Microsoft’s August 2026 preview gives the Copilot app on Windows a new taskbar icon and visual and navigation changes. It is part of Microsoft’s effort to bring the Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot apps into one experience, but it is not a finished redesign rolling out to everyone at once.
What changed in the Windows Copilot preview?
Windows Insider release notes for Copilot version 152.0.4191.25, dated August 14, 2026, describe an updated taskbar icon and visual and navigation changes inside the app. Microsoft also says feature availability may change during the preview. The notes do not describe a complete list of interface changes, so what appears can vary as the preview develops. Read Microsoft’s Windows Insider release notes.
The preview is connected to Microsoft’s plan to unify the Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot app experiences. Microsoft Learn says the update changes existing installations into a single Copilot app experience. Its deployment guidance applies to Windows 11 version 22H2 or later, with broad commercial rollout beginning in September 2026. The schedule is for commercial customers; it does not mean every user will see the same changes on that date. See Microsoft’s Copilot app unification guidance.
What happened to Ask Copilot and other features?
Microsoft temporarily disabled Ask Copilot on the taskbar while it updates the experience and incorporates feedback. The Insider notes also warn that Notebooks, Connectors, and Vision may be temporarily unavailable, and that users may encounter functionality gaps. These are preview conditions, not announcements that the features have been permanently removed. Check the current preview notes for changes.
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Will work and personal accounts stay separate?
Yes. Microsoft Support says the updated app can support a personal account, a work or school account, or both. Users can switch between those experiences, but their data does not flow between them. Work or school use remains subject to the organization’s security, privacy, compliance, and administrative controls. The exact app appearance and available features can depend on the account and device. Read Microsoft Support’s account and app guidance.
Does the new look require a subscription?
No subscription is required simply to receive the app refresh. Microsoft says personal users can continue to chat, create images, and upload files for free, subject to capacity and usage limits. Microsoft 365 subscriptions provide higher limits and additional capabilities; the update itself is not described as a paid-only feature. See Microsoft’s current account guidance.
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What happens to existing Copilot chats and content?
Microsoft says most chats and created content will move to the updated app, but content tied to retired features may be handled differently. Its support guidance identifies Group Chat, Podcasts, and consumer Deep Research as features retiring after August 18, 2026. If you rely on content from those features, consult Microsoft’s current migration guidance rather than assuming it will transfer like an ordinary chat. Review Microsoft’s migration and retirement details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How this differs from Copilot’s 2025 redesign
Microsoft announced a separate Copilot on Windows redesign on August 20, 2025. That earlier update introduced a home experience showing recent apps, files, and conversations, plus semantic file search on Copilot+ PCs; Microsoft said its rollout began gradually through Insider channels in the Microsoft Store. Those features belong to the 2025 announcement and should not be assumed to describe what changed in the distinct 2026 app-unification preview. Read Microsoft’s 2025 announcement.
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