Hello everyone!
Today, I’m excited to share some fantastic tech news. On November 14, 2024, OpenAI announced that the ChatGPT app for Windows is now available to all users. Previously, this app was only accessible to ChatGPT Plus subscribers since its initial public launch last month.
I’ve already written about this app and explained key technical terms in a previous article on ddt.one. In this article, I’ll focus on the latest updates and features of the app rather than repeating the basics. If you missed that earlier post, you can read it here: OpenAI Launches ChatGPT App for Windows.
Key Features
- Familiar Interface: The app provides a user interface nearly identical to the ChatGPT web version.
- Advanced Voice Mode: This standout feature allows users to converse with ChatGPT using their microphone. A “Start Voice Mode” button appears below the text input box, guiding users to grant microphone access and choose a voice before starting the conversation. Voice mode’s limitations are similar to those found in the mobile versions for Android and iOS.
- Companion Window Mode: This secondary, smaller window operates alongside the main app window. It excludes the sidebar and most other options, enabling quick conversations from anywhere. More details on this mode follow below.
- Enhanced Attachment Options: The "Attach File" button now includes two new options:
- Take Photo: Capture images using your laptop's webcam or an external camera (microphone access required).
- Screenshot: Opens a pop-up window for selecting and capturing a screenshot to share in the chat.
Existing options include uploading files from your computer or cloud services like Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive, provided you’ve connected these services to ChatGPT. You can also copy and paste files using Ctrl+V.
- Keyboard Shortcuts: All web version shortcuts are available, with some new additions:
- Ctrl+: Increase text size
- Ctrl-: Decrease text size
Activating Companion Window Mode
By default, this mode can be activated by clicking the app icon in the system tray or pressing Alt+Space. However, as noted in my previous article, this shortcut conflicts with a Windows feature. You should change it to avoid issues. Follow these steps to modify the shortcut:
- Open the app and click your account name.
- Select “Settings” and navigate to the “App” tab.
- Locate the shortcut change option under “Companion Window,” click the current shortcut (default: Alt+Space).
- Enter a new shortcut and confirm it. Ensure the chosen shortcut doesn’t conflict with Windows features for the best experience.
Note: All web version settings are available in the app. A button in the companion window allows you to open the main app window for full access. You can close the app entirely when not in use.
Changing the App’s Interface Language
By default, the app’s interface is in English after logging in. To change the language:
- Click your account name.
- Select “Settings” and go to the “General” tab (it should already be selected).
- Locate the language dropdown list under “Language.” Click to expand it, then use the up/down arrow keys to choose a language (default: Auto-detect) and press Enter.
- Wait a few seconds for the interface to switch to the selected language.
ChatGPT App Shortcut List
- Start new chat: Ctrl+Shift+O
- Focus on input field: Shift+Esc
- Copy last code block: Ctrl+Shift+;
- Copy last response: Ctrl+Shift+C
- Set custom instructions: Ctrl+Shift+I
- Toggle sidebar: Ctrl+Shift+S
- Clear chat: Ctrl+Shift+⌫
- Zoom in: Ctrl+
- Zoom out: Ctrl-
- Reset zoom: Ctrl+0
- View shortcuts: Ctrl+/
Explore additional settings in the app and customize them to your preferences.
Conclusion
This article has become quite lengthy, so I’ll end it here. If you have questions, feel free to comment below or contact me for assistance. You can find the ChatGPT app on the Microsoft Store or by clicking this link: ChatGPT App for Windows.
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