According to Windows Report | Error-free Tech Life, Microsoft Edge now loads the Copilot sidebar inside InPrivate private browsing windows, a change that appeared quietly without any official help pages or release notes. This feature, which was tested in the Canary version back in July 2023 but then removed, is now active in the Stable version by default. When a user tries to use a context-aware feature like “Summarize this page” for the first time in a private session, Edge displays a permission prompt directing them to settings to confirm page access. The same approval step is required for videos and files, and InPrivate mode does not retain past chats or personalization without signing into a Microsoft account. The global “Context clues” setting carries over from normal browsing, but the session-specific prompt still appears, giving users a complete AI assistant in private mode with clear, per-session approval gates.
The quiet rollout is the strategy
Here’s the thing: Microsoft isn’t announcing this. They’re just doing it. That tells you a lot about their playbook for AI integration. They’re treating Copilot less like a new feature you opt into and more like a fundamental part of the browser’s operating system, something that should just be available everywhere, even in private tabs. The silent enablement feels like a classic “ship now, explain later” move, probably to gauge user reaction and iron out any major privacy backlash before making a big deal out of it. And let’s be real, the primary beneficiary here is Microsoft. More Copilot usage means more data on how people use AI, more potential Bing searches, and more reasons for users to stay logged into a Microsoft account. It’s a strategic nudge to make their AI omnipresent.
The privacy dance is interesting
Now, the permission prompt is a smart, necessary move. It’s a decent privacy fig leaf. Edge is basically saying, “Hey, you’re in private mode, but you’re asking me to read this page. You cool with that?” That’s better than just letting it run wild. But it also creates a weird cognitive dissonance. If I’m in InPrivate mode to avoid leaving traces, why am I inviting an AI to analyze my activity? The separation seems to be that Copilot won’t *remember* this chat for personalization later, but in that moment, it’s processing the content. It’s a half-step towards privacy, not a full leap. And since the global “Context clues” setting carries over, a user who turned it off for regular browsing is covered, but one who left it on has to make this choice every single private session. It’s a bit clunky.
What this actually means for you
So, practically, what changes? If you’re an Edge user, you now have a full AI toolset in your private windows. Need to quickly summarize a report or translate something on a site you don’t want in your history? You can, with one extra click for approval. For the vast majority of users who never dig into settings, this will just feel like Copilot finally “works” in private mode. The lack of separate settings for private browsing is a bit of a miss, honestly. I think power users would appreciate the ability to set a default “block all page access in InPrivate” rule. But Microsoft’s goal is clearly accessibility and friction reduction—for *using* the AI, not necessarily for configuring its privacy boundaries. This rollout, quiet as it is, shows they’re willing to blur the lines between public and private browsing to push AI adoption. The question is, are users okay with that trade-off?
