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Windows 11’s New Win + C ChatGPT Shortcut: What It Does, Why It Matters, and How to Turn It On

Win + C — From Cortana Ghost Key to ChatGPT Turbo-Launcher: Windows 11’s Unexpected Productivity Hack


A Brief Love-Hate History of Win + C

Back in 2015 the key combo summoned Cortana and her cheery “What can I help you with?” bubble. By 2023 she was gone, replaced by Copilot, then retired again while Copilot rebuilt itself as a standalone app.


For a few bleak builds Win + C did nothing at all—until Microsoft quietly resurrected it in the May/June 2025 cumulative previews for versions 23H2 and 24H2. Now, instead of being locked to a single assistant, the shortcut behaves like a programmable launch key.


Out-of-box it still opens Copilot, but one toggle in Settings lets you route it directly to the official ChatGPT desktop app.


Why Microsoft Handed the Shortcut to Users

Microsoft’s internal telemetry showed two competing camps: some users want the deeply OS-aware Copilot, others live in ChatGPT all day for code, marketing copy, or research. Rather than ignite another “default browser” style controversy,


Windows engineers exposed a simple front-end preference so each camp can claim the key without registry hacks or AutoHotkey scripts. That decision also future-proofs the shortcut for any AI app that registers as a “Copilot-class assistant.”


Turning Win + C into a ChatGPT Launcher (Five-Minute Guide)

1. Open the Windows Settings Panel

Press Win + I on your keyboard to instantly launch the Settings app. Alternatively, you can click the Start menu and select the gear icon for Settings.


2. Go to Personalisation and Access Text Input Settings

In the left sidebar, click on Personalisation.Scroll down until you see Text input in the list of options and select it.


3. Find the “Customize Copilot Key on Keyboard / Win + C” Option

Within the Text input settings page, look for the section labeled “Customize Copilot key on keyboard / Win + C.” If you don’t see this option, make sure your system is updated to either Windows 11 build 26100.4202 (24H2) or that the latest cumulative update (KB 5058502 for 23H2) is installed.


4. Change the Shortcut Assignment to ChatGPT

Click the setting to expand your choices.

Select Custom from the available options.From the drop-down list that appears, pick ChatGPT.This will re-route the Win + C shortcut directly to the ChatGPT desktop app instead of Microsoft Copilot.


5. Confirm and Close Settings—No Reboot Needed

Once you’ve made your selection, simply close the Settings window.

The new shortcut takes effect immediately—there’s no need to restart your PC.


Note:

  • If your physical keyboard includes a dedicated Copilot key, this same menu allows you to remap that key as well.

  • On keyboards without a Copilot key, only Win + C is affected by this change.

  • The ChatGPT option only becomes available after you install both the required Windows build/update and the official ChatGPT app from the Microsoft Store.

  • If you ever want to revert, simply return to the same settings menu and choose your preferred assistant or reset to default.


This process lets you instantly call up ChatGPT with a single shortcut, making it far easier to integrate advanced AI assistance into your daily workflow.


Everyday Workflows That Suddenly Get Faster

Daily task

Old path

New Win + C flow

Summarise a 20-page PDF

Find file → open browser → chat.openai.com → drag file

Win + C → Ctrl + V attachment → “TL;DR please”

Draft a polite late-reply email

Open Outlook → hit New → ponder wording

Win + C → “Write an apology mail for missing yesterday’s deadline” → paste

Quick regex help in VS Code

Open browser tab, search Stack Overflow

Win + C → “Regex for US phone numbers” → copy snippet

Small moments saved balloon over a week—especially for keyboard-centric power users.


Performance and Privacy Notes

  • Resource hit: The ChatGPT desktop client pre-loads an Electron shell; on most modern systems it idles under 150 MB RAM and negligible CPU. Suspend it from the System Tray if you’re gaming.

  • Data boundaries: The remap doesn’t pipe keystrokes to OpenAI. Windows simply launches the app; privacy terms remain those of ChatGPT itself.

  • Offline behavior: Without internet the shortcut still opens the app, but requests queue until connectivity returns.


Troubleshooting

Symptom

Fix

Win + C still opens Copilot

Double-check you applied the change under Personalisation → Text input after installing the latest cumulative update.

“ChatGPT” isn’t in the picker

Install or update the ChatGPT app from Microsoft Store, then relaunch Settings.

Nothing happens at all

Verify you’re on Windows 11 build 26100 (24H2) or have KB 5058502 (23H2); earlier builds lack the feature.


What This Signals About Windows’ AI Future

Handing the key to users hints at a broader “assistant neutrality”: Microsoft gets the goodwill of offering Copilot by default but avoids antitrust headaches by letting competitors ride the same rails. Expect future builds to let the Search hotkey, voice dictation toggle, and even Alt + Tab overlays register third-party AI endpoints. Win + C is merely the opening move in a keyboard-first battle for your attention.


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