Register PowerToys as a Microsoft Copilot hardware key provider

[seppestas]

Description of the new feature / enhancement

Register PowerToys as a Copilot hardware key provider. PowerToys can then chose how to handle the Copilot key. It should be easy to:

• Remap the key to right control
• Start the Command Palette
• Remap to something else in the Keyboard manager

Personally, I would be interested in using the Copilot key to start the PowerToys Command Palette.

Some suggestion on implementation:

• Add a note in the Keyboard manager describing how to configure the "Customise Copilot key on keyboard" so it can be used in the Keyboard Manager.
• Maybe register more than 2 handlers? So in Windows settings, users would have the option between "PowerToys Command Palette" and "PowerToys Keyboard Manager". This would prevent the need for an additional menu in PowerToys.
• If diagnostic data are enabled, gather how many people bind the Copilot key to right ctrl / command palette so you can show the higher ups at MS how much user favour a familiar keyboard over new marketing gimmicks. Rebinding to ctrl should really be a Windows feature.

Scenario when this would be used?

Modern laptops have a new Copilot Key. This is meant as a productivity booster, however it has 2 mayor issues actually reducing productivity for some people:

• A lot of manufacturers sacrificed the right control key so they can use it as the Copilot key, alienating people who can use their keyboard properly
• A lot of companies have policies preventing the use of Copilot. This means there is a key with a prime position on the keyboard that can't be used for anything useful. The only default option is using Windows' search.

Many people have tried to use the PowerToys Keyboard manager to remap the Copilot button to right ctrl, but this does not seem to work reliably.

Supporting information

• Mapping Copilot key (win + shift + F23) -> CTRL: almost impossible to use Copilot in hotkeys as CTRL key - need "Remap a KEY" for Copilot #36608
• Remapping Copilot key malfunctioning #36342
• Keyboard manager doesn't remap copilot key to ctrl #34162
• Can't remap CoPilot key to Ctrl(right) #36355
• Mapping Copilot (F23) -> CTRL not working #31979
• Keyboard binding with copilot key fail stops working at some point randomly #42050
• Remapping copilot key (win + c) #46301