Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft's AI assistant, now one app for home and work, built into Windows, Edge, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. A free mini-course from basics to power moves.
Whisperer's verdict: 4.1 / 5
What it nails
- Built into Windows and Office apps
- Sees your screen with Copilot Vision
- Turns answers into Word and Excel files
Watch out for
- Features shifting during the 2026 app merger
Copilot is Microsoft's AI assistant. From mid-August 2026 Microsoft began merging the free consumer Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot into one Copilot app, with an account switcher for personal and work accounts. You find it at copilot.cloud.microsoft (copilot.microsoft.com still works), in Windows, in Edge and inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Start here: the basics
- Open Copilot in Windows, Edge, the mobile app or the web. Signing in keeps your history and unlocks image creation.
- Ask anything. Copilot gives "real-time answers based on web search".
- Say the format. Microsoft: "Ask for the format you want from Copilot, whether it's a paragraph, step-by-step instructions, or a list."
- Start fresh when you change subject: type "new topic".
Microsoft's prompt formula: Goal, Context, Source, Expectations
Say what you want (goal), why and for whom (context), which files or emails to use (source) and how the answer should look (expectations).
Draft an outline of a training manual about time management. Our audience is professionals who work in a hybrid environment and constantly need to attend virtual meetings and meet deadlines. The tone of the document will be friendly and suggestive.
Example by Microsoft · source ↗ · Microsoft's own example.
Write a summary based on all emails from Sam in the past two weeks.
Example by Microsoft · source ↗ · Needs your email connected.
Plan a 3-day Nashville itinerary for a family with kids ages 10, 8, and 4 — include food, fun, and indoor options
Example by Tom's Guide · source ↗
Which plan to pick
| Plan | Price (US) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free Copilot | $0 | Chat, web answers, image creation and file uploads, within capacity limits |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $9.99 / month | Advanced chat, more vision and image use, Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $12.99 / month | Same AI features, for the subscription owner only |
| Microsoft 365 Premium | $19.99 / month | Extensive usage, the Researcher agent and some agentic AI |
| Microsoft 365 Pro | $99.99 / month | Highest usage, including agentic AI |
Paid plans run on monthly AI credits: a request like "summarize my inbox" uses one. AI features belong to the subscription owner and cannot be shared.
Power moves
1. Copilot Vision: let it see your screen
Vision is "a second set of eyes that can scan, analyze, and offer insights based on what Copilot sees" in Windows, Edge or through your phone camera. It looks and advises; it does not click for you.
2. Connect your email, calendar and files
Link OneDrive and Outlook.com, or Gmail, Google Drive and Google Calendar, then ask about your own day.
What's on my Outlook calendar tomorrow?
Example by Microsoft · source ↗ · Connect Outlook.com in settings first.
3. From chat to Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Long answers get an export button, and you can ask for a file directly.
Create an Excel file from this table
Example by Microsoft · source ↗ · Or: "Export this text to a Word document".
Create a 5-slide PowerPoint on 'The Future of AI Assistants by 2035' with speaker notes.
Example by Tom's Guide · source ↗
4. Pages: edit an answer into a document
Pages is "designed to help you write or iterate ideas with Copilot's help". Pick "Edit this response" to open an answer in Pages.
5. Create images
"The more detailed your prompt, the better Copilot can generate images with specific art styles."
A glacier wall towering like a cathedral interior, deep blue ice with light refracting through layers, tiny human figure at base for scale, cinematic, cold mist in air, hyper-real detail
Example by Microsoft AI · source ↗ · Made with MAI-Image-2, Microsoft's image model rolling out in Copilot.
Design a flyer for a summer music festival and add a date for May 15, 2024.
Example by Microsoft Learn · source ↗ · Made in Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Create an image of a modern office with bright colored furniture, lots of natural light and exotic plants
Example by Microsoft Support · source ↗ · Made with Copilot in Word.
6. Cowork: tasks done for you (preview)
Cowork "carries out tasks on your behalf": documents, email, calendar, research, scheduled jobs and even browsing the web by clicking and typing. It is a preview on paid Microsoft 365 plans.
Microsoft says Copilot "may make mistakes, misinterpret instructions, or be deceived by malicious hidden instructions" when it acts for you, so approve sensitive actions yourself. Deep Research, Podcasts and Group Chat were retired from consumer Copilot on 18 August 2026.
FAQ
Is Copilot free?
Yes. Free Copilot includes chat, web answers, image creation and file uploads, within capacity limits.
Is Copilot the same as ChatGPT?
No. It is Microsoft's own assistant. OpenAI says GPT-5.6 is the preferred model in Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Microsoft also uses its own MAI models, such as MAI-Image-2 for pictures.
What happened to Copilot Pro?
Copilot features now come with Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, Premium and Pro plans.
Can Copilot see my screen?
Yes, with Copilot Vision, when you choose to share it.
Where did Deep Research go?
Microsoft retired it from consumer Copilot on 18 August 2026. The Researcher agent is available on Microsoft 365 Premium and Pro.
Sources: Changes to the Copilot app · Microsoft 365 plans for individuals · Write a great prompt · Copilot Vision · Windows Central: unified Copilot app