diff --git a/src/specify_cli/integrations/copilot/__init__.py b/src/specify_cli/integrations/copilot/__init__.py
index 1a8285d7c4..ace60fe217 100644
--- a/src/specify_cli/integrations/copilot/__init__.py
+++ b/src/specify_cli/integrations/copilot/__init__.py
@@ -49,11 +49,22 @@
 def _copilot_executable() -> str:
     """Return the executable name for Copilot CLI on this platform.
 
-    On Windows, subprocess invocation is reliable with `copilot.cmd`.
+    On Windows, the Copilot CLI may be installed as `copilot.exe` (e.g. a
+    standalone installer, winget, scoop) or as a `copilot.cmd` npm shim.
+    Probe `PATH` for whichever is actually present instead of assuming the
+    npm-style shim.
     """
-    if os.name == "nt":
-        return "copilot.cmd"
-    return "copilot"
+    if os.name != "nt":
+        return "copilot"
+
+    for candidate in ("copilot.exe", "copilot.cmd"):
+        if shutil.which(candidate):
+            return candidate
+
+    # Nothing found on PATH — keep the historical default so the
+    # resulting "command not found" error still references the
+    # previously expected name.
+    return "copilot.cmd"
 
 
 def _allow_all() -> bool:
@@ -293,9 +304,10 @@ def _resolve_executable(self) -> str:
         """Return the Copilot CLI executable, respecting the env-var override.
 
         Checks ``SPECKIT_INTEGRATION_COPILOT_EXECUTABLE`` first.  Falls
-        back to the platform-specific default from ``_copilot_executable()``
-        (``copilot.cmd`` on Windows, ``copilot`` elsewhere) so that
-        existing behaviour is preserved when the env var is unset.
+        back to the platform-specific default from ``_copilot_executable()``:
+        on Windows this probes ``PATH`` for ``copilot.exe`` then
+        ``copilot.cmd``, only falling back to ``copilot.cmd`` when neither is
+        found; elsewhere it is always ``copilot``.
         """
         env_name = "SPECKIT_INTEGRATION_COPILOT_EXECUTABLE"
         override = os.environ.get(env_name, "").strip()
diff --git a/tests/integrations/test_extra_args.py b/tests/integrations/test_extra_args.py
index 0ab68cb43a..6babdee392 100644
--- a/tests/integrations/test_extra_args.py
+++ b/tests/integrations/test_extra_args.py
@@ -639,6 +639,59 @@ def test_executable_env_var_copilot_unset_uses_platform_default(monkeypatch):
     assert args[0] == _copilot_executable()
 
 
+def test_copilot_executable_windows_prefers_exe_on_path(monkeypatch):
+    """On Windows, `_copilot_executable()` must detect a `copilot.exe`
+    install rather than assuming the npm `copilot.cmd` shim (#4755)."""
+    import shutil
+
+    from specify_cli.integrations.copilot import _copilot_executable
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(os, "name", "nt")
+    paths = {"copilot.exe": r"C:\tools\copilot.exe", "copilot.cmd": r"C:\tools\copilot.cmd"}
+    monkeypatch.setattr(shutil, "which", lambda name: paths.get(name))
+    assert _copilot_executable() == "copilot.exe"
+
+
+def test_copilot_executable_windows_falls_back_to_cmd_shim(monkeypatch):
+    """A Windows install exposing only `copilot.cmd` (npm shim) still works."""
+    import shutil
+
+    from specify_cli.integrations.copilot import _copilot_executable
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(os, "name", "nt")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        shutil, "which", lambda name: r"C:\tools\copilot.cmd" if name == "copilot.cmd" else None
+    )
+    assert _copilot_executable() == "copilot.cmd"
+
+
+def test_copilot_executable_windows_nothing_on_path_keeps_historical_default(monkeypatch):
+    """Nothing found on PATH keeps the historical `copilot.cmd` default so
+    the resulting error still names the previously expected executable."""
+    import shutil
+
+    from specify_cli.integrations.copilot import _copilot_executable
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(os, "name", "nt")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(shutil, "which", lambda name: None)
+    assert _copilot_executable() == "copilot.cmd"
+
+
+def test_copilot_executable_windows_ignores_unlaunchable_bare_name(monkeypatch):
+    """A bare `copilot` match (e.g. a `.bat`/`.com` resolved via `PATHEXT`)
+    must not be returned: `CreateProcess` doesn't consult `PATHEXT`, so a
+    bare name detected this way can't actually be launched."""
+    import shutil
+
+    from specify_cli.integrations.copilot import _copilot_executable
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(os, "name", "nt")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        shutil, "which", lambda name: r"C:\tools\copilot.bat" if name == "copilot" else None
+    )
+    assert _copilot_executable() == "copilot.cmd"
+
+
 def test_executable_env_var_copilot_dispatch_command(monkeypatch):
     """CopilotIntegration.dispatch_command honours the executable env var."""
     import subprocess
diff --git a/tests/test_workflows.py b/tests/test_workflows.py
index d8abcc0f55..bd1332edbe 100644
--- a/tests/test_workflows.py
+++ b/tests/test_workflows.py
@@ -1024,11 +1024,10 @@ def test_codex_exec_args(self):
     def test_copilot_exec_args(self, monkeypatch):
         monkeypatch.delenv("SPECKIT_COPILOT_ALLOW_ALL_TOOLS", raising=False)
         monkeypatch.delenv("SPECKIT_ALLOW_ALL_TOOLS", raising=False)
-        from specify_cli.integrations.copilot import CopilotIntegration
+        from specify_cli.integrations.copilot import CopilotIntegration, _copilot_executable
         impl = CopilotIntegration()
         args = impl.build_exec_args("do stuff", model="claude-sonnet-4-20250514")
-        expected_exec = "copilot.cmd" if os.name == "nt" else "copilot"
-        assert args[0] == expected_exec
+        assert args[0] == _copilot_executable()
         assert "-p" in args
         assert "--yolo" in args
         assert "--model" in args