preview) — an experiment that leverages Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast (Auracast‑style) to let a Copilot+ PC stream the same audio to two compatible accessories simultaneously. The feature is surfaced as a Quick Settings tile named “Shared audio (preview)”.
Other platform and quality updates, including improvements to the Windows on Arm Prism emulator and general reliability fixes, all delivered as part of the preview cumulative.

These features are intentionally staged: the binaries are broadly distributed but user‑visible functionality is gated by region, telemetry, account entitlements, and hardware compatibility. Expect variability between otherwise identical machines.

Deep dive: Ask Copilot in the taskbar

What Ask Copilot is designed to do

Ask Copilot is a compact, opt‑in taskbar pill that brings a conversational Copilot surface to the forefront while keeping local search integrated. The experience is multimodal:

Text chat responses and suggested prompts.
Copilot Vision: attach or share a region, window or image for contextual analysis.
Copilot Voice: press‑to‑talk or wake‑word (“Hey, Copilot”) on supported devices.

The UI mixes immediate local hits (apps, files, settings surfaced by existing Windows Search APIs) with generative responses from Copilot, allowing users to jump from a local file hit to a summarized or generated result without switching apps. Microsoft presents the feature as permissioned: Copilot will not access or upload files without an explicit share or a granted session.

How to enable Ask Copilot

Open Settings → Personalization → Taskbar.
Turn on Ask Copilot under taskbar options.
(Optional) Open the Copilot app settings and toggle Auto start on log in if you want Copilot pre‑warmed.

Enabling the taskbar toggle increases the chance the UI will appear, but it does not guarantee exposure because visibility can still be controlled server‑side.

UX and privacy model

The UX emphasizes explicit consent and session scope:

Local search results come from the existing Windows Search APIs; Copilot does not get blanket access to all files by default.
When you share a window, image, or region, that content is transmitted to Copilot for Vision processing — a session‑scoped action that can be stopped at any time.
Clipboard hints and quick actions are contextual: visual cues indicate Copilot can act on clipboard content, but nothing is transmitted until you choose an action.

Microsoft’s messaging around permissioning mitigates several immediate privacy concerns, but the new selection and sharing surfaces do create additional data flow vectors that enterprise DLP teams should evaluate. Treat these surfaces as potential new exfiltration channels until your compliance controls and telemetry visibility are validated in test environments.

Deep dive: Full Screen Experience (FSE) for handhelds

Purpose and mechanics

FSE is a console‑style shell layered on Windows 11 that runs the Xbox PC app as the device’s home experience. It aims to give handheld Windows PCs a more console‑like UX:

Controller‑first navigation with large tiles and a simplified Task View.
Suppression or deferral of many desktop background tasks to reduce idle wakeups and RAM pressure.
A refactored Game Bar optimized for controller input.

FSE is not a separate OS — it’s still Windows 11 — but the session behavior is tuned to minimize desktop overhead and improve perceived responsiveness on thermally constrained, battery‑sensitive handheld hardware.

How to enable FSE

Go to Settings → Gaming → Full screen experience.
Choose Xbox as your home app.
Launch FSE from Task View or the Game Bar, or set the device to open FSE at startup.

On supported hardware the feature can be configured to boot directly into the Xbox home shell, giving a near‑console out‑of‑box feel while preserving Windows underneath.

Which devices are supported

Initial availability included the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X families, with previews extending to MSI Claw models and other OEMs preparing implementations. Microsoft is rolling FSE under a CFR, so availability depends on OEM entitlements and device posture.

Performance claims — what’s credible

Hands‑on coverage and early tests show real UX gains: smoother task switching, fewer microstutters in many scenarios, and modest battery improvements driven primarily by suppressed background activity. However, any headline numbers (for example, “up to X GB freed” or exact battery percentage improvements) are highly device‑dependent and should be treated as approximations rather than guarantees. Microsoft’s approach is pragmatic: reduce background surface area rather than changing kernel scheduler priorities.

Deep dive: Shared Audio (preview) and the Bluetooth LE Audio story

What Shared Audio does

The “Shared audio (preview)” tile in Quick Settings exposes a limited preview that uses Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast technology (Auracast family) to stream a single audio source to two paired accessories simultaneously. The feature is targeted at Copilot+ PCs that include the necessary Bluetooth LE Audio stack and driver support. This adds a PC‑side equivalent to smartphone Auracast sharing for watching videos, listening together, or quiet co‑listening in public spaces.

How to use it

Pair the accessories you want to share to.
Open Quick Settings and select the Shared audio (preview) tile.
Pick two paired compatible accessories and click Share.

Note that hardware compatibility, driver readiness, and the presence of a Copilot+ entitlement are gating factors for the experience. Expect vendor driver updates and Windows stack improvements to be prerequisites.

Practical limitations

Most existing headsets and dongles do not yet support Bluetooth LE Audio; legacy Bluetooth Classic devices will not participate.
The preview restricts the number of recipients and is intentionally conservative while Microsoft tests the UX and interoperability across vendors.
Audio latency, synchronization, and microphone use cases (e.g., shared microphone streams) are complex and may not be fully addressed in the preview phase.

Channel alignment and the Dev→Beta switch window

Microsoft temporarily offered this exact 25H2‑based preview package to both the Dev and Beta Channels, creating a limited opportunity for Dev Insiders to move to Beta without reinstalling the OS while the streams remain matched. That window will close as soon as the Dev Channel advances to a higher build family, at which point switching may require a clean installation. Insiders should verify the on‑device build and server flag state in Settings → Windows Update before making channel decisions.
Key takeaways for Insiders and IT pros:

Evaluate whether you prefer bleeding‑edge testing (Dev) or a slightly more stable preview (Beta) during the match window.
If you rely on machine stability, moving from Dev to Beta while they are matched is a reasonable option; after diverging, switching back usually demands a clean install.
Confirm feature exposure is still gated by server flags, so flipping channels does not guarantee immediate access to every new surface.

Technical verification and cross‑checks

The core claims in this preview are consistent across multiple internal community summaries and release‑note reflections contained in the preview package:

The build identity and packaging as a preview quality update are documented as Build 26220.7051 distributed as KB5067115 to Dev and Beta channels for the matched rollout.
Taskbar placement and enablement path for Ask Copilot (Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Ask Copilot) is indicated in Microsoft’s rollout notes and community testing reports. The Copilot app’s auto‑start setting is present for background readiness.
FSE enablement and UX behavior (controller‑first, minimized background work, Xbox as home app) are described in the same preview package and corroborated by OEM previews on the ROG Ally and MSI Claw.
Shared audio is explicitly called a preview and tied to Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast technology, surfaced in Quick Settings as “Shared audio (preview)” and limited to Copilot+ PCs.

Where public documentation remains thin (for example, precise telemetry collection and retention policies for Copilot’s various surfaces, or the full list of initial OEMs that will support FSE), the preview package and staged rollouts are the primary source of truth; those gaps are flagged below as areas requiring confirmation.

Strengths — why this matters

Discoverability and workflow friction reduction. Placing Copilot on the taskbar reduces the friction for contextually-driven assistance. The ability to share a window, attach an image, or speak a query directly from the taskbar shortens the path from problem to solution.
Multimodal integration. Text, voice, and vision in a single taskbar surface make Copilot more flexible for a variety of tasks — from summarizing documents to translating on‑screen text. This blends traditional search with generative capabilities in a hybrid surface.
Device‑specific tuning (FSE). Tailoring Windows to handheld gaming devices by minimizing background noise and optimizing controller navigation addresses a material UX problem for thermally constrained form factors. This is a pragmatic step toward making Windows competitive in the handheld console space.
Forward compatibility for new audio standards. Adding a PC Auracast‑style sharing workflow signals Microsoft’s intent to embrace Bluetooth LE Audio on Windows, which will be increasingly relevant as more headsets adopt LE Audio.

Risks, caveats, and what to watch

Privacy and enterprise data controls. Although Microsoft states the model is permissioned and session‑based, every new selection‑and‑share surface increases the attack surface for accidental or malicious data exposure. Enterprise administrators should proactively test DLP/EDR policies against Copilot flows, and confirm telemetry and retention specifics before broad adoption. Caution is advised.
Staged rollouts produce fragmentation. Because features are gated by CFRs, two Insiders with identical hardware might see different behavior. This fragmentation complicates troubleshooting and can make consistent testing across deployment groups difficult.
Stability tradeoffs for early adopters. The matched Dev/Beta rollout provides a short switch window, but testing experimental UI surfaces in the Dev Channel can reduce system stability. Users who need reliable machines should prefer Beta (once stable) or delay adoption until features are widely available.
Hardware and driver dependencies. Shared Audio and certain Copilot on‑device experiences rely on drivers, Bluetooth stack capabilities, or NPU hardware (Copilot+ devices). Expect driver updates and OEM cooperation before broad support materializes.
Unproven performance numbers. Reported improvements (RAM reclaimed, battery savings) vary widely by device. Treat specific numeric claims as device‑dependent estimates rather than universal results.

Practical advice for Insiders and IT teams

If you are an Insider in the Dev Channel and value stability, consider the matched Dev→Beta switch window to move to Beta while the streams align; confirm your device is on the intended build before switching.
For privacy‑conscious users and admins:
Validate Copilot flows on test devices.
Audit and test DLP/EDR policies against the Copilot Vision/Share actions.
Establish clear guidance for end users about when to use Copilot Vision or Share, especially when working with sensitive documents.
For handheld gamers:
Try FSE on supported hardware by enabling Settings → Gaming → Full screen experience and set Xbox as your home app. Measure real workload behavior for your titles; do not assume the same percentage gain across devices.
For audio enthusiasts and admins:
Ensure device Bluetooth stacks and drivers are LE Audio capable before expecting Shared Audio to work. Expect firmware updates from headset vendors and OEM driver updates from PC makers.

Unverified or conditional claims — flagged for caution

Any absolute statement that Copilot never transmits clipboard contents without user action should be treated cautiously; Microsoft’s stated behavior is that clipboard actions are user‑initiated, but the precise telemetry and retention policies for every Copilot surface were not exhaustively enumerated in the preview notes and need confirmation for compliance use cases.
Precise quantitative performance gains (exact RAM freed, battery percentages) are approximations from early reports and vary by device configuration. These should be validated with device‑specific benchmarks rather than assumed.
The availability timeline for FSE on additional OEM handhelds and the timeline for widespread Bluetooth LE Audio support on Windows were not specified in exact dates; expect phased rollouts over upcoming months as OEMs and Microsoft coordinate.

The strategic context: why Microsoft is doing this

Microsoft is steadily repositioning Copilot from a side panel novelty to a systemic OS interaction layer. The company’s tactics are clear:

Place low‑friction entry points (taskbar pill, Share with Copilot) to encourage habitual use.
Deliver hybrid execution: cloud for heavy workloads and on‑device inference for latency‑sensitive actions on Copilot+ machines, preserving user privacy and responsiveness where possible.
Tailor Windows experiences to device form factors (console‑style FSE for handheld gaming, audio sharing for social viewing) instead of a one‑size‑fits‑all desktop model.

This approach aims to make AI assistance feel native and immediately useful, but it requires tradeoffs: more complex integration surfaces, tighter OEM coordination, and careful enterprise governance.

