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Choose the Copilot access you need
Copilot is available through desktop, web, and mobile experiences, but signing in with a different account can change what you can do. A standalone Copilot chat is not the same entitlement as Copilot features integrated into Microsoft 365 apps.
| What you want | Where to start | What determines access |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone Copilot chat | Open the Copilot web app or install the app, then sign in | The account you use and the features available to it |
| Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote with a personal account | Sign in to Microsoft 365 with the account tied to your subscription | A qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription and its current entitlements |
| Copilot in Microsoft 365 for work or school | Sign in with your work or school account; ask your administrator if access is missing | Your prerequisite Microsoft 365 license, any assigned Copilot license, and organization policy |
Microsoft describes different work-account access labels, including Copilot Chat (Basic), M365 Copilot (Basic), and M365 Copilot (Premium). Their capabilities differ, and exact entitlements can change by plan or organization. See Microsoft’s Copilot license guidance and license options for Microsoft Copilot.
Enable the standalone Copilot app
- Choose the experience. Use the Copilot web app or install the desktop or mobile app. Microsoft lists Windows and Mac desktop, web, iOS, and Android access in its Copilot app getting-started guide.
- Sign in with the intended identity. Choose your personal Microsoft account or your work/school account. If you use the wrong identity, the app may show a different experience from the one you expected.
- On Windows, install the app if it is absent. Microsoft directs users to get it from the Microsoft Store and sign in. A keyboard Copilot key or the Windows+C shortcut can launch the app; these are conveniences, not requirements for Microsoft 365 app features. Microsoft documents shortcut options in its Windows Copilot access instructions.
Windows also supports optional launch conveniences such as the “Hey, Copilot” wake word and a supported pen shortcut. Their availability depends on the device and settings; none substitutes for a license needed for Microsoft 365 integration.
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Enable Copilot in Microsoft 365 with a personal account
For personal accounts, check that the account you use in Microsoft 365 is the owner of a qualifying subscription. Microsoft says qualifying subscriptions such as Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium provide Copilot in Microsoft 365; only the subscription owner can use Copilot in desktop apps. Check Microsoft’s current license and feature details, because plan entitlements can change.
- Sign in to Microsoft 365 or the relevant desktop app with the subscription owner’s personal Microsoft account.
- Confirm the subscription includes the Copilot capability you want, rather than assuming that access to the standalone app includes in-app features.
- Open an editable document, workbook, or presentation and look for the Copilot entry point. If it is missing, follow the checks below.
Enable Copilot for a work or school account
Work and school accounts are managed by an organization. Basic web-grounded Copilot Chat and licensed work-grounded chat are different access levels; a Copilot button or chat page alone does not establish that you have the broader Microsoft 365 Copilot features. Microsoft’s license options overview explains the distinction.
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What the administrator needs to check
- The user has a qualifying prerequisite Microsoft 365 license and the required identity.
- The deployment meets Microsoft’s stated requirements, which include an Exchange Online primary mailbox, supported platforms, and network access.
- The organization has assigned the appropriate Copilot license and has not disabled access through its settings or policies.
Administrator license assignment
- In the Microsoft 365 admin center, open Billing > Licenses, choose Microsoft Copilot, and assign the license to the relevant users or groups.
- Verify the user under Users > Active Users.
- Use the admin center’s Copilot controls to review license status, settings, and security or compliance controls. Microsoft recommends a staged rollout: pilot first, expand deployment, then operate and monitor it.
- For account-level qualification, run Microsoft’s Copilot License Details diagnostic.
Microsoft’s deployment steps and prerequisites are documented in Set up Microsoft Copilot and assign licenses and its minimum deployment requirements.
After the license is assigned
Microsoft says Copilot can take up to 24 hours to appear in some apps after assignment. Refresh or restart the app if it does not show up. For in-app use, sign in with the work or school account and make sure the file is editable rather than read-only.
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Fix a Copilot button that is missing
Microsoft Support notes, “The button moved, so it might not be missing.” In current Microsoft 365 apps, the Copilot Dynamic Action Button is normally in the lower-right corner of a document, workbook, or presentation. The entry point changed; Microsoft says the capability did not. Use the following checks in order.
- Look in the lower-right corner. Check the document, workbook, or presentation rather than relying on an older ribbon location.
- Update Microsoft 365. Install the latest available build for your app.
- Refresh the license on Windows. In a Microsoft 365 app, go to File > Account > Update License, then close and restart the Microsoft 365 apps. On Mac, use the separate Refresh License flow in the app’s About or More Info menus.
- Check the update channel for business devices. Microsoft says Copilot features are unavailable in the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel in this guidance; the supported channels listed are Current Channel and Monthly Enterprise Channel. If the device is managed, ask your organization’s help desk before changing settings.
- Review privacy settings. The options named Experiences that analyze your content and All connected experiences can prevent the button from appearing. If your organization manages these settings, contact its administrator.
- Confirm entitlement and policy. Troubleshooting the button cannot grant a missing license or override an organization’s decision to disable access.
These locations and troubleshooting steps are in Microsoft’s guide to finding and enabling a missing Copilot button (last updated July 2026).
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Why installing Copilot may not enable the feature you want
Installation gives you access to an app, not automatically to every feature across Microsoft products. The account used determines whether you see a personal or work/school experience; a Microsoft 365 subscription or organizational license determines additional in-app capabilities. For work accounts, administrator settings and deployment requirements also matter. Check the specific app, account, and entitlement rather than looking for one universal Copilot switch.
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