How to add a new Copilot tab to Microsoft Edge browser

In the Edge browser on Windows, you can set Copilot as your default experience for new tabs. This feature is turned off by default, and many Edge users prefer it that way. However, if you're a regular Copilot user, it enhances your browsing experience beyond the traditional address bar. Learn how to enable this hidden Copilot feature for new tabs in Microsoft Edge .

Add Copilot as a new tab in Edge browser

Microsoft has added the Copilot chat interface to new tabs in the Edge browser (Edge Canary version). Since regular Edge users may find this feature disruptive, Microsoft is keeping it on by default, requiring manual activation as shown below.

You need to download Canary Channel from Edge's official website. While downloading, click Agree and download on the licensing page.

Once you install the advanced version of the browser, Edge Canary will open in the taskbar just like any other Edge icon. This won't interrupt your normal browsing experience, unlike the Beta or Dev versions.

Next, go to the Edge flags page by typing edge://flags. Here, search for 'NTP Composer'.

For the first flag, NTP Composer , set it to Default . Change it to Enabled with experimental features . You will find more related flags starting with 'NTP' like Chat Ranking , Composer Focus and Copilot Search . Apply Enable to all of them.

Once you enable the flag, restart your browser. You should now see the Copilot chat window front and center. If you don't want to use it in the future, simply disable the flag or reset the Flags page to default.

Benefits of Copilot in Edge's new tab page

At first, you might think the familiar Edge address bar is missing, but it's right there at the top. You can also access it from within Copilot itself in Default mode . This means there are two ways to open any URL directly, instead of one. You also get drop-down suggestions on the same topics as before.

There are two additional benefits. Having Copilot on every new tab makes for a more natural browsing experience than regular browsers.

1. Search and Navigate uses Copilot to dig deeper into your searches. Previously a side feature of Bing Search, you can now put it front and center on every new tab page in Edge. There are several reasons why Bing Copilot Search works better than Google AI Overviews.
2. Chat lets you use natural language for queries. Instead of keywords, you can fully explain what you need on the new tab page in a conversational, human voice. This is superior to anything you get with search engine results.

Since the early days of the Internet, the address bar has been a constant in web browsers. It might seem odd that Microsoft is making Copilot more prominent instead of the default address bar at the top, but when you think about it, it's a very useful change, at least for regular Copilot users.

The potential of AI tools like Copilot is growing, in many areas. For example, you can use it to easily control Android from your computer. However, there are many of us who do not like using these AI tools, and you can easily remove Copilot from your Microsoft experience.

Micah Soto

Update 06 May 2025