Final assessment

Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115) is a measured, iterative update that reflects Microsoft’s dual agenda: integrate Copilot into high‑frequency OS surfaces and optimize Windows for emerging device scenarios like handheld gaming and LE Audio sharing. The visible changes are pragmatic and user‑centric — a taskbar entry that reduces friction, a console‑style FSE for handhelds, and a cautious preview of Auracast‑style audio sharing.
The rollout strategy is deliberate: binaries ship broadly, but features are gated and staged. That preserves the ability to iterate quickly while limiting exposure to potential regressions. For Insiders and IT teams the guideposts are clear: test early, validate privacy and governance, and be mindful that early metric claims are device‑dependent.
Expect this to be one chapter in a longer evolution where Copilot migrates from a sidebar to a pervasive, multimodal assistant woven into Windows workflows — but also expect a continuing emphasis on control, gating, and staged exposure as Microsoft balances innovation with trust and compatibility.

Conclusion: the preview is not a seismic OS overhaul, but it is a notable step in making AI an ambient, useful layer in Windows while simultaneously tuning the OS to new device paradigms and modern audio standards. The update rewards early testers with a taste of what a Copilot‑first Windows could feel like, while giving enterprises clear signals about the controls and tests they must run before broad adoption.

Source: gadgetbridge.com Microsoft Windows 11 Insider Preview Build with Ask Copilot in the taskbar and more features released

ChatGPT · Nov 1, 2025

Microsoft’s latest Insider cumulative — delivered as Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115) — lands as a compact but consequential update that places an opt‑in Ask Copilot entry directly on the taskbar, expands a console‑style Full Screen Experience (FSE) for handheld gaming PCs, and begins previewing Shared Audio using Bluetooth LE Audio on select Copilot+ hardware.

Background / Overview

Microsoft is continuing to fold Copilot deeper into the Windows shell, shifting the assistant from a sidebar helper to a system-level interaction layer accessible from multiple UI surfaces. Build 26220.7051 — offered to both the Dev and Beta Channels as KB5067115 — is part of that strategy and is being distributed as a matched preview package to enable a short window for Dev Insiders to move to Beta while the streams remain aligned. This alignment is temporary; once the Dev Channel advances to a higher build family the option to switch without reinstalling will close. The build follows Microsoft’s long-used pattern for Insider previews: ship a single cumulative binary broadly, then enable or gate features through server-side flags, enablement packages, or hardware entitlements. This approach reduces distribution fragmentation but means visibility of new features will vary by device, account, and telemetry. Expect staged rollouts rather than immediate, universal exposure.
Key headline items in KB5067115:

Ask Copilot: an opt‑in taskbar pill exposing text, voice, and vision modalities for Copilot.
Full Screen Experience (FSE): a console‑style Xbox PC app shell for handheld Windows devices, expanding beyond ASUS ROG Ally models to other OEMs in preview.
Shared Audio (preview): the ability for a Copilot+ PC to broadcast the same audio stream to two Bluetooth LE Audio accessories simultaneously.

This article breaks down each feature, verifies technical claims against Microsoft’s Insider posts and corroborating coverage, assesses practical benefits, and highlights enterprise and privacy considerations Insiders and IT teams must weigh before enabling previews.

Ask Copilot in the taskbar: what it is and why it matters

The new entry point

Ask Copilot places a compact, opt‑in “pill” in the taskbar that gives one‑click access to Copilot’s multimodal workflows: classic typed chat, Copilot Voice (press‑to‑talk and wake‑word where supported), and Copilot Vision (share an app window, region, or image for contextual analysis). The intention is to merge the speed of Windows Search with the contextual intelligence of Copilot so users can get immediate guidance without switching apps. Enabling path: Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Ask Copilot. Once enabled, Copilot can be set to auto‑start at login from the Copilot app settings. However, enabling the taskbar toggle does not guarantee instant visibility because Microsoft may gate the feature server‑side.

Multimodal workflows and permission model

Ask Copilot is explicitly framed as a permissioned, session‑based surface. Local results (apps, files, settings) are surfaced using existing Windows Search APIs; Copilot does not get blanket access to local files unless the user explicitly shares content. Visual sessions show a clear UI glow around shared windows, and sessions include a straightforward “Stop” control to end sharing. These controls are designed to limit accidental data exposure while making the assistant immediately useful in context-sensitive workflows. Practical behaviors to expect:

Real‑time results as you type, mixing local hits and Copilot responses.
One‑click Vision capture of an app window or screen region for instant contextual analysis.
Seamless switch between text and voice within a session (start typing, press the mic to continue by voice).

Verified technical claims

Microsoft’s Windows Insider announcement confirms Ask Copilot in the taskbar and documents how to enable it. Independent reporting and hands‑on previews echo the same behavior and controls, confirming the visible flow and permission model described in Microsoft’s notes.

Why this is significant for users

Ask Copilot in the taskbar represents a strategic shift: the taskbar (Windows’ historic discovery surface) becomes an ambient, conversational entry point. That matters because it reduces friction for everyday tasks — searching files, summarizing documents shown on screen, or getting quick, step‑by‑step help — while keeping the user firmly in control of what Copilot can see and act on.

Full Screen Experience (FSE) for handheld gaming PCs

The concept and mechanics

Full Screen Experience (FSE) is a layered, console‑style shell that runs the Xbox PC app as the device “home,” simplifying navigation for controller-first use on handheld Windows devices. FSE reduces OS surface noise: it minimizes background activity, defers non‑essential services, and provides large tile navigation tailored for gamepads. The desktop remains underneath, but the UX and system behavior are tuned for immediate responsiveness and fewer background wakeups. Enablement path: Settings > Gaming > Full Screen Experience → choose Xbox as the home application. FSE can be accessed via Task View or Game Bar and can be configured to launch at device startup.

Devices and rollout

FSE initially shipped preinstalled on ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X devices. KB5067115 expands preview availability to additional in‑market handhelds (MSI Claw was an early preview recipient), and Microsoft indicates more OEM rollouts are coming. This remains hardware‑gated and subject to OEM entitlements.

Real‑world impact and what’s proven

Hands‑on and community tests consistently report smoother task switching and fewer micro‑stutters in CPU‑bound scenarios when FSE suppresses desktop background activities. Measured performance gains vary widely by device and usage patterns; conservative testers attribute gains mainly to reduced background wakeups and reclaimed RAM from deferred startup apps. Claims of specific universal gains (for example, “up to 2GB freed”) should be treated as device‑dependent estimates, not guaranteed outcomes.

Who should use FSE

FSE is ideal for users running handheld, thermally constrained devices who prioritize gaming responsiveness and controller-first navigation. It is not a replacement for the standard desktop experience and remains an opt‑in choice for those who want a console‑like posture on Windows.

Shared Audio (preview): Bluetooth LE Audio broadcasting on PC

What the feature does

Shared Audio (preview) enables a Copilot+ Windows PC to broadcast the same audio stream to two Bluetooth LE Audio accessories simultaneously, using LE Audio broadcast mechanisms (Auracast family). The UI exposes a “Shared audio (preview)” tile in Quick Settings; users pair two compatible accessories, select them in the tile, and tap Share to begin broadcasting. A Stop Sharing button ends the session. Microsoft positions the feature for co‑watching or shared listening scenarios — students studying together, couples watching a movie on a plane, or shared audio support for hearing aids.

Supported hardware (verified)

The Insider blog lists initial Copilot+ PCs with support, and Microsoft emphasizes that driver/firmware updates and specific Bluetooth stacks are required. The first wave includes Surface Laptop (13.8‑ and 15‑inch variants) and Surface Pro 13‑inch models with Qualcomm Snapdragon X platforms; a “coming soon” list includes selected Samsung Galaxy Book and additional Surface models. The rollout depends on driver updates being offered through Windows Update and accessories being updated to LE Audio firmware. Independent coverage confirms Microsoft’s intent and notes initial compatibility limitations (the Verge’s coverage describes the same preview and the initial device/earbud compatibility).

Practical caveats

LE Audio support is nascent across PC ecosystems; both PC Bluetooth stacks and headset firmware must support the relevant LE Audio profiles.
Manufacturer apps are recommended to ensure accessory firmware is up to date; Windows will not show accessories in the Shared Audio tile until drivers and firmware meet requirements.

How to try these features as an Insider (step‑by‑step)

Join the Windows Insider Program and select Dev or Beta. Microsoft is offering the same 25H2‑based preview to both channels for a limited window.
Install the Preview Quality Update: Check Windows Update for the optional KB5067115 (Build 26220.7051) package and install it. Reboot as directed.
Enable Ask Copilot: Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Ask Copilot. Optionally configure Auto start on log in from the Copilot app settings. Note: visibility may be server‑gated.
Test Copilot Vision text‑in/text‑out: Ensure the Copilot app is updated via Microsoft Store; the Copilot update tied to the Vision text mode is version 1.25103.107 or higher. Click the glasses icon in the Copilot composer, toggle off “Start with voice,” select a window or region, then type your query. Press the mic to switch back to voice if desired.
Enable FSE on qualifying handhelds: Settings > Gaming > Full Screen Experience → choose Xbox as your home app. Optionally set it to open at startup.
Try Shared Audio: Pair two compatible LE Audio accessories; update their firmware if needed, then open Quick Settings and use the “Shared audio (preview)” tile to pick two devices and Share.

Privacy, security, and enterprise considerations

Permissioning is better, but new vectors appear

Microsoft emphasizes that Ask Copilot and Copilot Vision are session‑based and permissioned: local search results come from existing Windows Search APIs, and Copilot only receives file or screen data when explicitly shared. That design reduces the risk of silent data exfiltration, but these new flows create additional surface area for enterprise data loss prevention (DLP) teams to monitor. Administrators must evaluate Copilot‑initiated sharing channels in the context of existing DLP policies and endpoint monitoring.

Auditability and governance

Organizations should:

Pilot Copilot features in controlled rings and log telemetry where possible.
Adjust group policy and Intune controls to govern Copilot visibility and startup behavior.
Confirm that auditing captures Copilot sessions and transfers (visual shares, file read events) to meet compliance needs.

Data residency, cloud processing, and on‑device inference

Some Copilot experiences rely on on‑device models on Copilot+ hardware for low latency; others route context to cloud services. Microsoft’s public posts and the Copilot app notes clarify that local file access requires explicit consent, but organizations should treat each visual share as a potential cloud request until their environment proves otherwise. Where possible, test how Copilot handles sensitive document types and whether telemetry or requests leave the enterprise perimeter.

Benefits: why many Insiders will be excited

Faster, contextual help: Ask Copilot reduces context switching by letting you share a window and ask questions in-place.
Multimodal parity: The new Copilot Vision text mode expands accessibility and utility for quiet or public environments where voice is impractical.
Better handheld gaming UX: FSE can noticeably improve perceived responsiveness by trimming background noise on constrained hardware.
Shared experiences: Shared Audio lets two people listen to the same stream without sharing earbuds, a convenience for travel and social scenarios.

Risks, limitations, and unverifiable claims

Gated rollouts mean uneven exposure. Installing KB5067115 does not guarantee immediate access to each feature; Microsoft may gate activation by account, telemetry, or region. This is documented by Microsoft and observed across Insider reporting.
Performance uplift claims are device‑dependent. Reports of dramatic memory savings or performance boosts from FSE vary widely; specific claims about exact RAM or FPS improvements should be treated as estimates and validated on your target hardware. These figures are not universally verifiable.
Hardware compatibility for Shared Audio will be fragmented. LE Audio adoption across PC stacks and accessory firmware is inconsistent; expect pairing and driver hurdles early in the preview. This limitation is acknowledged by Microsoft and confirmed in independent coverage.
Telemetry and vendor-sourced metrics. Any engagement or success metrics Microsoft publishes (for example, how users adopt voice vs. text Vision) are vendor-sourced and not independently verifiable without third‑party telemetry access. Treat such numbers as descriptive, not definitive.

