Copilot for Windows 11 is getting a built-in browser

Microsoft is preparing to expand its Copilot app for Windows 11 with a built-in web browser, according to Windows Central.

What's changing

Currently, clicking a link inside the Copilot app sends users to their default browser. The new feature will let web pages open directly within Copilot, alongside the chat window, so users no longer need to leave the app.

According to Windows Central, Microsoft began testing the feature in March, with a broader rollout planned for late November 2026. Microsoft described the update in its message center, stating that the Copilot app on Windows and Mac now supports in-app browsing, letting users open websites side-by-side with chat. The feature is currently available via admin opt-in, with wider rollout coming later this year.

Users will be able to manage multiple tabs, toggle full-screen mode, or choose to open links in an external browser instead. Microsoft noted that browsing data is stored locally, similar to how Edge handles it. The chat window and the built-in browser can be resized within the Copilot app.

Context

This kind of in-app browsing isn't new — apps like Microsoft Teams already behave this way, as do platforms such as X and Reddit, which typically open links in their own built-in viewer rather than an external browser.

Windows Central raises the question of whether this change will actually shift user habits — whether people will start a session by asking Copilot a question and stay within the app, or continue relying on their preferred browser instead. The outlet notes that Google has had some success with a similar approach on mobile through Gemini.

At the same time, it's suggested that Microsoft may find it easier to retain users who already use Copilot than to convert Edge users, since the underlying experience is similar — only the entry point differs.