Microsoft Copilot adds PC Insights skill to analyze Windows settings and hardware

Microsoft is rolling out PC Insights, a new skill for the Copilot Windows app that enables users to query their Windows environment for system information and troubleshooting assistance.

How PC Insights works

The feature allows users to ask natural language questions about their Windows system. Supported queries include:

• Battery health status
• BIOS version information
• Current CPU usage
• Network adapter details
• Available storage capacity
• Printer connectivity status

When a user submits a query, Copilot requests permission to access the necessary system resources. Users can grant permission for a single request, allow similar future requests, or deny access for the current session. Sessions persist until the app closes or the computer restarts.

According to Microsoft's support documentation, the company claims it will not store user data or use personal files to train AI models. Users can revoke granted permissions through Copilot's privacy settings.

Technical limitations

PC Insights cannot modify system settings or automatically execute troubleshooting steps. Microsoft states the feature is limited to answering questions about system components, clarifying technical information, and explaining system states. Users must manually implement any fixes after the AI identifies potential issues.

The feature is available exclusively through the Copilot Windows app, which requires separate installation. As of the announcement date, the rollout is gradual and not yet available to all users.

Competitive context

The feature positions Copilot as a local system diagnostic tool rather than a general-purpose AI assistant. This represents Microsoft's attempt to differentiate Copilot through OS-level integration unavailable to competing AI assistants from OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google.

What this means

PC Insights represents Microsoft leveraging its OS control to create capabilities competitors cannot easily replicate. However, the read-only nature of the feature limits its utility compared to traditional system diagnostic tools that can both identify and resolve issues. The success of this feature will depend on whether conversational queries prove more efficient than existing Windows search and settings interfaces for typical users.