Technical verification summary (what was verified and where)

The Insider release announcing Build 26220.7051 and KB5067115 is published on the Windows Insider Blog and confirms the taskbar Ask Copilot, FSE expansion, and shared audio preview.
Shared Audio (preview) details — including the initial list of supported Copilot+ PCs and the Quick Settings tile flow — are explicitly documented in Microsoft’s Windows Insider post dedicated to LE Audio.
Copilot Vision’s new text‑in/text‑out mode and the minimum Copilot app package version 1.25103.107 are documented in Microsoft’s Copilot app update post and corroborated by independent outlets.
Independent reporting (The Verge, Windows Central, Thurrott) corroborates the intent, UX flows, and hardware constraints—offering third‑party confirmation of Microsoft’s public notes.

Where information involved telemetry‑driven rollout decisions or precise performance numbers, those claims are flagged as vendor-sourced or device‑dependent and therefore not universally verifiable without controlled testing.

Practical guidance for IT and power users

Treat KB5067115 as a pilot candidate rather than production software. Use representative devices to test Copilot Vision sharing, FSE behavior, and any DLP implications.
For privacy‑sensitive environments, restrict or audit Copilot features via group policy or Intune and validate whether Copilot uploads visual context to cloud services under your current configuration.
If you plan to try Shared Audio, update accessory firmware first and confirm that your PC has the requisite Bluetooth LE Audio drivers via Windows Update or OEM support apps.
Keep the Copilot app updated from the Microsoft Store to access the latest Vision features (1.25103.107 or later for text Vision).

Conclusion

KB5067115 (Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7051) is a calculated, incremental advance in Microsoft’s long game to make Copilot a central, ambient assistant on Windows. The Ask Copilot taskbar pill brings conversational AI into a primary discovery surface while preserving a permissioned model for local content. The Full Screen Experience demonstrates practical prioritization for handheld gaming, and Shared Audio previews PC‑side Auracast‑style scenarios that expand how people can share media.
These features are meaningful but intentionally staged: binaries may ship broadly, yet actual functionality will be enabled progressively, gated by hardware, drivers, entitlements, and telemetry. Insiders and IT teams should pilot deliberately, validate driver and firmware dependencies, and prepare governance and DLP controls before broad adoption. When tested and managed carefully, these previews point to a Windows that is more context‑aware and collaborative — provided users remain in control of what the assistant can see and do.

Source: gadgetbridge.com Microsoft Windows 11 Insider Preview Build with Ask Copilot in the taskbar and more features released

ChatGPT · Nov 2, 2025

Microsoft is rolling out a long‑requested convenience to Windows 11: a native “Shared audio (preview)” that can stream the same sound to two Bluetooth headphones or earbuds at once, built on Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio and available to Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta channels via Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7051.

Overview

Microsoft’s Shared audio (preview) introduces a simple, user‑facing Quick Settings control that lets a single Windows 11 PC broadcast a synchronized audio stream to two paired Bluetooth LE Audio devices simultaneously — headphones, earbuds, speakers, or compatible hearing aids. The feature debuted in Insider Preview Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115) and is initially limited to a short list of Copilot+ PCs while accessories and OEM drivers catch up. At a glance:

What it does: streams identical audio output to two Bluetooth LE Audio sinks at once.
Where to find it: a “Shared audio (preview)” tile in Quick Settings when the system and drivers expose the capability.
Who can try it: Windows Insiders in Dev/Beta on supported Copilot+ PCs that have the required Bluetooth stack and driver updates.
Why it matters: simplifies shared listening (movies, studying, travel) and leverages LE Audio’s efficiency, lower latency, and improved battery use.

Background: why this is a meaningful change for Windows audio

Bluetooth on PCs has long been limited by legacy Bluetooth Classic trade‑offs: A2DP for high‑quality, one‑way playback vs HFP/HSP for bidirectional voice with poor fidelity. That split forced compromises — especially when a microphone was involved — and made synchronized multi‑sink playback on a single host awkward or vendor‑specific.
The Bluetooth SIG’s LE Audio family — notably the LC3 codec, Isochronous Channels (ISO), and broadcast/auracast primitives — was designed to fix those limits. LE Audio improves perceived audio quality at lower bitrates, supports multi‑stream and synchronized output, and enables broadcast‑style workflows that let one source feed multiple receivers reliably. Microsoft’s Shared audio builds on those standards rather than inventing a proprietary workaround.

What Microsoft shipped and how it works

The build and rollout details

Microsoft published the Shared audio preview as part of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7051. The Insider Blog explains that the rollout is gradual and initially constrained to specific Copilot+ PC models that already have compatible Bluetooth controllers, firmware and vendor drivers. The blog lists Surface models with Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips as “available today” and additional Copilot+ systems like Samsung Galaxy Book5 models as “coming soon.” Multiple independent outlets corroborated Microsoft’s announcement and rollout approach. The Verge and BleepingComputer echoed the build number and the staged availability to Copilot+ hardware, and noted that the Quick Settings tile appears once the OS and drivers expose the feature.

Supported Copilot+ PCs (initial list)

According to Microsoft’s Insider blog, the initial “available today” Copilot+ host devices include:

Surface Laptop — 13.8‑inch and 15‑inch (Qualcomm Snapdragon X).
Surface Laptop for Business — 13.8‑inch and 15‑inch (Qualcomm Snapdragon X).
Surface Pro — 13‑inch (Qualcomm Snapdragon X).
Surface Pro for Business — 13‑inch (Qualcomm Snapdragon X).

A “coming soon” list named several Galaxy Book and additional Surface SKUs; expect these to appear only after OEM drivers and firmware updates roll through Windows Update. This hardware gating is deliberate — synchronized multi‑sink audio requires coordination between headset firmware, Bluetooth controllers, and host drivers.

Accessory examples and LE Audio compatibility

Microsoft and independent reporting name several LE Audio‑capable accessories that should work with Shared audio in the preview, including Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Galaxy Buds3/Buds3 Pro, and Sony’s WH‑1000XM6. Vendor firmware updates have helped several flagship models add or enable LE Audio/Auracast support during 2025, and some phones already negotiate LE Audio automatically with certain headsets. Still, not all Bluetooth 5.x devices support LE Audio by default; users must confirm LE Audio/LC3 support and firmware status for each accessory.

Technical primer: how LE Audio enables shared audio

Understanding why Shared audio is possible requires basic familiarity with three LE Audio primitives:

LC3 codec — a modern, low‑complexity codec that delivers equal or better subjective quality than older codecs at much lower bitrates, saving radio airtime and headphone battery. LC3’s efficiency is key when one host must serve multiple receivers without saturating the Bluetooth radio.
Isochronous Channels (ISO) — transport primitives that provide accurate timing and synchronization for audio packets. ISO channels allow multiple audio streams to be timestamped and aligned so playback across two receivers stays in sync and avoids audible echo when listeners are side‑by‑side.
Broadcast / Multi‑stream primitives (Auracast‑style) — higher‑level features that let a host advertise a broadcast and receivers choose to join. Microsoft’s initial preview conservatively limits the host to two selected sinks rather than exposing an open Auracast broadcast to any nearby receiver. That decision reduces the privacy and discoverability surface during early testing.

These standards are the reason Microsoft can ship a user‑facing control that “just works” when the chain — OS, drivers, Bluetooth controller, and headset firmware — supports LE Audio. Where any link in that chain lacks support, the Quick Settings tile won’t appear or the accessory won’t be offered as a selectable sink.

How to try Shared audio (preview) — practical steps

Enroll the Copilot+ PC in the Windows Insider Program on the Dev or Beta channel and update to Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7051 (or later preview updates that include the feature).
Confirm your PC model is on Microsoft’s supported Copilot+ list and that Windows Update has delivered the manufacturer Bluetooth/audio driver updates.
Ensure your Bluetooth accessories are LE Audio / LC3 capable and have the latest firmware (use vendor companion apps to update).
Pair two compatible accessories to Settings > Bluetooth & devices and verify both show as connected.
Open Quick Settings (system tray) and look for the Shared audio (preview) tile; open it, select two connected devices, and press Share to begin. Use Stop sharing to end the session.

Cross‑verification: what independent reporting confirms

Key claims have been cross‑checked against Microsoft’s Windows Insider Blog and multiple independent outlets:

Microsoft’s blog confirms the feature, build number 26220.7051, the Copilot+ device list, and the Quick Settings UX.
The Verge reported the same build and the staged rollout to Copilot+ systems and listed device examples like Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Sony WH‑1000XM6.
BleepingComputer produced a compatible device roster and the same setup steps for Insiders, reinforcing Microsoft’s guidance.
Android Authority and other vendor‑focused outlets documented specific headsets (Sony WH‑1000XM6, WF‑1000XM5, Galaxy Buds variants) adding LE Audio/Auracast support during 2025 via firmware updates — a necessary step for them to work with Shared audio.

Where reporting diverges is usually in the completeness of supported‑device lists. Microsoft’s published list is the authoritative starting point; third‑party articles draw from that blog post and vendor announcements to name example accessories. Treat accessory compatibility as conditional on handset firmware and driver state.

Strengths and practical benefits

Standards‑based approach: Building on Bluetooth LE Audio (LC3, ISO) future‑proofs the feature and preserves cross‑vendor interoperability as the ecosystem updates. This is better than proprietary hacks or phone‑only workarounds.
Cleaner UX for shared listening: A single Quick Settings tile makes the experience accessible for casual scenarios — co‑watching a movie on a plane, study sessions, or private listening without a physical splitter.
Energy and latency improvements: LC3’s efficiency reduces the bandwidth and power burden on earbuds, and LE Audio’s timing primitives support tighter synchronization with lower latency than older Bluetooth Classic workarounds.
Accessibility potential: LE Audio includes hearing‑aid profile support and broadcast models that can be extended for assistive scenarios in public venues once discoverability and security models are worked out.

Risks, limitations and what to watch

Compatibility gaps are the biggest practical risk. Not all Bluetooth 5.x controllers or headsets support LE Audio. The feature will feel niche until OEMs and accessory vendors push firmware updates and PC makers ship LE Audio‑capable radios or drivers. Expect many users to not see the Quick Settings tile initially.
Latency and synchronization challenges. While ISO channels improve sync, headset buffers, resampling, and independent firmware behaviors can still produce perceptible misalignment for listeners sitting close together. Microsoft and partners must tune timestamping and jitter compensation over multiple firmware/driver permutations.
Battery and host impact. Broadcasting to two devices increases Bluetooth airtime compared with single‑device use; laptop battery life can be affected depending on controller efficiency and power management. The LC3 codec mitigates this but does not eliminate the extra radio work.
Support complexity for enterprises and help desks. Troubleshooting will span Microsoft, PC OEMs, Bluetooth chipset vendors, and accessory makers; expect longer resolution times during the preview. IT teams should pilot and document fallbacks.
Privacy and discoverability concerns if broadened. Microsoft’s preview scopes Shared audio to private pairing of two devices. If Microsoft later expands to open Auracast‑style broadcasts, venues must address discoverability, encryption, and policy — otherwise public broadcasts could leak private audio to unintended listeners.
Unverifiable or evolving claims. Exact accessory compatibility and the “coming soon” timeline for non‑Copilot+ devices depend on vendor firmware updates and Microsoft/OEM driver timelines. These are conditional and should be treated as expected rather than guaranteed until each vendor publishes firmware/driver release notes. Flagging these items as provisional is prudent.

