Create desktop flows using Record with Copilot (preview)
[This article is prerelease documentation and is subject to change.]
Introduction
Building desktop flows is now easier than ever with Record with Copilot, also known as the AI Recorder, in Power Automate desktop. This feature lets you build desktop automations by sharing your screen and describing the task you want to automate, as if you were explaining it to someone else. Record with Copilot captures your voice, mouse, and keyboard inputs during the recording. Then, it processes them and converts them into a desktop flow. You can review, edit, and save the flow before running it.
Important
- This is a preview feature.
- Preview features aren’t meant for production use and might have restricted functionality. These features are subject to supplemental terms of use, and are available before an official release so that customers can get early access and provide feedback.
Watch this short video to learn how to use Record with Copilot:
Prerequisites
Before you use Record with Copilot, make sure you meet these requirements:
Availability by region
Currently, Record with Copilot is available only in environments in the United States. Learn how to create an environment in the United States at Create and manage environments in the Power Platform admin center.
Availability by account type
Currently, Record with Copilot is available only for users with a work or school account.
Minimum Power Automate Desktop
You need Power Automate desktop version 2.48 or higher. Learn how to download the latest version at Install Power Automate.
Create a desktop flow using Record with Copilot
To create a desktop flow using Record with Copilot:
Open Record with Copilot:
In Power Automate for desktop, select Record with Copilot, and then select Start. If this option isn’t available, check the Prerequisites.
Review the welcome screen:
A welcome screen shows some tips on using the recorder. Select Next to continue.
Choose your recording settings:
If you have more than one monitor, select the one you want to record. Also, select the microphone and speaker you want to use for narration. Select Next to continue.
Listen to the recording tips.
You hear some final tips before you start. When you're ready, select Record.
Record the process:
Describe the process you want to automate as if you’re teaching someone how to do it. The more detail you give, the better the results.
Finish recording:
When you finish, select Done. Power Automate analyzes the video, your narration, and mouse movements to create the automation. This process takes a few minutes.
Review and customize:
After the analysis is done, the automation appears in the flow designer. Check it, make any changes you need, and fill in any missing details. When you're happy with it, save and run your automation. For more customization options, explore the flow designer options.
Frequently asked questions
What are some limitations of Record with Copilot?
Record with Copilot is available only in environments based in the United States for users with work or school accounts. It supports only English at this time. We're working hard to expand support to more regions and languages soon.
Record with Copilot needs you to speak and explain the automation process. If you don't provide narration, it doesn't generate an automation.
You need to interact with clicks or keystrokes during recording. Just talking over a screen without any mouse or keyboard interaction doesn't produce an automation suggestion.
How can I get the best results from Record with Copilot?
Speak clearly and show each step in detail as you demonstrate the process. Wait for screens to load completely and avoid interruptions or distractions during recording.
Where can I watch a demo of Record with Copilot?
The following videos shows a demo of Record with Copilot:
What are some scenarios I can try with Record with Copilot?
You can try different scenarios, such as moving data from Excel to a web form, navigating websites, and extracting data.
What languages are supported?
Record with Copilot supports English right now. We'll add more languages in future updates.
How is Record with Copilot different from the Recorder?
The Recorder captures interactions like mouse clicks and keystrokes, and creates a desktop flow that repeats those actions. However, it doesn't capture logic such as conditions or loops.
Record with Copilot lets you explain the process verbally while showing it. The AI model then interprets your actions and narration and suggests an automation that includes conditions, loops, and necessary interactions.
Why does the flow suggested by Record with Copilot have missing actions or UI selectors?
Record with Copilot is in preview, and we're constantly improving its accuracy. As an AI-powered tool, Record with Copilot is designed to get better over time. If you run into issues, we'd love your feedback to help us improve Record with Copilot for your specific use case. Contact us at powerautomate-ai@microsoft.com and we're happy to chat with you.
How does the system manage recordings, and what measures are taken to ensure privacy and security?
When you use the recorder, your recording is securely uploaded to the cloud, where an AI model transforms it into a Power Automate desktop flow. The recording is kept only for a brief period necessary for processing and is deleted once processing is complete. The maximum delay for the recording to be deleted from the cloud service is 24 hours.
To protect your data, all recording data sent from and to Power Automate desktop is encrypted both during transit and at rest.
The recordings aren't used for training the AI model.
What details does the recorder capture during a session?
When you start a recording, you can choose which screen to record and which microphone to use. A colored border shows around the screen being recorded. To avoid capturing sensitive information, make sure it isn't shown during the recording. If you accidentally record something you don't want to include, you can restart the recording or close the recorder. In these cases, the recordings aren't sent to the cloud for processing.
The recorder captures a video of the selected screen, audio from the chosen microphone, and necessary UI metadata to build the desktop flow.
Share your feedback
Do you have any thoughts on Record with Copilot? We'd love to hear from you! Send us a note at powerautomate-ai@microsoft.com. We’d love to chat with you.