Why are eight Copilot shortcuts disappearing from your Windows 11 right-click menu — and how do you still use them?

Microsoft is retiring eight dedicated Copilot shortcuts from the OneDrive submenu in File Explorer’s right-click menu in Windows 11, in a staged rollout from mid-November 2026 to early December. “Ask Copilot” stays — here is how to keep doing every one of those jobs.

You right-click a document in OneDrive expecting the one-click Summarize button you always use — and one morning in November it is simply not there. Short answer: Nothing is broken, and Copilot is not going away. Microsoft is retiring eight dedicated Copilot shortcuts from the OneDrive submenu in File Explorer’s right-click menu in Windows 11, in a staged rollout starting mid-November 2026 and finishing by early December.

Why it is happening: Those shortcuts multiplied until the menu got cluttered — eight separate entries, most with the same icon, for jobs that are really one job: ask Copilot about this file. Microsoft says it is simplifying how people use Copilot with OneDrive files, with fewer entry points, and admins and home users do not need to do anything for the removal itself.The eight retiring actions are: Summarize, Create FAQ, Compare Files, Ask a question, Explain image, Explain images, Compare images, and Extract text. To keep doing those jobs:1.

Use “Ask Copilot.” Right-click the OneDrive file and choose “Ask Copilot” — it stays — then type what you want, like “summarize this” or “extract the text from this image,” with the file attached to the chat.2. Or use File Explorer Home. The Copilot icon there reaches the same assistant.3.

Or open the OneDrive activity center, where the individual actions remain available.4. Expect mismatched menus for a few weeks. Because the rollout is staged, two computers side by side can show different menus — that is normal.5.

Update your household’s notes. If you taught family or coworkers the old one-click route, or a printed guide at home shows the old menu, update it before mid-November.Common mistake: Assuming a missing shortcut means a feature was cancelled or your PC is faulty — check for “Ask Copilot” in the same menu before you start troubleshooting or reinstalling anything.Ad’s take: Honestly? Good.

AI help should be one clear button, not eight look-alike menu items — I would rather ask for what I want in plain words anyway.