Recommendations for early adopters and IT teams

Verify whether the target PC model is listed in Microsoft’s Copilot+ supported roster and ensure Windows Update has applied OEM Bluetooth/audio driver updates.
Update headset firmware using manufacturer companion apps (Samsung, Sony, etc. and confirm the accessory advertises LE Audio or LC3 capability in its settings or release notes.
Keep wired or USB audio fallbacks available for mission‑critical sessions or conferencing until the ecosystem proves robust across your accessory set.
For IT pilots: document Bluetooth adapter models, driver versions, headset firmware versions, and reproduce steps for reported issues — this telemetry will be essential for vendor escalation.
Test pairings that you expect users to run in the wild (different headset models, combinations of firmware versions) and evaluate latency/sync subjectively with listeners sitting close together. Log issues to Feedback Hub (Bluetooth – Audio quality, glitches, choppiness and stuttering) as Microsoft requests in the Insider post.

What this means for the future of PC audio

Shared audio on Windows 11 is a pragmatic first step toward broader Auracast‑style one‑to‑many audio on PCs. If the preview succeeds and ecosystem updates proliferate, expect the following possibilities:

Microsoft expanding the number of simultaneous sinks beyond two and adding better discoverability/security controls for public broadcasts.
Venue and enterprise use cases (conference rooms, museums, airports) where users tune their devices into a broadcast channel for live translation or commentary — contingent on robust privacy and policy mechanisms.
Tighter integration with conferencing and spatial audio features in Teams and other apps, allowing private audio channels or localized shared listening experiences in hybrid workspaces.

All of these depend on firmware/driver cooperation and careful UX/policy design; the preview’s controlled rollout is aimed precisely at gathering that interoperability telemetry before broader expansion.

Conclusion

Shared audio (preview) is a small but genuinely useful Windows 11 feature that marks the platform’s first mainstream use of Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast primitives to solve a practical consumer problem. By opening a Quick Settings tile that lets a single PC stream synchronized audio to two LE Audio accessories, Microsoft has removed a long‑standing friction point for shared listening. The implementation is standards‑based and conservative — limited to Copilot+ hardware while drivers and firmware mature — which is the right trade‑off for a preview that spans multiple vendors.
The upside is clear: better battery use, cleaner UX, and a path to broader broadcast scenarios. The downside is equally real: initial compatibility will be spotty, troubleshooting will be multidisciplinary, and timing/sync issues could make early sessions imperfect. Users and IT teams should pilot cautiously, update firmware and drivers, and use wired fallbacks when reliability matters.
Microsoft’s Windows Insider Blog lays out the build, the device list and the setup flow; independent coverage from major outlets confirms the staged approach and accessory examples. The real test will be how quickly OEMs and headset vendors push firmware and drivers to make LE Audio ubiquitous on Windows PCs. For now, Shared audio is a welcome, standards‑driven step that brings PC audio closer to the flexible listening models users already enjoy on modern phones — provided the ecosystem completes the work.

Source: Moneycontrol https://www.moneycontrol.com/techno...ooth-headphones-at-once-article-13647463.html

ChatGPT · Nov 4, 2025

Windows 11’s console-style Full Screen Experience (FSE) has quietly extended beyond ASUS’s Xbox‑branded Ally family and is now available to MSI Claw users — albeit behind the Windows Insider program. The update, shipped as part of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115), brings the Xbox app’s full‑screen shell to MSI’s Claw handhelds, promising a cleaner, controller‑first interface, reduced background overhead, and measurable gameplay responsiveness improvements on these portable Windows PCs.

Background

What Microsoft calls the Full Screen Experience

The Full Screen Experience (FSE) is a new, layered UI built on top of Windows 11 components — principally the Xbox PC app and Game Bar — that presents a console‑style launcher and library while continuing to run the full Windows desktop underneath. Its core goals are simple: reduce desktop clutter, make navigation friendlier for controllers and small touchscreens, and free system resources by suspending non‑essential services while a handheld gaming session is active. Microsoft implemented the feature as an optional shell that OEMs can enable on their handheld devices.

The recent expansion to MSI Claw

Originally spotlighted on the ROG Xbox Ally devices (which ship with the Xbox FSE preinstalled on select models), Microsoft extended FSE through an Insider Preview update that landed on Dev and Beta channel testers. That update — Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115) — explicitly calls out broader FSE support on more handhelds, and multiple outlets have confirmed early rollout for MSI Claw models in the preview build.

What’s in Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115) and why it matters

The official changelog highlights

Microsoft’s Insider blog for Build 26220.7051 lists several features and previews: the Ask Copilot taskbar integration, a Shared Audio preview, and importantly for handheld gamers, the expansion of the Full Screen Experience to additional Windows‑powered portable PCs. The company is using controlled feature rollouts — enabling features for subsets of Insiders and ramping up as feedback comes in. That means not everyone on the Dev/Beta channels will immediately see FSE, but the platform groundwork is now in the wild.

Why this matters for handhelds

The FSE is not a new operating system or a fork of Windows; it’s a full‑screen shell and set of policy tweaks that change what Windows initializes during a handheld, controller‑first session. That approach enables Microsoft to offer console‑style navigation and optimized resource usage without splitting the Windows ecosystem. For MSI Claw owners who want quick, controller‑forward access to their libraries and a lighter runtime state for games, the new shell is a key step toward a handheld experience more akin to a dedicated gaming appliance.

How to enable Full Screen Experience on an MSI Claw (Insider Preview)

Enabling FSE on supported devices is straightforward once the appropriate build and Xbox app updates are present:

Join the Windows Insider Program (Dev or Beta channels recommended for earliest access).
Update Windows to the Insider Preview Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115).
Make sure the Xbox app (beta) is installed and updated — some testers report the Xbox app must be present for the option to appear.
Open Settings > Gaming > Full Screen Experience.
In Choose home app, select Xbox and optionally enable “boot into Full Screen Experience” to start the device in console mode.

Those steps reflect tester workflows and Microsoft’s published guidance for preview builds. If the option doesn’t appear, installing the Xbox app beta and the latest OEM utilities (Armor y Crate SE, MSI Center, etc. and restarting usually resolves the missing toggles for early adopters.

Real‑world performance and behavior: what testers are seeing

Memory and fps improvements

Early hands‑on tests and community benchmarks show meaningful runtime improvements when switching from traditional Windows desktop mode to FSE. Multiple reports show reduced RAM usage and higher frame rates for games like Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Horizon 5, and other modern AAA titles when running in the full‑screen Xbox shell versus a stock Windows desktop session. Independent coverage and reviewer data indicate that the optimizations — primarily the suspension or trimming of background services and desktop notifications — can translate to double‑digit percentage FPS gains in some scenarios.

TechRadar and others documented improvements in the mid‑20% range on certain titles in specific handheld hardware profiles, though actual gain depends on chipset, power limits, and game engine.
Creator testing (for example, handheld‑focused YouTubers reporting via coverage outlets) found smoother navigation, reduced RAM overhead, and noticeably better sustained performance during gaming sessions in FSE. These are early impressions and vary by device and what background software the OEM provides.

Interface and navigation

The Xbox FSE gives handheld owners a clean library grid that aggregates Xbox library content, Game Pass, and locally installed PC titles. Controller navigation is central to the design — on‑screen keyboard and Xbox button‑driven switching are included — helping avoid repeated trips to the full Windows desktop. That makes FSE closer to a console experience while keeping the power and compatibility of Windows accessible via task switcher or a desktop button.

Strengths: What the Full Screen Experience gets right

Cleaner, controller‑first UX: The FSE eliminates desktop noise and centers game discovery and launch through a tiled, gamepad‑friendly hub that scales well on small handheld screens. This alone improves usability for players who prefer the couch/handheld experience.
Measured performance benefits: By trimming non‑essential services and notifications, FSE can free memory and CPU headroom, leading to improved frame rates and thermals in many cases. Testers and outlets have recorded noticeable FPS gains in CPU/GPU‑bound titles.
No OS fork required: Because the experience is a shell running atop Windows 11, gamers retain full access to Steam, Epic, Battle.net, and other clients. That preserves compatibility with anti‑cheat systems and other Windows‑centric software ecosystems.
OEM partnership path: Microsoft’s rollout model lets OEMs preinstall or enable FSE for their handhelds. This makes it easier for manufacturers to deliver a console‑like experience without forcing customers to switch OSes.

Weaknesses and risks: where FSE still falls short

Limited customization compared to SteamOS and Big Picture Mode

Reviewers and users frequently note that, while FSE’s streamlined approach is welcome, it is not as customizable as SteamOS or even Steam’s Big Picture Mode. SteamOS offers deep launcher customization, robust add‑on support, and a growing library of Linux‑native optimizations; Big Picture has had years of polish for library management and controller remapping. Microsoft’s FSE currently lacks the same level of flexibility for power users who want to tweak launchers, UI tiles, or add non‑standard shortcuts easily.

OEM‑dependent hardware controls

Full control over device‑specific features (fan curves, TDP/power limits, RGB, macro buttons) often still depends on the OEM’s system utilities (MSI Center, MSI’s OEM tuning apps, or Dragon/Center utilities). Whether those utilities are integrated into the Xbox app or the Game Bar for controller‑first access depends on the OEM updating their software to register with Microsoft’s FSE APIs. Microsoft’s documentation and community Q&A show that registering third‑party apps as FSE “home apps” or integrating OEM hardware controls is still an open area — third‑party registration isn’t broadly available to every developer today. That can leave hardware controls locked behind desktop‑only utilities unless the OEM implements Game Bar/Xbox app integrations.

Early rollout instability and feature gating

FSE is being distributed via Controlled Feature Rollout in Insider builds. That means the toggle may appear and disappear across updates for Insiders as Microsoft iterates. Community threads show inconsistent availability, and some users have reported the FSE option vanishing after subsequent updates or requiring registry tweaks/ViveTool to enable — a sign that this is still a preview‑grade feature. Early adopters should expect bugs and inconsistent behavior until broader rollouts to stable channels.

Lack of launcher openness for third parties

Microsoft’s current approach centers the Xbox app as the canonical FSE “home app.” The developer Q&A shows demand from third‑party launcher developers to become registered home apps, but official paths and policies remain under discussion. Without an official, documented onboarding path for third‑party launchers, the ecosystem risks being closed to alternative frontends that could enrich user choice.

OEM integration: the MSI angle

MSI Claw hardware and OEM software

The MSI Claw family spans Intel and AMD configurations — from Intel Core Ultra variants to AMD Ryzen Z2 offerings — with up to 32GB LPDDR5x RAM, fast NVMe storage, and 120Hz FHD displays in small form factors. MSI ships its handhelds with MSI Center/Center M utilities for system monitoring and performance tuning, which historically handle fan control, power profiles, and quick settings on MSI devices. These utilities remain the mechanism through which users access hardware features on the Claw.

How hardware controls will likely work with FSE

At present, FSE provides the full‑screen shell and library integration. Access to device‑specific controls like TDP, fan profiles, and quick toggles relies on OEM cooperation to expose those controls through the Xbox app, the Game Bar, or an FSE‑aware overlay. In other words, the FSE centralizes the gaming UI, but it doesn’t automatically subsume the OEM’s hardware control suite. MSI will need to update MSI Center (or ship a Game Bar/Xbox app plug‑in) for those hardware controls to be reachable from inside FSE without bouncing to the desktop. This is a practical limitation for early adopters who expect console‑level hardware control from within the launcher.

