Standard or Thinking mode
Switch Copilot between Standard and Thinking, see what Thinking changes, and decide when the extra wait is worth it.
Copilot has two modes. Standard starts answering fastest. Thinking spends more time working through the question before it starts writing, which helps with questions that need careful reasoning. Switch between them at any time, even during an interview.
Switch modes
The switch shows the current mode, Standard or Thinking. Click or tap it to change to the other one.
The switch is at the bottom right of the transcript panel. Hover over it to see Reasoning mode.
The switch is at the bottom right of the transcript panel. Hover over it to see Reasoning mode.
On the Copilot tab, the switch is to the right of Add extra context..., above the main button.
On the Copilot tab, the switch is to the right of Add extra context..., above the main button.
When you switch to Thinking, May take longer appears next to the switch for a moment, and Thinking turns purple. On iPhone and Android, Generate Answer also shows small moving dots while Thinking is on.
The change applies to the next answer you ask for, including follow-ups. Your choice stays until you change it, on that device. It isn’t saved to your account, so set it on each device you use.
What changes with Thinking
Thinking changes how long Copilot works on the question, not how the answer looks.
| Standard | Thinking | |
|---|---|---|
| Before the answer starts | A short wait | A longer wait while Copilot works through the question |
| Best for | Most interview questions | Questions with several steps or a tricky detail |
| Style and length | Set by your response style | Set by your response style |
Everything else stays the same: Copilot uses the same transcript, interview profile, custom instructions and Copilot settings. A Thinking answer counts as one Copilot answer, just like a Standard one. See Weekly limits.
When Thinking is worth it
Thinking helps most when the right answer depends on working something out, for example:
- Coding, algorithm and debugging problems, especially with a screenshot or photo of the problem. See Coding interviews.
- Estimation and math questions, such as sizing a market or working out a cost.
- Case questions, system design and other problems with several parts.
- Technical questions where a small detail changes the answer.
Standard is the better choice for behavioral questions, questions about your background and quick back-and-forth conversation. They usually don’t need the extra reasoning, and the shorter wait matters more.
If no answer appears at all, see Answers aren’t generating.
Related articles
Coding interviews
Turn on Coding Support so Copilot answers coding questions with a complete solution in your language, and show it the problem with a screenshot or photo.
Add context: notes, screenshots and photos
Give Copilot more to work with during an interview by typing a note, capturing your screen on a computer or adding a photo on your phone, and choose between Standard and Thinking.
Choose how answers are written
Pick a response style, decide whether Copilot remembers earlier questions, assumes experience or sounds conversational, and set up Coding Support on each device.
How the live Copilot works
Follow what happens from the moment the interviewer speaks to the answer on your screen, and what Interview Pilot saves to History.
Still need help?
Email our support team with your device, what you were doing and any message you saw.
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