How Copilot Chat works with and without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license
Applies To
Copilot Chat is now included with many Microsoft 365 business subscriptions. Exactly what you can do in Copilot Chat including the features available to you, depends on whether or not your admin assigned you a Microsoft 365 Copilot add-on license.
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If you're using Copilot Chat without a Copilot add-on license, responses to your prompts are grounded in data from the web and powered by the latest large language models (LLMs).
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If you're using Copilot Chat with an add-on license, responses become more powerful with the ability to ground your conversation in work context like files, meetings, emails, and more.
To use Copilot Chat you need to sign in with your work or school account and have a qualifying Microsoft 365 business subscription.
Copilot Chat with or without an add-on license
Use Copilot Chat without a Copilot add-on license
Copilot Chat is included at no additional cost with the Microsoft 365 business subscription you use at work or school. You also get access to AI features through Copilot Chat in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook.
What's included? Copilot Chat without the addition of a Copilot add-on license gives you tailored responses based on the context and instructions of your prompt, including your choice of formatting, style, and tone. Agents within Copilot Chat can also automate tasks, and boost team productivity while you stay in control of your data.
Web search responses (also referred to as web-grounded): When web search is turned on, Copilot Chat will create responses to your prompts that are grounded in data from the web and powered by the latest large language models (LLMs). Ask questions and get answers based on public web data.
Pay-as-you-go agents: Use metered AI agents, including standard access to reasoning agents like Researcher and Analyst.
Content awareness: Copilot Chat is aware of the content of your open file (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), page (OneNote), or email or calendar event (Outlook) to provide relevant responses.
Note: If you don't see Copilot Chat when you open the Microsoft 365 Copilot app and your work or school account has a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription, your admin may have turned off all or some of the Copilot features, or Copilot might not be available in your market. If you're an admin and want to learn more about managing Copilot in your organization, see the section Help for admins.
Use Copilot Chat with a Copilot add-on license
To utilize all the benefits of Copilot Chat, your IT admin needs to assign a Copilot add-on license to your work or school account.
What's included? Microsoft 365 Copilot includes Copilot Chat in addition to other Copilot values. Microsoft 365 Copilot includes:
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Web and work-grounded chat: Get answers based on both public web data and your work content. In Copilot Chat you can use the work content you have access to like emails, chats, files, and more to ground Copilot conversations in the context of your work for tailored responses.
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Included access to agents: Access AI agents, including priority access to reasoning agents like Researcher and Analyst.
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Advanced features: Use AI for in-app editing to create, command, and collaborate more effectively.
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App skills: Access advanced Copilot capabilities by selecting App skills from the Copilot dropdown in the app ribbon.
Tip: To learn more about what's included with the different Copilot plans and pricing details, see Microsoft 365 Copilot plans for business.
Tip: How to tell which version of Copilot you have
After signing into M365Copilot.com with your work or school account, you can know you have a Copilot add-on license if the Copilot Chat page includes an option to switch between Work or Web tabs. Copilot Chat offers enterprise-grade security, privacy, and compliance to all users.
Copilot Chat (without a Copilot add-on license)
If you don't have a Copilot add-on license the Work and Web toggle doesn't appear on your Chat page. Copilot Chat is grounded in data from the web and can't invoke your work or school content on its own.
Copilot Chat (with a Copilot add-on license)
With a Microsoft 365 Copilot add-on license, a Work and Web toggle appears at the top of your Chat page. Responses are grounded in data from either web, work, or a combination of both.
To access Copilot Chat
Sign in with your work or school account at M365Copilot.com or launch the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on your Windows or mobile device.
Learn more at Get started with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat.
Copilot help for IT admins
If you're an admin and want to learn more about setting up Copilot Chat in your organization, see the following: