How to Create Copilot Desktop Shortcut in Windows 11 25H2

Microsoft Copilot has become one of the most useful AI tools built into Windows 11, giving you quick access to an intelligent assistant that can answer questions, generate content, summarize documents, and much more. With the Windows 11 (version 25H2), Copilot has evolved into a full standalone app available through the Microsoft Store—which means there are now more ways than ever to access it.

While you can open Copilot from the taskbar or by pressing Win + C, a dedicated desktop shortcut gives you one-click access that’s always visible—even when your taskbar is buried under a dozen open windows. In this guide, you’ll learn three different methods to create a Copilot desktop shortcut on Windows 11 25H2, plus how to customize the shortcut icon so it’s instantly recognizable.

Method 1: Create a Copilot Desktop Shortcut Manually (Works on All Builds)

This classic method works on every version of Windows 11 that supports Copilot—including 23H2, 24H2, and the latest 25H2. It creates a shortcut that launches Copilot through Microsoft Edge’s built-in protocol.

Step 1: Right-click any empty area on your desktop, hover over “New”, and click “Shortcut” from the context menu.

Step 2: In the “Create Shortcut” wizard, paste the following path into the location field, then click “Next”:

microsoft-edge://?ux=copilot&tcp=1&source=taskbar

Step 3: Type a name for your shortcut—something like “Copilot” or “Microsoft Copilot”—and click “Finish”.

Step 4: Your new Copilot shortcut now sits on the desktop. Double-click it at any time to launch Copilot instantly.

Method 2: Drag Copilot From the Start Menu to Your Desktop (Windows 11 25H2)

If you’re running Windows 11 25H2 with the Copilot app installed from the Microsoft Store, there’s an even faster way to create a desktop shortcut—no typing required.

Step 1: Click the Start button and then click “All apps” in the top-right corner of the Start menu.

Step 2: Scroll down to find “Copilot” (or “Microsoft 365 Copilot” if you’re on a work account). Click and hold the app icon, then drag it directly onto your desktop. When you see the word “Link” appear above the icon, release the mouse button.

That’s it—you now have a working Copilot desktop shortcut created from the native app. This method is ideal for Windows 11 25H2 users because the shortcut opens the dedicated Copilot app rather than the Edge-based version.

Method 3: Use the Copilot App’s Built-In Taskbar Pin (Then Create Desktop Shortcut)

Another approach in Windows 11 25H2 takes advantage of the Copilot app’s built-in options to first pin it, then create a desktop shortcut from the app’s file location.

Step 1: Open the Copilot app from the Start menu or taskbar.

Step 2: In the Start menu, right-click on Copilot, then hover over “More” and click “Open file location”.

Step 3: In the File Explorer window that opens, right-click the Copilot shortcut file and select “Copy”. Then navigate to your desktop, right-click, and select “Paste”.

You now have a desktop shortcut that points directly to the installed Copilot app—complete with the correct icon already applied.

How to Customize the Copilot Shortcut Icon

If you used Method 1 (the manual shortcut), you’ll notice it defaults to the Microsoft Edge icon—which can be confusing if you already have Edge shortcuts on your desktop. Here’s how to swap it out for the official Copilot logo so it’s immediately recognizable.

Step 1: Right-click the Copilot shortcut on your desktop and select “Properties”.

Step 2: In the Properties dialog, click the “Change Icon…” button.

Step 3: You can pick an icon from the default list, or click “Browse…” to choose a custom icon file. For the best result, use an icon file in .ico format.

Step 4: If you don’t already have the Copilot icon file, you can easily get one:

• Download a Copilot .ico file from a free icon resource site.
• Convert a PNG to ICO: Download the Copilot logo in .png format and convert it to .ico using a free online tool like Convertio.
• Use Microsoft Paint: Open the .png in Paint and save it as a 24-bit Bitmap (.bmp) file—Windows accepts .bmp files as shortcut icons too.

Step 5: After clicking “Browse”, a File Explorer window opens. If your icon file isn’t visible, change the file type filter at the bottom-right to “All files”.

Step 6: Navigate to where you saved the Copilot icon file, select it, and click “Open”.

Step 7: Make sure the new icon is highlighted in the preview list, then click “OK” to confirm.

Step 8: Back in the Properties dialog, click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the icon change.

Step 9: Your Copilot desktop shortcut now displays the official Copilot icon, making it easy to spot at a glance among all your other desktop icons.

Bonus: Other Quick Ways to Launch Copilot on Windows 11 25H2

A desktop shortcut isn’t the only way to reach Copilot fast. Here are a few other methods available in Windows 11 25H2:

• Keyboard shortcut: Press Win + C to open Copilot instantly from anywhere. On newer laptops, you may also have a dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard.
• Taskbar button: Go to Settings → Personalization → Taskbar and toggle on Copilot to add a permanent one-click button to your taskbar.
• Pin to Start: Right-click the Copilot app in your Start menu and select “Pin to Start” for quick access from the pinned tiles section.
• Assign a custom keyboard shortcut: Right-click your Copilot desktop shortcut, open Properties, click the “Shortcut key” field, and press any key combination (e.g., Ctrl + Alt + C) to create a personalized hotkey.

Final Thoughts

Creating a Copilot desktop shortcut on Windows 11 25H2 takes less than a minute—regardless of which method you choose. The manual shortcut approach works universally across all Copilot-supported builds, while the drag-from-Start-menu method is the fastest option if you have the standalone Copilot app installed from the Microsoft Store.

Pair your new shortcut with a custom icon and an optional keyboard hotkey, and you’ll have the fastest possible path to Windows 11’s AI assistant whenever inspiration (or a work deadline) strikes. If you found this guide helpful, be sure to check out our other Windows 11 tutorials for more tips on getting the most out of your PC.