Locate and Enable Missing Copilot Button in Microsoft 365 Apps

Applies To

1. Excel for Microsoft 365
2. Word for Microsoft 365
3. Outlook for Microsoft 365
4. PowerPoint for Microsoft 365
5. OneNote for Microsoft 365
6. Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac
7. Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac
8. Outlook for Microsoft 365 for Mac
9. PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 for Mac
10. OneNote for Microsoft 365 for Mac

If you have an active subscription but cannot see Copilot in your Microsoft 365 apps, try using our troubleshooting Steps.

Important: Copilot in Outlook is currently supported only for work or school accounts, as well as Microsoft accounts with email addresses ending in outlook.com, hotmail.com, live.com, or msn.com. Microsoft accounts associated with third-party email providers, such as Gmail, Yahoo, or iCloud, can still use Outlook, but these accounts will not have access to Copilot features in Outlook.

Step 1. Fixing Copilot / Enabling on Word.

To ensure Copilot is available, make sure you're signed into your Microsoft 365 apps with an account that includes a Copilot license:

For Home Users

You must have a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription, along with a Copilot Pro subscription.

Note. In certain regions, a Copilot Pro subscription may not be required.

For Business Users

You need a Microsoft 365 subscription such as Business Basic, Business Standard, Business Premium, E3, E5, F1, or F3, along with Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Additional Note. For new, unsaved files or files stored locally on your hard drive, the primary account displayed at the top of the Microsoft 365 window must be licensed for Copilot.

Step 2. Make sure you are using the latest build of Microsoft 365 to access Copilot features.

Step 3. Refresh Your License.

1. Open any Microsoft 365 app and navigate to File > Account.
2. Click on Update License.
3. Close all open Microsoft 365 apps and restart them to ensure the license refresh takes effect.

Step 4. Ensure You're on the Current or Monthly Enterprise Channel.

If you're using the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel for Microsoft 365, Copilot features will not be available in your apps. To access these features, switch to the Current Channel or the Monthly Enterprise Channel.

What You Can Do?

• Contact your internal help desk or technical support team to assist with updating your device to the correct Microsoft 365 update channel.
• In the meantime, you can use the web versions of Microsoft 365 applications, which do not require a channel update.

How do you check if you're on the semi-annual enterprise channel?

1. Open any Microsoft 365 application, such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
2. Navigate to File > Account.
3. In the Product Information section, look for the update channel.
4. If you see the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel, your organization is using this update channel.

Check Your Privacy Settings

Note. If your Microsoft 365 account is managed by your organization, your IT admin controls privacy settings. Contact them for assistance.

1. Open any Microsoft 365 application, such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
2. Go to File > Account.
3. Under Account Privacy, click Manage Settings.
4. Check the following settings.
   • Ensure Experiences that analyze your content is turned on.
   • Scroll down and confirm that All Connected Experiences is also turned on.