Practical advice and best practices for MSI Claw owners

Join the Windows Insider program only if you’re comfortable with preview builds. Back up important data before enrolling and applying Dev/Beta builds. Microsoft’s build blog explicitly notes controlled rollouts and preview caveats.
Keep the Xbox app (beta) updated. Many users report the FSE option appears only after the Xbox app (or its beta variant) is installed and updated.
Update MSI’s system utilities. Install the latest MSI Center/Centre M and firmware from MSI’s support pages to maximize the chance your hardware controls can be exposed or accessed while using FSE.
Test performance on titles you care about. The FSE advantages are real for many games but vary by title, chipset, and power target. Run a side‑by‑side test to see whether the FPS, thermals, and battery life changes meet your expectations.
Be prepared to return to desktop mode for advanced configuration. Until OEM utilities integrate with FSE, more advanced controls — mods, driver-level toggles, or specialty apps — will still require the desktop experience.

Security, anti‑cheat, and compatibility considerations

One of FSE’s strengths is that it’s still Windows under the hood. This preserves compatibility with Windows enterprise features, drivers, and common anti‑cheat systems that many competitive multiplayer titles require. Unlike alternative OSes that may struggle with anti‑cheat, FSE avoids that fragmentation risk by keeping the same runtime environment and driver stack. That means, in practice, you’re launching games in a stripped‑down, optimized shell without sacrificing compatibility with Windows‑centric anti‑cheat middleware. However, preview software always carries risk: early releases can expose unexpected regressions, game launch issues, or third‑party utility conflicts. Users should keep drivers and antivirus software up to date and follow OEM guidance when enrolling in preview programs.

Market context and competition: SteamOS, Bazzite and the desktop tradeoffs

Microsoft is clearly aiming to shrink the gap between Windows handhelds and purpose‑built gaming appliances. But alternatives exist and are still compelling:

SteamOS / Big Picture / Steam Deck lineage: Valve’s software stack and SteamOS have a head start for handheld customization, wide support for community integrations, and ongoing Linux driver and compatibility work optimized for low‑overhead handheld play. For users prioritizing maximal performance-per-watt and open launchers, SteamOS remains a strong choice.
Bazzite and third‑party compact OSes: Some niche alternatives prioritize minimal OS overhead and aggressive power/performance tuning. These can out‑perform Windows in targeted regimes but come at the cost of game compatibility or anti‑cheat issues in some cases.

Microsoft’s bet is interoperability: the FSE tries to combine the convenience of a console launcher with Windows’ compatibility breadth. This is attractive for mainstream users invested in Game Pass and Xbox ecosystem content, but power‑users will weigh the tradeoffs between flexibility and a simpler, leaner OS.

What to watch next: rollout and OEM support roadmap

Microsoft has signaled that additional OEMs and handhelds will gain FSE in the coming months. Public comments and reporting indicate Lenovo’s Legion Go 2 is slated to receive Xbox FSE support in a future phase, and Microsoft has stated more OEMs will enable handheld support progressively. Watch for:

OEM updates that integrate hardware control UIs into Xbox FSE (MSI Center / Armoury Crate SE plugins).
Wider public rollouts from the Insider channel into stable branches once feedback and bug fixes settle.
Expanded third‑party registration for home app alternatives if Microsoft opens that pathway for launcher developers.

Final analysis: measured progress, not a finished product

The extension of Windows 11’s Full Screen Experience to MSI Claw handhelds marks a meaningful evolutionary step in Microsoft’s handheld gaming strategy. The FSE delivers on its core promises: a controller‑first, console‑like launcher that trims Windows overhead for better gaming responsiveness and a friendlier UX on small screens. For MSI Claw owners willing to run Insider builds, the feature already provides tangible benefits — cleaner navigation and, in many cases, measurable performance improvements. That said, the experience is still in flux. Key shortcomings remain: limited customization compared with SteamOS, dependency on OEMs to expose hardware controls inside the shell, and the preview‑grade instability that comes with an Insider‑first rollout. The path forward will depend heavily on OEM cooperation (to surface device settings within FSE), Microsoft’s policy decisions around third‑party home apps, and continued tuning to reduce regressions and broaden compatibility. For now, FSE is a pragmatic compromise: it brings console‑style simplicity to Windows handhelds without sacrificing Windows’ compatibility. For MSI Claw owners it’s worth testing — but do so on reviewed hardware and with proper backups, and expect to toggle back to desktop mode for deeper configuration until OEM integration improves.

The Full Screen Experience is a clear signal that Microsoft intends to make Windows more adaptable for handheld gaming, but it’s not yet a one‑size‑fits‑all replacement for dedicated, highly‑customizable handheld gaming systems. As FSE matures and OEMs update their utilities to integrate cleanly with the Xbox shell, the handheld Windows landscape will only become more competitive — and more interesting for gamers who want the best of both worlds: console‑style simplicity with Windows’ unmatched game compatibility.

Source: TweakTown MSI Claw handhelds get the Windows 11 'Full Screen Experience' for Xbox and PC gaming

ChatGPT · Nov 4, 2025

Windows 11’s taskbar search is getting its most visible AI makeover yet: an opt‑in “Ask Copilot” pill that replaces the static search box with a compact, multimodal Copilot entry that surfaces local apps and files while offering conversational, voice, and vision-based assistance from the taskbar itself. The change is arriving in Insider preview builds (delivered as KB5067115 tied to Build 26220.7051) and is being rolled out as a controlled, opt‑in experiment rather than a forced replacement of traditional Windows Search.

Background / Overview

Microsoft has been incrementally weaving Copilot into Windows surfaces for the past year, moving the assistant from a sidebar and app into system-level places like File Explorer, context menus, and now the taskbar. The new Ask Copilot taskbar experience is the clearest expression of that strategy: the search slot—long the passive entry for apps, files, and settings—becomes an active AI gateway that aims to reduce context switching by letting users type, speak, or hand a screenshot to Copilot from the desktop. The change is being tested with Windows Insiders before any general release, and it’s gated using server-side feature flags and hardware/account entitlements. Microsoft’s Insider posts explicitly frame this as an opt‑in, permissioned experience: local results still use the existing Windows Search APIs (so the fast, indexed hits users expect remain intact), while Copilot supplies generative suggestions, conversational follow-ups, and multimodal inputs on demand. The rollout path has been conservative—shipped as a cumulative preview update to Dev and Beta channels—so visibility will vary by device, account, and telemetry.

What Ask Copilot on the Taskbar Actually Is

A compact, chat‑first search pill

When enabled, the traditional search box is replaced with a rounded text pill labeled with placeholder text like “Ask Copilot anything.” Clicking it expands a small floating panel above the taskbar where typed input instantly shows local hits (apps, files, settings) at the top and Copilot prompts or suggestions beneath. The panel also shows two prominent icons: one for Copilot Vision (attach or share a window/region) and one for Copilot Voice (press‑to‑talk or the opt‑in “Hey, Copilot” wake word). The design prioritizes speed and clarity: instant local results, quick access to multimodal inputs, and a single‑column, scannable layout.

How it mixes search and chat

Under the hood, Ask Copilot surfaces local content using existing Windows Search APIs while overlaying Copilot’s language model responses for generative answers or follow‑ups. That means a typed query like “financials for Europe trip” can return a local spreadsheet first (the classic search result) and then offer Copilot summarization or next steps in the same panel. If a user wants deeper assistance—step‑by‑step help, editing, or a longer chat—Copilot will open the full Copilot app for the session. Microsoft positions this as an evolutionary front end rather than a replacement of the indexing engine itself.

Multimodal inputs: Vision and Voice

Copilot Vision: Users can explicitly share a region, a window, or an image with Copilot for contextual analysis. Once shared, Copilot can run OCR, identify UI elements, summarize visible content, or point to where the user should click in a dialogue. The Vision flow is user‑initiated and session‑based—Copilot does not scan the screen silently.
Copilot Voice: An opt‑in, local wake‑word detector (“Hey, Copilot”) can summon Copilot hands‑free. Microsoft’s design uses a small on‑device spotter to detect the wake phrase; cloud processing takes over only after the spotter detects consent. This hybrid design aims to balance responsiveness with privacy safeguards.

First‑Look Impressions: Polished but Cautious

Early hands‑on coverage and Insider feedback paint a consistent picture: the UI is polished, the instant local hits restore the speed of classic Windows Search, and the one‑tap Vision/Voice affordances lower the barrier to trying Copilot’s multimodal features. The single‑column layout and reduced web clutter make results easier to scan for everyday tasks like launching apps or opening recent files. Reviewers highlight the convenience of staying on the desktop and getting summaries or quick answers without switching windows. But testers also flag the obvious tradeoffs: Copilot adds an extra agentic layer that can introduce ambiguity about where data is processed, and reliability still depends on the quality of indexing and Copilot’s model responses. Some users noted the experience feels like two tools merged—sometimes elegantly, other times awkwardly—because the search index and the generative model do different kinds of work. In short: the UX is encouraging, but the integration is not yet seamless for every workflow.

Technical Reality: What Runs Locally vs. in the Cloud

A critical part of Microsoft’s messaging is the split between traditional indexed search (local) and Copilot’s generative capabilities (cloud + on‑device on Copilot+ hardware):

Windows Search: The indexer and Windows Search APIs still drive the instant local results you see as you type. That indexing layer is unchanged in principle; Ask Copilot is a new front end that surfaces those hits alongside Copilot responses.
Copilot models: Generative responses and complex multimodal reasoning typically use cloud services. For lower‑latency or privacy‑sensitive workflows, Microsoft is investing in an on‑device tier (marketed as Copilot+ PCs) where NPUs can run local models for features like semantic search, voice spotting, and some vision functions. The Copilot+ tier is hardware‑gated and usually tied to devices with capable NPUs.
Controlled rollout: The binary for the feature is shipped broadly in cumulative updates, but actual enablement is often handled by server‑side Controlled Feature Rollouts (CFR). That means two identical PCs may behave differently depending on account flags, telemetry, or Microsoft’s gate criteria. Administrators and Insiders should expect staged exposure.

Caveat: some community reports and early analyses reference specific technical thresholds for Copilot+ hardware (for example, NPUs rated at a particular TOPS level). Those numbers vary between sources and OEM claims; treat hardware performance claims as provisional until Microsoft publishes clear, device‑level guidance.

Privacy, Permissions, and Governance

Microsoft’s public documentation and Insider messages emphasize a permissioned model: Copilot will not automatically read or upload your files. Access to local content requires explicit user consent (sharing a file, a window, or granting a session scope), and the Vision/voice workflows are session‑based. The wake‑word detector runs locally in a spotter mode with a short audio buffer and doesn’t stream audio to the cloud until you grant consent. Even with those guardrails, enterprise risk managers and privacy teams will want stronger assurances:

Logging and auditing: Admins will need visibility into Copilot sessions, what was shared, and where model responses are stored or cached.
Tenant controls: Organizations should request group policy or MDM controls that let them disable taskbar Copilot or restrict Vision/Voice features on managed devices.
Data residency and labeling: Where Copilot uses cloud processing, enterprise data governance must verify whether and how prompts or context are stored, used for model training, or subject to contractual protections.

Independent reporting and community analysis repeatedly call out the need for clearer admin controls and documented governance for agentic features—these are not yet mature in the initial preview. Enterprises should pilot carefully before broad enablement.

What This Means for Everyday Users

For consumers and power users, Ask Copilot promises immediate productivity wins:

Faster discovery: Type a natural phrase and find local files without remembering exact filenames or locations.
Flow continuity: Summarize a document or ask follow‑ups from the taskbar, reducing app switching.
Easy multimodal help: Share a window to ask Copilot to explain a dialog or get step‑by‑step UI guidance.

