Microsoft Paint Gets Copilot Button for Faster, AI-Powered Edits

Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 update adds a Copilot button in Paint, offering quick access to AI tools for image generation and editing.

Microsoft is making AI-powered image editing more accessible in Windows 11 by adding a Copilot button to Paint. This update, introduced in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3073, consolidates several AI-based tools into a single drop-down menu.

The new feature provides quick access to Cocreator, Image Creator, Generative Erase, and Remove Background, making AI-powered editing more efficient.

Although these tools were already available in Paint, accessing them required navigating different sections of the interface. The Copilot button simplifies this by placing them in one location. The update is currently exclusive to Windows Insiders, with no confirmed release date for general users.

AI Editing Tools Now in One Place

By clicking the Copilot button, users can open a menu displaying Paint’s AI-driven editing features.

Cocreator generates images from text descriptions or sketches, while Image Creator refines AI-generated artwork.

Generative Erase removes unwanted objects from images, and Remove Background isolates subjects with a single click.

Among these tools, Cocreator remains exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, which leverage Neural Processing Units (NPUs) to handle AI workloads efficiently. Other features, such as Generative Erase and Remove Background, are available on all Windows 11 devices.

Microsoft has been expanding AI-driven enhancements across its Windows apps. The company previously introduced Cocreator in Paint and later expanded AI functionality in Notepad with a Rewrite tool. The Copilot button in Paint is the latest step in this ongoing integration.

AI-Powered Windows Search Expands to OneDrive

Alongside the Paint update, Windows 11’s AI-powered search capabilities are also improving. Microsoft is enhancing Windows Search by allowing users to find images stored in OneDrive using descriptive text instead of filenames.

According to Microsoft, users can now search for images using descriptions such as “European castles” or “summer picnics” to locate relevant cloud-stored photos. Previously, AI search was limited to files saved on local storage, but this new capability expands it to cloud-based content.

The feature is currently available only on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, though Microsoft has confirmed that support for Intel and AMD devices will follow.

Microsoft Expands AI Integration Across Windows 11

The introduction of the Copilot menu in Paint is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to embed AI-driven features throughout its software ecosystem. Recent updates have brought AI-powered enhancements to several applications, including Notepad’s AI Rewrite tool and AI-driven text selection features in Click to Do. These changes reflect Microsoft’s strategy of making artificial intelligence a core part of Windows 11’s productivity tools.

In December, Microsoft expanded real-time translations on Windows 11 to AMD and Intel based Copilot+ PCs. The controversial Windows Recall features which constantly captured user activity, meanwhile continues to draw scrutiny over privacy concerns. Recent evaluations reveal persistent failures in Recall’s ability to block sensitive data, even as Microsoft now broadens its availability to Intel and AMD Copilot+ devices.

What’s Next for AI in Windows 11?

Beyond software updates, the company is also optimizing AI performance at the hardware level. The increasing focus on Copilot+ PCs and devices equipped with NPUs demonstrates Microsoft’s shift toward local AI processing.

Unlike cloud-dependent solutions, this approach allows AI-driven features—such as real-time image generation and AI-powered search—to run directly on the user’s device, improving speed and privacy.

Microsoft has been actively collaborating with hardware manufacturers to optimize AI capabilities. This effort includes partnerships with companies such as AMD and Intel to enhance NPU compatibility with Windows 11. As more devices integrate AI-optimized chips, features like Paint’s Copilot menu and AI-powered Windows Search will become more widely accessible.

While the Copilot button in Paint makes AI editing more accessible, Microsoft is expected to expand AI capabilities in other areas of Windows. The company has already been testing AI-powered search features in File Explorer, and future updates may bring deeper integration with Microsoft Graph to enhance file discovery and productivity across Windows applications.

As AI integration grows, Microsoft faces increasing competition from companies such as Google, which is developing its own AI-powered tools, including Google Gemini.

Unlike Google’s cloud-heavy AI approach, Microsoft’s focus on local AI processing—especially in Copilot+ PCs—positions Windows 11 as an operating system that leverages artificial intelligence for both online and offline tasks.

For now, the new Copilot menu in Paint is only available to users enrolled in the Windows Insider Program. Microsoft has not announced an exact release date for a wider rollout, but updates like these typically undergo extended testing before reaching all Windows 11 users.

Markus Kasanmascheff
Markus Kasanmascheff
Markus has been covering the tech industry for more than 15 years. He is holding a Master´s degree in International Economics and is the founder and managing editor of Winbuzzer.com.

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