Copilot is built into Outlook on the web and newer desktop versions — you usually just need to enable it

Microsoft Copilot is already part of Outlook if you use Outlook on the web or have a recent version of Outlook for Windows or Mac. You do not need to install anything separate. The feature sits in your compose window and helps draft emails, summarize long threads, and suggest replies. Turning it on takes one or two clicks, though availability depends on your Microsoft 365 subscription level and which version of Outlook you are using.

The steps differ slightly between Outlook on the web and the desktop app, and some subscription tiers do not include Copilot yet. If you cannot find the Copilot button after following these steps, your account may not have access — this is not a problem with your setup, just a limit on your current plan.

Key Takeaways

  • Copilot in Outlook works on the web version and desktop versions from late 2023 onward, but requires a Microsoft 365 subscription with Copilot Pro or higher.
  • In Outlook on the web, the Copilot button appears in the compose window next to formatting tools once your account has access.
  • On the desktop app, you may need to enable Copilot in settings or update to the latest version before the button appears.
  • Copilot can draft emails from a prompt, summarize message threads, and suggest replies, but works only in English for now.

Enabling Copilot in Outlook on the web

Open Outlook in your web browser and sign in with your Microsoft account. Click the New Mail button to start composing an email. In the compose window that opens, look for the Copilot icon — it looks like a small sparkle or star — in the toolbar above the message body, usually near the formatting buttons.

If you see the icon, Copilot is already enabled for your account. Click it to open the Copilot panel on the right side of the compose window. If you do not see the icon at all, your subscription may not include Copilot yet, or you may need to refresh the page and sign out and back in. Outlook on the web updates automatically, so there is nothing to read or install.

Turning on Copilot in Outlook for Windows or Mac

Open Outlook on your computer and check the version number. Click File (Windows) or Outlook (Mac) in the menu bar, then select About Outlook. The version should be 2310 or newer for Copilot to be available. If your version is older, click File > Office Account (Windows) or Outlook > Check for Updates (Mac) and install any pending updates.

Once you have the latest version, start a new email by clicking New Mail. In the compose window, look for the Copilot icon in the ribbon or toolbar. If it is not there, go to File > Options (Windows) or Outlook > Preferences (Mac), search for "Copilot", and make sure it is turned on. Close and reopen Outlook after changing this setting.

What Copilot can do in Outlook

Once Copilot is enabled, you can use it in three main ways. To draft an email, click the Copilot icon in the compose window and type what you want the email to say — for example, "Write a professional email asking for a meeting next week." Copilot will generate a draft you can edit and send. To summarize a long email thread, open the thread and click the Copilot icon at the top of the message list; Copilot will condense the conversation into key points.

To get reply suggestions, open an email you received and click the Copilot icon. Copilot will suggest three or four possible replies based on the message content. You can edit any suggestion before sending, or ignore it and write your own reply. All of these features work only in English at the moment, even if your Outlook is set to another language.

Checking your subscription level

Copilot in Outlook requires Microsoft 365 Copilot Pro or a business plan that includes Copilot — not all Microsoft 365 subscriptions have it yet. To check what you have, sign into your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com, click Subscriptions, and look at your active plan. If it says "Microsoft 365 Personal" or "Microsoft 365 Family" without mention of Copilot, you may not have access.

Some organizations provide Copilot through their business accounts, so if you use Outlook at work, ask your IT department whether Copilot is available to you. If your personal subscription does not include it, you can upgrade to Copilot Pro through the Microsoft 365 website, though this is a separate paid tier beyond a standard subscription.

Troubleshooting when Copilot does not appear

If you have followed the steps above and still do not see the Copilot icon, try these fixes in order. First, sign out of Outlook completely — close the browser tab or the desktop app — and sign back in. Second, clear your browser cache if you are using Outlook on the web: in Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac), select "All time", and click Clear data. Third, make sure you are using a supported browser: Outlook on the web works best in Chrome, Edge, or Safari.

If you are using the desktop app, uninstall and reinstall Outlook from the Microsoft 365 website rather than the Windows Store, as the Store version sometimes lags behind in updates. If Copilot still does not appear after these steps, your account genuinely may not have access yet — Microsoft is rolling out Copilot gradually, and not all regions or subscription types have it available.

How Copilot affects your computer's performance

Copilot in Outlook runs on Microsoft's servers, not on your computer, so it does not slow down your machine or use your processor. The feature sends your email text to Microsoft's cloud servers to generate suggestions, which means there is a brief delay — usually one to three seconds — while Copilot processes your request. This is the same cloud processing that powers other Microsoft 365 features like Designer or Copilot in Word.

The only performance impact you might notice is a slight increase in internet bandwidth when you use Copilot, since it uploads your message text to the cloud. If you have a slow internet connection, you may see a longer wait time for suggestions. Disabling Copilot in settings will not speed up Outlook itself, since the feature is optional and does not run in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Copilot in Outlook on my phone?

Copilot in Outlook is not yet available on mobile apps for iPhone or Android. It works only in Outlook on the web and the desktop versions for Windows and Mac. You can still use Copilot on the web version by opening Outlook in your phone's browser, though the experience is not optimized for small screens.

Does Copilot read my emails to train itself?

Microsoft does not use your emails to train Copilot or improve its models. Your message text is sent to Microsoft's servers to generate suggestions, but it is not stored or used for training. Microsoft's privacy policy covers how your data is handled, and you can review it on the Microsoft Trust Center website.

What if I do not want Copilot to see my email content?

You can turn off Copilot in Outlook settings at any time. In Outlook on the web, this option may be in your preferences. On the desktop app, go to File > Options (Windows) or Outlook > Preferences (Mac) and disable Copilot. When it is off, Copilot will not process any of your messages.

Why does Copilot only work in English?

Microsoft built Copilot in Outlook to work in English first because that is where the technology is most accurate. Support for other languages is planned but not yet available. If you write emails in another language, Copilot will not generate suggestions for them.

Can I use Copilot if I share my Microsoft 365 account with family?

If you have a Microsoft 365 Family subscription, each family member gets their own account and their own Copilot access if the plan includes it. Each person signs in with their own Microsoft account, and Copilot works independently for each user. Shared mailboxes at work may have different rules — ask your IT department.