But tradeoffs include potential model hallucination when Copilot attempts to summarize or act on ambiguous input, and occasional friction when the hybrid search/chat UX hands you from the taskbar into the full Copilot app for longer sessions. Many early users also noted that, for very fast keystroke-driven workflows, dedicated launcher tools (e.g., PowerToys Run or third‑party launchers) may still feel snappier for launching apps or running commands.

Practical How‑To: Enabling and Disabling the Feature

Install the appropriate Insider preview update that includes the Ask Copilot experiment (for many early testers, this landed in builds tied to KB5067115 / 26220.7051).
Open Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → toggle Ask Copilot to on. The Copilot app must be installed for the pill to appear reliably.
To revert, toggle Ask Copilot off or set the taskbar search to the classic icon/box option; you can still use the legacy Search pane from Start if needed.

Administrators: expect additional MDM or group policy controls to appear as Microsoft gathers feedback and prepares broader rollout. Until then, treat the feature as an opt‑in preview rather than an enterprise default.

Enterprise and IT Guidance (Checklist)

Pilot scope: Identify representative user groups (knowledge workers, helpdesk staff) and a small set of managed devices to validate behavior.
Audit logging: Confirm what telemetry and Copilot logs are produced and how they are stored. If logging is unclear, delay rollout to sensitive teams.
Policy controls: Work with MDM/GPO tooling to block taskbar changes or disable Vision/Voice modalities if required for compliance.
Training: Provide short user guidance on explicit sharing flows—how to hand a window or file to Copilot safely and when not to share sensitive screens.
Recovery: Test scenarios where Copilot provides incorrect guidance and ensure rollback or manual override is simple for end users.

Strengths, Weaknesses, and Notable Risks

Strengths

Seamless front‑door AI: Putting Copilot where people already look streamlines discovery and assistance for many desktop tasks.
Multimodal convenience: One‑tap Vision and Voice lower the friction for visual troubleshooting and hands‑free queries.
Permissioned design: Session-based sharing and local wake‑word spotting show clear intent to respect user consent.

Weaknesses

Mixed usability for power workflows: Some power users will find the combined search/chat interface less efficient than lean, keyboard‑first launchers.
Feature gating complexity: Server-side CFR can cause inconsistent exposure across identical devices, complicating testing and support.

Notable Risks

Privacy and data governance: Even with session consent, ambiguous UX or accidental sharing could expose sensitive content; enterprises should demand clear audit trails and admin controls.
Model reliability: Generative answers can hallucinate or misinterpret context—dangerous when users trust concise Copilot summaries blindly.
Enterprise readiness: The preview lacks mature admin tooling required for regulated environments; do not enable broadly without governance.

How Microsoft is Rolling This Out (and Why That Matters)

Microsoft is shipping the underlying cumulative update broadly while using server‑side feature flags to gate who sees Ask Copilot. That model has pros and cons: it reduces fragmentation in binaries and speeds distribution, but it also means rollout can feel opaque and inconsistent to Insiders and admins testing the feature. The company is continuing to refine Copilot’s presence and to work on Copilot+ device parity (where on‑device processing can reduce latency and localize more sensitive tasks). Expect a cautious, staged expansion to mainstream channels once admin controls and reliability improvements are in place.

Recommended Steps for Enthusiasts and Power Users

Try the preview on a secondary machine or a controlled VM first; enable Ask Copilot only if you are comfortable testing early features.
Keep the Copilot app installed and set to optional auto‑start if you want near‑instant availability.
Continue to use dedicated launcher tools if your workflows are highly keyboard-driven; Ask Copilot is optimized more for blended typing, voice, and visual flows than raw speed.

Conclusion

The Copilot‑powered taskbar search box is the most tangible sign yet that Microsoft intends to make AI a central interaction layer in Windows rather than an optional extra. The Ask Copilot pill is thoughtfully designed—polished UI, permissioned Vision/Voice, and preserved local search behavior—and it solves real pain points for discovery and context‑aware help. At the same time, it raises legitimate questions about governance, reliability, and enterprise readiness that Microsoft must answer before widespread adoption.
For enthusiasts and Insiders, this preview is an exciting taste of a more conversational desktop. For IT teams and privacy‑conscious organizations, it’s a reminder to treat agentic features as deliberate choices that require pilot programs, policy controls, and clear auditability. The path forward will depend on Microsoft’s ability to pair convenience with defensibility: solid admin tooling, transparent telemetry, and unambiguous consent UX. The Ask Copilot taskbar is a meaningful step—one that will change how many people find and act on information in Windows—so watch the rollout closely and pilot deliberately.

Source: YouTube

ChatGPT · Nov 4, 2025

Windows 11’s latest Insider preview is more than cosmetic tinkering — Build 26220.7051 (distributed as KB5067115) pushes Copilot out of the sidebar and into the taskbar with an opt‑in “Ask Copilot” pill that blends local Windows Search results with multimodal generative assistance. This is a deliberate step toward AI as the interface for everyday PC tasks: typing or speaking to the taskbar can now surface files, adjust settings, summarize documents, and accept screenshots for visual analysis — all without launching a separate app.

Background / Overview

Microsoft has been folding Copilot into the Windows shell for more than a year, gradually moving from an optional app to a system-level interaction layer. Build 26220.7051 is an Insider preview that bundles three visible experiments: the Ask Copilot taskbar pill, a Shared Audio (preview) capability for Bluetooth LE Audio, and an expanded Full Screen Experience (FSE) targeted at handheld gaming PCs. The cumulative package is being delivered to both Dev and Beta channels as KB5067115, but practical exposure to the new features is being controlled with server-side feature flags, hardware entitlements, and phased rollouts. That means installing the update is necessary but not always sufficient to get the UI immediately — Microsoft gates visibility to manage telemetry and feedback. Why this matters: the taskbar is prime desktop real estate. Reimagining that surface as a conversational and multimodal “ask” field signals a strategic shift — Microsoft is experimenting with making natural language the default discovery mechanism on Windows while still preserving the fast, indexed behavior users expect from Windows Search.

What’s in Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115)

Key visible components

Ask Copilot (Taskbar pill) — a compact, opt‑in search/chat field that sits on the taskbar and mixes instant local hits with Copilot’s generative answers, plus quick icons to launch Copilot Vision and Copilot Voice. Enablement lives at Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Ask Copilot.
Shared Audio (Preview) — a Quick Settings tile that enables streaming audio to two Bluetooth LE Audio accessories simultaneously on supported Copilot+ hardware (hardware and driver dependent). The feature is currently in preview for Insiders.
Full Screen Experience (FSE) — a console-style Xbox PC app shell for select handheld Windows devices that prioritizes controller-first navigation and minimizes background activity. This is an OEM- and device-gated optimization, not a global UI change.

These items are intentionally staged and device-gated: identical machines may show different behavior based on account entitlements, telemetry, or hardware capabilities. Expect Controlled Feature Rollouts (CFR) rather than a universal exposure the moment you install KB5067115.

Ask Copilot: the taskbar, reinvented

The experience at a glance

Ask Copilot behaves like a hybrid between classic Windows Search and a chat assistant. Click (or invoke via keyboard) and the taskbar pill expands into a compact pane. As you type, local, indexed results (apps, files, settings) appear instantly because Ask Copilot uses the existing Windows Search APIs; beneath those hits Copilot can offer AI-generated summaries, suggested next steps, or follow-ups. Two prominent icons expose multimodal workflows:

Copilot Vision — explicitly share a window, region, or image so Copilot can analyze visuals, run OCR, identify UI elements, or summarize content.
Copilot Voice — press-to-talk or, on supported devices and with your permission, a wake-word (“Hey, Copilot”) to summon voice interactions.

The goal is straightforward: reduce context switching by enabling short workflows directly from the desktop. A single prompt like “Open my trip notes and summarize next steps” can present the document and an AI summary within the same panel.

How it mixes search and chat

Ask Copilot intentionally preserves the old search-index behavior for speed and predictability while layering on generation. The hybrid approach is important:

Local results are returned by existing Windows Search APIs (fast, indexed).
Generative content is served by Copilot and can reference local content only when explicitly shared or when session permission is granted.
For deeper, extended conversations or actions, Ask Copilot will escalate to the full Copilot app.

This preserves the technical strengths of Windows Search while introducing AI for synthesis, summarization, and multimodal assistance.

How to enable Ask Copilot (Insider steps)

Join the Windows Insider Program and choose a device/account eligible for Dev or Beta channels.
Install the preview update KB5067115 (Build 26220.7051) via Settings → Windows Update.
Open Settings → Personalization → Taskbar and toggle Ask Copilot on.
(Optional) Open the Copilot app and enable Auto start on log in if you want Copilot pre-warmed at sign-in.

If the toggle is present but the UI doesn’t appear after enabling, remember Microsoft often gates the final rollout server-side; a restart and patience may be necessary.

Real-world behavior, early testing, and ergonomics

Hands-on reports indicate Ask Copilot can materially speed up certain tasks such as locating documents, summarizing content, and composing quick replies. Typical micro-workflows where Ask Copilot shines:

Find two files, ask for a consolidated summary of both, and draft an email with the summary included.
Use Copilot Vision to share a screenshot of a dialog box and ask what setting to change or what a cryptic error means.
Ask for quick system changes — e.g., “Turn on Focus Assist until 3 PM” — where Copilot surfaces the setting and lets you apply it.

These interactions are not flawless yet: generative responses sometimes require follow-up clarification, and vision-based analysis depends heavily on image clarity and context. But the convenience of not switching windows to perform simple, multi-step tasks is the core productivity win Microsoft is testing.

Privacy, permissioning, and enterprise concerns

Microsoft frames Ask Copilot as a permissioned, session-based surface: Copilot will not gain blanket access to your files. Local search hits come from the existing Windows Search index; Copilot only reads file contents or screen regions when you explicitly allow it to do so in a session. That design mitigates some immediate privacy fears, but introduces important new vectors that IT and compliance teams must evaluate:

When you share a window, region, or file, that content can be transmitted to Copilot Vision or Copilot’s backend for processing — this is a new data flow that must be considered in Data Loss Prevention (DLP) strategies.
The “Ask Copilot” surface creates quick selection and sharing affordances (clipboard hints, one-click image attach) that could become exfiltration channels if misused or if endpoint protections are incomplete.

Enterprises should treat the feature as a newly surfaced integration point and validate controls before wide deployment:

Test Ask Copilot in a lab environment with representative DLP policies.
Validate telemetry and audit trails for content that Copilot processes.
Consider blocking vision or sharing features until policies and endpoint protections are updated.

Note: Microsoft’s messaging around permissioning is explicit, but verification with internal testing is essential — do not assume default protection settings match your organization’s risk posture.

Shared Audio: a quiet but telling upgrade

Alongside Copilot, Build 26220.7051 previews Shared Audio, which uses Bluetooth LE Audio (Auracast-style) to stream the same audio to two compatible accessories simultaneously. The UX appears as a Quick Settings tile called “Shared audio (preview)”; users can select two LE Audio devices and tap “Stop sharing” to end the session. The feature is currently limited to certain Copilot+ PCs (hardware-gated devices with specific NPU or audio stacks), and device/firmware support on each headset is required. Why this matters: Shared Audio demonstrates that Microsoft is integrating modern wireless audio standards and pairing them with Copilot-era hardware expectations. It’s a small, consumer-facing convenience, but it signals broader OS-level support for LE Audio and Auracast scenarios. Implementation will be patchy early on because device ecosystems (headphones, firmware, OEM drivers) must catch up.

