To install and set up CoPilot Interview, download the zip for your computer (CoPilot_Interview_Setup.zip on Windows, CoPilot Interview.zip on macOS), unzip it, run the app, and allow microphone access; on a Mac, also allow Screen Recording when macOS asks, because macOS uses that permission for system-audio capture. There's no account to create: the app opens on the free plan, and a 3-question Mock Interview is the fastest way to confirm your audio works.
CoPilot Interview is a desktop app for Windows 10+ and macOS 12+. It runs in its own window, not as a browser extension. The steps below take about 10 minutes, plus a short audio check. Disclosure: we make CoPilot Interview.
What do you need before you install CoPilot Interview?
| Item | What's supported | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 or later; macOS 12 or later | No Linux app |
| Account | None needed for the free plan | No credit card either |
| Microphone | Any working mic | A wired headset gives the cleanest audio |
| Speakers or headphones | Whatever your computer plays sound through | Wired headphones are a safe default |
| Internet | A stable connection | Speech-to-text and AI answers run on cloud models |
| Phone (optional) | Android 10+ companion, beta | Not on Google Play yet; iPhone version coming |
For hardware details such as memory and bandwidth, see our guide to system requirements for AI interview assistants.
How to install CoPilot Interview on Windows
- Download. Go to the CoPilot Interview download section and choose Windows. You get CoPilot_Interview_Setup.zip.
- Unzip. In File Explorer, right-click the zip, choose Extract All, and open the extracted folder.
- Run. Double-click the setup file in the extracted folder and follow the prompts.
- If Windows shows a warning. Microsoft Defender SmartScreen can show a "Windows protected your PC" screen for apps that don't yet have an established download reputation. Microsoft's SmartScreen overview explains the reputation check. If you downloaded the file yourself from copilotinterview.com, click More info, check the app name, then Run anyway. If the file came from anywhere else, delete it.
- Allow the microphone. On Windows 11, open Settings, then Privacy & security, then Microphone, and turn on Microphone access, Let apps access your microphone and Let desktop apps access your microphone. Windows 10 uses the same switches under Settings, then Privacy, then Microphone. Microsoft's guide to turning on microphone permissions in Windows shows each screen (checked October 2026).
The desktop-apps switch is the one people miss. Restart CoPilot Interview after changing any permission. For more Windows detail, read the Windows install and troubleshooting guide.
How to install CoPilot Interview on a Mac
- Download. In the download section, choose macOS. You get CoPilot Interview.zip.
- Unzip. Double-click the zip in your Downloads folder; Finder extracts the app.
- Move it to Applications. Drag the app into Applications so the permissions you grant belong to the copy you open.
- Open it. macOS asks whether you're sure you want to open an app downloaded from the internet. Confirm. If macOS blocks it, Apple's guide to opening apps safely on your Mac explains the Open Anyway button in Privacy & Security.
- Allow Microphone. Click Allow when macOS asks. Mock Interview needs it to hear your answers.
- Allow Screen Recording. When macOS asks, allow it. macOS uses this permission for system-audio capture, which is how the app hears audio your Mac plays. On current macOS the setting is called Screen & System Audio Recording, under System Settings, then Privacy & Security, as Apple's Mac User Guide describes (checked October 2026).
- Quit and reopen. Press Command-Q and open the app again so new permissions take effect.
Our Mac install and permissions guide covers each prompt in more depth, including where the settings live on macOS 12.
Your first session: a 10-minute audio check
Test before the day you need the app, not five minutes before a call. This check uses two short sessions.
Check 1: your microphone (Mock Interview)
- Open Mock Interview, paste your résumé and a job description, and choose 3 questions.
- Answer the first question out loud.
- If you get a score out of 10 with feedback on what you actually said, your microphone works.
The CoPilot Interview Mock Interview guide explains each setting if you want to keep going.
Check 2: your computer's audio (live captions)
- Put on the headphones you plan to use.
- Start a Candidate Mode session and play a short video of someone asking an interview question through your computer.
- Watch for live captions of the speaker. A structured answer should appear in about 2 seconds after the question ends.
If check 1 works but check 2 doesn't, the app hears your mic but not your computer's audio. Jump to the troubleshooting table below. Follow the rules of the employer or assessment you're in — many people use it only to practice, which works on the free plan.
