Microsoft has announced the rollout of a much-anticipated feature in Copilot for Windows 11 and Windows 10, allowing the AI assistant to search for files stored locally or synced through OneDrive. Previously, this feature was only available to Windows Insider program participants, but now it is accessible to all Copilot users, according to Windows Latest.

The "File Search" feature in Copilot utilizes Windows Search indexing, enabling users to find documents by name, type, or date. Supported formats include Microsoft Office (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX), PDF, text files, and more. However, specific developer extensions, such as .dart, are currently not searchable.

By default, Copilot has access only to the "Documents" and "Downloads" folders, but users can configure the search area within Windows permissions settings. To activate the feature, users must enable it in the Copilot settings. Microsoft deliberately did not enable it by default for privacy reasons.

Microsoft reports that the feature will be rolled out gradually over the coming weeks and does not require a Copilot Pro subscription. The company views local file search as a natural extension of Copilot's integration into the desktop environment, aiding users in quickly locating and interacting with documents without leaving the chat interface.