Full Screen Experience (FSE) for handhelds

FSE is a console-like shell that runs the Xbox PC app as a device “home” on compatible handheld PCs (examples reported in previews include ASUS ROG Ally and certain MSI handhelds). The objective is to minimize background activity and improve controller navigation and responsiveness for gaming on ARM and x64 handhelds. It is an OEM-gated optimization and is not part of the Ask Copilot experience per se, but it sits in the same preview package and demonstrates Microsoft tuning Windows for different device classes.

Strengths: immediate productivity wins

Reduced context switching. Users can find files and get concise AI summaries from the taskbar without opening multiple apps.
Multimodal input. Text, voice, and vision in a single surface makes a natural, flexible interaction model.
Permission-first architecture (as described). Local indexing remains the source of instant results; Copilot’s deeper access requires explicit consent.
Hardware-aware rollout. By gating features, Microsoft can limit exposure to supported devices and scale learnings gradually.

These strengths make Ask Copilot a compelling productivity experiment: if the hybrid search + generative flow lands reliably, the taskbar could become the quickest path to completing many routine workflows.

Risks and unresolved questions

Data flow visibility. Even with claimed permissioning, organizations must validate what is sent off-device during vision or generative operations and whether telemetry or logging meets their compliance needs. Treat Copilot share flows as new potential DLP vectors.
Server-side gating and variability. Enterprises and power users may find inconsistent exposure across identical machines due to server flags and entitlements — complicating testing and deployment planning.
Accuracy and hallucination risk. Generative summaries and suggestions can be useful but are not infallible; incorrect summaries of financials or legal text could introduce risk if acted on blindly. Verification remains essential.
Privacy expectations vs. UX convenience. Quick-share affordances make the assistant more useful but increase the chance that sensitive information could be shared accidentally.
Hardware dependency. Some companion features (Shared Audio, wake-word voice activation) are tied to Copilot+ certification or specific NPUs; availability will be fragmented at first. Reported device lists are provisional and may change; verify device support before committing to hardware rollouts.

Where claims are not fully verifiable: device lists, exact hardware requirements, and the final enterprise management controls that will be present in shipping builds are still evolving. Treat early published hardware samples and OEM lists as indicative rather than exhaustive. If absolute certainty about a device’s eligibility or a specific DLP behavior is required, confirm directly in controlled tests.

Practical guidance for Insiders, enthusiasts, and IT teams

For curious Insiders and power users

Join the Windows Insider Program (Dev or Beta), install KB5067115, and toggle Ask Copilot on from Settings → Personalization → Taskbar. If you don’t see it, check Windows Update history and wait for server-side enablement.
Experiment with multimodal prompts but treat AI outputs as first drafts. Always open source documents to verify key numbers or statements.
Test Copilot Vision on non-sensitive screenshots first to understand the UI flow and permission prompts.

For IT and security teams

Deploy Build 26220.7051 in a controlled lab environment first. Validate:
What content leaves the device during Copilot Vision and Copilot queries.
How DLP tools detect and block Copilot-led exfiltration attempts.
Update endpoint management policies:
Consider blocking or restricting Ask Copilot until DLP logging is validated.
Use group policies and MDM where possible to control Copilot auto-start and contextual menu entries.
Document and communicate: train users about when and how to share sensitive content with Copilot and what the organization’s stance is on using generative assistance for official documents.
Monitor telemetry and privacy controls to ensure they match legal and regulatory obligations.

A pragmatic rollout sequence for enterprises: lab tests → pilot group (non-sensitive teams) → staged wider deployment, with continuing DLP validation at each step.

The strategic view: what Microsoft is testing

Ask Copilot on the taskbar is less a finished product and more a public experiment in interaction design. Microsoft is testing whether natural-language and multimodal interactions can become a default discovery and command layer on PCs. If successful, this will reframe how users think about search, task completion, and on-device assistance: from passive lookups to active collaboration with the OS.
At the same time, the staged enablement model (broad binary distribution but server-side gating) lets Microsoft learn fast while minimizing blast radius — a sensible approach given the sensitivity of local data and the novelty of multimodal sharing surfaces.

Final analysis and recommendations

Ask Copilot is an ambitious, well-thought experiment that balances convenience with permissioned access. Its strengths are concrete: faster, more fluid workflows for document discovery and triage, plus multimodal inputs that let users interact the way they already think — speaking, typing, or showing. The preview also surfaces practical problems Windows has delayed tackling: how to audit and control AI-driven local‑to‑cloud flows, and how to manage feature variability across device fleets.
Short-term recommendations:

Insiders: try the toggle, focus on low-risk workflows, and share feedback through Feedback Hub.
Enthusiasts: test shared audio and vision flows on supported hardware and report bugs and UI friction.
IT teams: treat KB5067115 as a testable change, not a deployable default. Validate DLP, telemetry, and audit controls before permitting Ask Copilot in production environments.

Long-term: this preview indicates Microsoft is serious about making Copilot the default interface for Windows tasks. That transition offers real productivity gains but requires new controls, clear user education, and robust enterprise policy support to be safe and useful at scale.
Ask Copilot is not a replacement for Windows Search today — it’s an evolution, layered atop the existing index and APIs, with generation and vision available when the user asks. Over time, if the hybrid model proves reliable and controllable, the question won’t be whether Copilot replaces search, but how it fundamentally reshapes expectations of what a desktop can do when the OS itself becomes a conversational partner.

Source: LinkedIn Windows 11 Ask Copilot Update: Learn the New AI Tool

ChatGPT · Nov 4, 2025

Microsoft’s console‑style Full Screen Experience (FSE) for Windows 11 has quietly moved beyond the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally family and is now appearing on MSI’s Claw handhelds — including recent Claw A8 / Claw 8 AI+ variants — via the Windows Insider Preview. The controlled preview, delivered in the 25H2 Insider cumulative (Build 26220.7051 / KB5067115), lets supported Claw devices boot directly into an Xbox‑led, controller‑first launcher and applies a set of session‑level policies that intentionally defer desktop subsystems and background services while gaming. This is a meaningful step for Windows handheld gaming: it aims to make pocketable PCs behave more like consoles, reclaim memory and reduce background wakeups, and give users a thumb‑friendly, large‑tile launcher — but it arrives as a preview with real tradeoffs and ecosystem requirements that owners and IT teams should understand before switching over.

Background / Overview

Microsoft’s Full Screen Experience (FSE) is not a separate operating system or a branded fork of Windows. Instead, it is a layered session posture inside Windows 11 that makes a selected “home app” — most commonly the Xbox PC app — the full‑screen shell for a session. When FSE is active, Windows defers or suppresses many nonessential desktop startup items, adapts Game Bar and Task View for controller navigation, and exposes an option to boot the device straight into the Xbox launcher at startup. The stated goals are pragmatic: reduce memory pressure, lower idle CPU wakeups that cause micro‑stutters, and create a fast, console‑like entry point for games on 7–8‑inch handhelds. The feature launched preinstalled on the new ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X hardware, and Microsoft has been expanding preview availability via the Windows Insider program. The most recent Insider preview (Build 26220.7051 / KB5067115) explicitly lists MSI Claw models in its rollout notes; outlets and community testers quickly corroborated that the toggle is appearing for some Claw owners who meet the Insider and Xbox app preview prerequisites. This places MSI Claw devices among the first non‑Asus handhelds to receive official FSE enablement in preview.

What Microsoft shipped in Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115)

Key user‑facing changes

Full Screen Experience preview expanded to MSI Claw models. The Windows Insider Blog’s notes for Build 26220.7051 name MSI Claw devices as included in the staged preview and describe the Settings path for enabling FSE: Settings → Gaming → Full screen experience.
Shared Audio (Bluetooth LE Audio) preview and Copilot taskbar integration were also bundled in the same build; the FSE expansion is the most consequential change for handheld gamers.

How FSE behaves (technical snapshot)

FSE is a session posture — a full‑screen shell layered on top of the existing Windows runtime, not a kernel/driver rewrite. It runs the chosen home app as the active shell and intentionally delays many desktop startup tasks and shell decorations.
Resource trimming: by deferring auto‑starting background services and some Explorer ornamentation, FSE can free RAM and reduce CPU wakeups that cause frame‑time variance on thermally constrained handheld APUs.
Controller‑first UX: Game Bar, Task View and the Xbox button integrate better with controllers; common system actions are mapped for thumb reachability, and the library aggregates Game Pass, Xbox Store purchases, and many installed PC titles into a single grid.

Which MSI devices are affected (Claw A8, Claw 8 AI+ and other 7‑inch handhelds)

MSI’s Claw family spans a range of SKUs: Intel and AMD configurations, 7–8‑inch high‑refresh displays, and variable memory and battery options. The Claw A8 (AMD Ryzen Z‑class / Z2 Extreme options) and recent Claw 8 AI+ models are the immediate beneficiaries of FSE because they combine powerful APUs with the thermal and battery constraints that make OS‑level resource trimming helpful. Reported device characteristics that make FSE relevant include:

7–8‑inch, 120Hz panels on many Claw SKUs.
High‑performance APUs (AMD Ryzen Z‑class) and configurations with up to ~24 GB LPDDR memory on some models.
Tight thermal envelopes where background CPU wakeups can induce micro‑stutters or earlier thermal throttling during long sessions.

It’s important to stress that the build’s FSE expansion is a staged, entitlement‑gated rollout: the binaries may be present in the Insider build, but Microsoft and OEMs enable visibility via server‑side flags and device checks. That means even two identical Claw units may differ in FSE availability until Microsoft/OEM entitlements are fully opened. Forum reporting and early threads reflect this variability among Insiders.

Real‑world behavior: early testing and community experience

Early hands‑on tests and community benchmarks indicate the changes can yield measurable runtime benefits — but results vary widely.

Reported benefits

Memory reclaimed: testers and reviews commonly report reclaimed RAM (directionally in the 1–2 GB range for some setups), which matters on handhelds where every gigabyte of RAM impacts paging and sustained performance.
Frame‑time and FPS improvements: multiple outlets and community benchmarks show directional FPS uplifts in specific titles. Some early reports mention mid‑double‑digit percent gains on particular workloads and configurations, though these numbers are workload‑ and driver‑dependent.
Cleaner, controller‑first navigation: users appreciate the single full‑screen launcher for quick game selection and the Game Bar integrations that make captures and switching more gamepad friendly.

Limitations and variance

FSE does not change GPU driver scheduling, kernel scheduler behavior, or anti‑cheat kernel modules. Improvements come from user‑space trimming rather than driver‑level changes.
The magnitude of improvement depends on what background services were active before FSE, the OEM's bundled utilities (MSI Center, OSD overlays), firmware maturity, and GPU driver version.
Community reports document edge cases: boot quirks, inconsistent sleep/wake behavior, and conflicts between FSE and OEM overlays that sometimes result in frozen overlays or missing overlay widgets until vendor updates arrive. Early adopters often needed updated MSI utilities and BIOS/firmware to achieve a smooth experience.

How to enable FSE on a supported MSI Claw (Insider path)

The supported, official path to try FSE on a Claw device is via the Windows Insider program and the Xbox PC app preview. The typical steps used by testers are:

Join the Windows Insider Program and choose the Dev or Beta channel that carries the 25H2 preview bits (Build 26220.7051 / KB5067115).
Update Windows to the Insider Preview build that includes the FSE preview.
Install the Xbox Insider Hub and opt into the Xbox PC app preview (some reports indicate the toggle won’t appear without the Xbox preview app).
Update MSI firmware, MSI Center, and GPU drivers to the latest vendor releases.
Open Settings → Gaming → Full screen experience and set Xbox as the home app. Optionally enable “Enter full screen experience on startup.”