Choosing AI models and plans
Every plan runs the same app. Plans change session length, daily time and which AI models you can pick.
| Plan | Price (USD) | Session length | AI models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 forever | Up to 15 minutes, 15 minutes a day | Free AI models |
| Standard | $14.99/mo (sale; regular $19.99) | 60 minutes, up to 100 minutes a day, no gap between sessions | Dual AI Mode |
| Pro | $29.99/mo | 70 minutes | Premium ChatGPT and Gemini models, multi-model Dual AI |
| Pro+ | $49.99/mo | 70 minutes | Adds Claude models |
| Pro Annual | $199.99/year | 70 minutes | Pro billed yearly |
Dual AI Mode shows two models' answers side by side. Start on the free models; upgrade only if you need longer sessions or want to compare models. Full details are on the pricing page. A 14-day money-back guarantee covers the first payment of a new subscription if you used under 30 minutes of live session time, and you can cancel anytime from the account page.
How to fix common CoPilot Interview setup problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No captions of the other speaker | The call app plays through a different output device, or (Mac) Screen Recording isn't allowed | Set the call app's speaker to the headphones you're using; allow Screen & System Audio Recording, then quit and reopen |
| Mock Interview doesn't hear you | Microphone permission is off, or the wrong mic is selected | Windows: turn on Let desktop apps access your microphone. Mac: allow Microphone in Privacy & Security. Restart the app |
| Garbled or choppy captions | Bluetooth earbuds switching to a lower-quality mode while their mic is in use | Use wired headphones, or use the laptop mic with earbuds for sound only |
| Echo, or your voice appears in the speaker's captions | Speakers playing into your microphone | Use headphones, or turn the speaker volume down |
| Windows won't run the setup file | SmartScreen warning, or running it from inside the zip preview | Extract All first; then More info and Run anyway for a file from copilotinterview.com |
| Mac says the app can't be opened | Gatekeeper prompt for downloaded apps | Use Open Anyway in Privacy & Security for the copy you downloaded |
| The window is in the way | Default size or position | It's a normal desktop window: move and resize it so text is easy to read |
| Session ended after 15 minutes | The free plan's session limit | Start a new session within your 15 daily minutes, or upgrade for 60- or 70-minute sessions |
Headphones are fine and usually help: the app captures what your computer plays, whether that's through speakers or headphones. Our comparison of headphones vs speakers with an AI interview assistant covers each setup, and how AI interview assistants capture system audio explains why the output device matters.
Where your audio goes, and what the app can't do
Audio is streamed in short encrypted segments to a speech-to-text model, and the question text goes to the AI model you chose. Nothing is kept on our servers beyond the request, and session files stay in your Documents folder. The privacy policy has the details.
- The full app is desktop only (Windows and macOS). There's no browser extension and no Linux app.
- The Android companion is a beta installed outside Google Play; the iPhone version is coming.
- Live captions need your computer's audio, so a phone call on a separate handset won't reach the app.
- AI answers and scores can be wrong, so practice in your own words.
- CoPilot Interview is not affiliated with Microsoft Copilot or GitHub Copilot.
For the morning of a real interview, use the day-of setup checklist. To practice with nothing installed, try the browser AI mock interview.
Installed? Run a scored practice round
Check your microphone and get a score out of 10 with what to fix on a real question. Free, no card, no signup.
Try a free AI mock interviewFAQ
How do I install CoPilot Interview?
Download CoPilot_Interview_Setup.zip on Windows or CoPilot Interview.zip on macOS from the CoPilot Interview download section, unzip it, and run the app. No account or credit card is needed for the free plan.
Which permissions does CoPilot Interview need on a Mac?
Allow Microphone so it can hear your answers, and allow Screen Recording (Screen and System Audio Recording on current macOS) when macOS asks, because macOS uses that permission for system-audio capture. Quit and reopen the app after granting them.
Why does Windows say "Windows protected your PC"?
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen shows that warning for downloaded apps without an established reputation. If you downloaded the file yourself from copilotinterview.com, click More info, check the app name and click Run anyway.
Why aren't live captions appearing?
Usually the call app is playing through a different output device than the one you are using, or on a Mac the Screen Recording permission is off. Match the output device, allow the permission, and restart the app.
Can I use headphones with CoPilot Interview?
Yes. The app captures what your computer plays, so headphones work, and wired headphones usually give the cleanest audio. Bluetooth earbuds can sound garbled while their microphone is in use.
Does CoPilot Interview work on Linux, iPhone or in a browser extension?
No. The desktop app runs on Windows 10+ and macOS 12+. There is an Android companion in beta and an iPhone version coming, but no Linux app and no browser extension. The browser mock interview needs nothing installed.