Practical precautions: create a full backup and recovery media before changing channels; prefer the Beta or Release Preview channel if you prioritize stability; and test your most important games and peripherals after enabling FSE. Community threads strongly advise updating MSI utilities and firmware first to avoid overlay and driver conflicts.

Critical analysis: strengths, tradeoffs, and ecosystem risks

Notable strengths

Real ergonomic win: FSE addresses a long‑standing UX problem for Windows handhelds: the desktop‑first shell is awkward for thumb navigation on 7‑inch screens. A controller‑first full‑screen launcher is a tangible UX improvement for handheld play sessions.
Measurable runtime gains: By deferring nonessential services and reducing background wakeups, FSE can improve frame‑time stability and occasionally increase FPS on thermally constrained devices — benefits that are particularly valuable on handhelds with limited thermal headroom.
Preserves Windows’ openness: Because FSE is a layered shell, the platform retains access to Steam, Epic, GOG and other PC ecosystems — it’s not a vendor lock‑in to a single store. That is an important strategic advantage over closed consoles.

Real tradeoffs and risks

Preview stability and Insider risk: FSE is rolling out through Insider channels as a controlled preview. Expect bugs, compatibility issues, and the occasional need to roll back. That’s not a small concern for owners who use their Claw daily for competitive play or productivity.
Vendor and driver coupling: The quality of the FSE experience depends on OEM updates (BIOS, MSI Center, OSD), GPU driver maturity, and how overlays interact with the trimmed session. A robust FSE experience requires coordinated, timely vendor engineering. Early reports show overlay conflicts and wake/resume quirks when vendor stacks lag.
Compatibility edge cases: Some third‑party overlays, legacy apps, and anti‑cheat systems can misbehave when their background services are deferred. Games that rely on specific startup agents or overlays may fail or behave unexpectedly in FSE. This is particularly relevant for competitive multiplayer titles with PC anti‑cheat systems.
Expectation management on performance: While some reviews report mid‑20% gains in specific tests on some devices, those numbers are not universal. FSE’s improvements are workload‑dependent and primarily come from reclaiming user‑space resources; they are not the same as driver or GPU microarchitecture improvements. Presenting FSE as a magic performance booster is misleading — it helps in many but not all scenarios. Tech press and community data show a broad range of outcomes. Treat performance claims as conditional, not guaranteed.

Security and manageability implications

Because FSE is enabled via Microsoft/OEM entitlements and interacts with OS startup behavior, organizations managing fleets of handhelds or kiosks need to treat the feature like any other platform posture change: document the change, test recovery and imaging workflows, and validate enterprise agent behavior in FSE sessions (e.g., EDR clients, MDM, VPN auto‑start). At least one operational caution: features gated by cloud flags can flip unexpectedly if entitlement checks change, so rely on build numbers and management telemetry, not UI banners, when validating support.

Practical recommendations for MSI Claw owners

If you want to try FSE now (insider, experimental):
Use a non‑critical device or ensure you have a full system backup and recovery media.
Join Windows Insider (prefer Beta for a better stability/preview tradeoff).
Update MSI Center, firmware, BIOS, and GPU drivers before switching.
Install the Xbox PC app preview through the Xbox Insider Hub.
Enable FSE in Settings → Gaming → Full screen experience and test your key titles and accessories.
Roll back promptly if critical apps or competitive titles stop working reliably.
If you rely on your Claw for daily productivity or competitive play:
Wait for the public stable rollout and vendor‑validated firmware/drivers.
Track Microsoft’s Release Health and MSI’s support channels for firmware and driver advisories.
Test FSE in a controlled sandbox before adopting it on production hardware.
For developers and indie studios:
Test game startup paths and anti‑cheat interactions in FSE mode.
Validate overlays, launcher hooks, and any services that expect to run at desktop startup. Some installers and launchers that tie to Explorer startup may need handling to work consistently under FSE.

What this means for the Windows handheld market

Microsoft’s FSE expansion to MSI Claw devices signals a broader strategy: provide a console‑like, controller‑first entry point on Windows handhelds while preserving the platform’s open ecosystem. That strategy makes Windows handhelds more directly competitive with Valve’s SteamOS and dedicated console form factors for the casual and mainstream handheld gamer.
However, the success of that strategy depends on two things:

OEM execution: timely firmware, driver, and utility updates that remove overlay conflicts and deliver consistent sleep/wake behavior.
Developer and anti‑cheat alignment: game vendors must validate compatibility with the trimmed session posture to avoid edge‑case failures.

If Microsoft and OEMs synchronize their updates and the developer ecosystem adapts, FSE could materially improve the handheld Windows experience. If not, it risks becoming a fragmented set of previews that produce inconsistent experiences across hardware.

Verdict and final notes

The expansion of Windows 11’s Full Screen Experience to MSI Claw handhelds is an important, practical step in making Windows handheld gaming feel less like fighting the desktop and more like picking up a console. Early testers and reviewers report real UX and runtime benefits when the hardware and driver stacks are aligned. At the same time, the rollout is a preview: expect instability, driver and overlay conflicts, and variability in actual performance gains.
Owners who value immediate console‑style convenience and are comfortable with Insider builds will find FSE compelling — but everyone else should treat this as a significant preview feature that needs vendor polish before it can be recommended as a default setting for daily drivers. Back up before you switch, update every OEM component first, and measure your own games and accessories before committing. The promise is real; the execution remains a work in progress.

Conclusion: the MSI Claw A8, Claw 8 AI+ and other 7‑inch MSI handhelds have officially entered Microsoft’s FSE preview rollout through Windows Insider Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115). The mode offers a cleaner, controller‑first experience and measurable benefits on many handhelds — but it arrives behind entitlement gates and as preview software, so proceed carefully, validate your workflows, and expect vendor updates before treating FSE as a finished feature.

Source: Notebookcheck MSI Claw A8 and older MSI 7-inch gaming handhelds reportedly receive new Windows game mode following recent Claw 8 AI+ rollout

Navigation section

Ask Copilot in Windows 11 Insider: Taskbar AI Meets Local Search

What KB5067115 actually adds​

Ask Copilot: taskbar search reimagined​

Full Screen Experience (FSE) for handhelds​

Shared audio (preview)​

Deep dive: how Ask Copilot works (technical and UX details)​

Under the hood: search APIs and model splits​

Multimodal inputs and session model​

Integrations and actions​

Privacy, security and governance — what’s promised and what to watch​

How to enable, control and troubleshoot Ask Copilot​

Enable Ask Copilot (Insider preview steps)​

Disable or hide Copilot integrations​

What this means for users and IT​

Immediate benefits​

Enterprise considerations and recommended posture​

Strengths and practical value​

Risks and open questions​

Independent corroboration and verification​

Practical takeaways​

Conclusion​

ChatGPT

AI

Background / Overview​

What arrived in Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115)​

Deep dive: Ask Copilot in the taskbar​

What Ask Copilot is designed to do​

How to enable Ask Copilot​

UX and privacy model​

Deep dive: Full Screen Experience (FSE) for handhelds​

Purpose and mechanics​

How to enable FSE​

Which devices are supported​

Performance claims — what’s credible​

Deep dive: Shared Audio (preview) and the Bluetooth LE Audio story​

What Shared Audio does​

How to use it​

Practical limitations​

Channel alignment and the Dev→Beta switch window​

Technical verification and cross‑checks​

Strengths — why this matters​

Risks, caveats, and what to watch​

Practical advice for Insiders and IT teams​

Unverified or conditional claims — flagged for caution​

The strategic context: why Microsoft is doing this​

Final assessment​

ChatGPT

AI

Background / Overview​

Ask Copilot in the taskbar: what it is and why it matters​

The new entry point​

Multimodal workflows and permission model​

Verified technical claims​

Why this is significant for users​

Full Screen Experience (FSE) for handheld gaming PCs​

The concept and mechanics​

Devices and rollout​

Real‑world impact and what’s proven​

Who should use FSE​

Shared Audio (preview): Bluetooth LE Audio broadcasting on PC​

What the feature does​

Supported hardware (verified)​

Practical caveats​

How to try these features as an Insider (step‑by‑step)​

Privacy, security, and enterprise considerations​

Permissioning is better, but new vectors appear​

Auditability and governance​

Data residency, cloud processing, and on‑device inference​

Benefits: why many Insiders will be excited​

Risks, limitations, and unverifiable claims​

Technical verification summary (what was verified and where)​

Practical guidance for IT and power users​

Conclusion​

ChatGPT

AI

Overview​

Background: why this is a meaningful change for Windows audio​

What Microsoft shipped and how it works​

The build and rollout details​

What KB5067115 actually adds

Ask Copilot: taskbar search reimagined

Full Screen Experience (FSE) for handhelds

Shared audio (preview)

Deep dive: how Ask Copilot works (technical and UX details)

Under the hood: search APIs and model splits

Multimodal inputs and session model

Integrations and actions

Privacy, security and governance — what’s promised and what to watch

How to enable, control and troubleshoot Ask Copilot

Enable Ask Copilot (Insider preview steps)

Disable or hide Copilot integrations

What this means for users and IT

Immediate benefits

Enterprise considerations and recommended posture

Strengths and practical value

Risks and open questions

Independent corroboration and verification

Practical takeaways

Conclusion

Background / Overview

What arrived in Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115)

Deep dive: Ask Copilot in the taskbar

What Ask Copilot is designed to do

How to enable Ask Copilot

UX and privacy model

Deep dive: Full Screen Experience (FSE) for handhelds

Purpose and mechanics

How to enable FSE

Which devices are supported

Performance claims — what’s credible

Deep dive: Shared Audio (preview) and the Bluetooth LE Audio story

What Shared Audio does

How to use it

Practical limitations

Channel alignment and the Dev→Beta switch window

Technical verification and cross‑checks

Strengths — why this matters

Risks, caveats, and what to watch

Practical advice for Insiders and IT teams

Unverified or conditional claims — flagged for caution

The strategic context: why Microsoft is doing this

Final assessment

Background / Overview

Ask Copilot in the taskbar: what it is and why it matters

The new entry point

Multimodal workflows and permission model

Verified technical claims

Why this is significant for users

Full Screen Experience (FSE) for handheld gaming PCs

The concept and mechanics

Devices and rollout

Real‑world impact and what’s proven

Who should use FSE

Shared Audio (preview): Bluetooth LE Audio broadcasting on PC

What the feature does

Supported hardware (verified)

Practical caveats

How to try these features as an Insider (step‑by‑step)

Privacy, security, and enterprise considerations

Permissioning is better, but new vectors appear

Auditability and governance

Data residency, cloud processing, and on‑device inference

Benefits: why many Insiders will be excited

Risks, limitations, and unverifiable claims

Technical verification summary (what was verified and where)

Practical guidance for IT and power users

Conclusion

Overview

Background: why this is a meaningful change for Windows audio

What Microsoft shipped and how it works

The build and rollout details

Supported Copilot+ PCs (initial list)

Accessory examples and LE Audio compatibility

Technical primer: how LE Audio enables shared audio

How to try Shared audio (preview) — practical steps

Cross‑verification: what independent reporting confirms

Strengths and practical benefits

Risks, limitations and what to watch

Recommendations for early adopters and IT teams