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“Bing Chat” is now called Microsoft Copilot. Microsoft’s free consumer service is available at copilot.com, in the Copilot app, and inside Microsoft Edge. You do not need to create an account for basic chat, although signing in with a personal Microsoft account unlocks features such as chat history, image creation, longer conversations, and voice interactions.
This guide explains the current sign-in and usage process, including how to ask Copilot about a webpage, PDF, or video in Edge. It also separates free consumer Copilot from Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, which uses work or school accounts.
What happened to Bing Chat?
Microsoft no longer presents its current consumer chatbot as “Bing Chat powered by ChatGPT.” The current product name is Microsoft Copilot. You can use it through copilot.com, the Copilot app for Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android, and Microsoft Edge.
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Do you need to sign up for Microsoft Copilot?
No. Microsoft says that signing in is not required for basic use of free Microsoft Copilot. Open copilot.com, enter a request in the prompt box, and submit it.
Signing in is optional but useful. A personal Microsoft account can provide:
- Chat history
- Image creation
- Longer conversations
- Voice interactions
- Other personalized Copilot features
Use a personal Microsoft account for the free consumer experience. A work or school account takes you into a different Microsoft 365 Copilot environment, subject to your organization’s subscription and policies.
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How to start using free Microsoft Copilot
- Open a browser and go to copilot.com.
- If you want only basic access, start typing in the chat prompt without signing in.
- If you want saved history and the additional features associated with an account, select the sign-in option and use your personal Microsoft account.
- Type a question or instruction in the prompt field.
- Submit the prompt and read Copilot’s response.
- Continue in the same conversation when you want Copilot to refine, rewrite, explain, or compare something.
There is no required slash-command system or special prefix for ordinary Copilot chat. Use natural language, for example:
Explain this tax form in plain English, and list the information I need before I fill it out.For a better answer, include the task, relevant context, the desired format, and any restrictions. Compare these two prompts:
| Weak prompt | More useful prompt |
|---|---|
| Tell me about routers. | Explain the difference between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E for a two-bedroom apartment. Use a short comparison table and mention compatibility problems. |
| Rewrite this. | Rewrite this email in a polite, firm tone. Keep it under 120 words and do not change the dates or prices. |
Use Copilot in Microsoft Edge
Edge can let Copilot analyze the webpage, PDF, or video currently open in the browser.
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Sign in to Edge with a personal Microsoft account if you are using the consumer Copilot experience.
- Open the webpage, video, or PDF you want to examine.
- Select the Copilot icon in the upper-right corner.
- Copilot opens in the Edge sidebar.
- Type your request and submit it.
Depending on the page and account, Copilot may offer controls such as Create a Summary and Expand on this topic. Select one to ask Copilot to analyze the current page.
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You can also select the Voice button to have a natural-language conversation about the page using Copilot Vision. This feature may not be available in every region or account.
Examples of useful Edge prompts
Summarize this page in five bullet points.What are the author’s three main claims, and what evidence supports each one?Compare the products mentioned on this page by price, warranty, and storage.Explain this PDF as if I have no technical background.List every deadline mentioned on this page.
Understand what Edge sends to Copilot
The first time Copilot uses Edge information, Microsoft may show an explanation or request permission, depending on your region. Edge then remembers your preference and uses browser information according to that setting.
Depending on your request and settings, Copilot may use:
- Your prompt
- Recent conversation history
- Information from the current webpage
- The page title
- Open tabs
- Browser history
A request that does not need page analysis may use only the URL, page title, prompt, and previous conversation history. Do not assume that opening a private or sensitive page makes its contents unavailable to an AI sidebar.
Turn off Edge page context
- Open the Copilot sidebar in Edge.
- Select More (…).
- Select Settings.
- Open Privacy.
- Turn off Context Clues.
This prevents Copilot from using the current webpage, page title, open tabs, or browser history as Edge context. The exact options shown can vary with Microsoft’s interface and account configuration.
Browse with Copilot is different from regular chat
Browse with Copilot is a separate Edge feature. It is designed to help perform browser tasks, rather than simply answer a question about a page.
To try it in a supported consumer account:
- In the Edge text box, select Browse with Copilot.
- Enter your request.
- For the current page, begin with wording such as “In my browser…” or “On my current page…”.
- For an action, you can begin with “Open…”, “Find…”, “Book…”, or “Add…”.
For example:
On my current page, find the return policy and tell me how many days I have to return the item.Microsoft currently describes consumer Browse with Copilot as rolling out to Microsoft 365 Premium subscribers in the United States, with other markets to follow. It may therefore be absent from your Edge installation.
Why Browse with Copilot may not work
The feature does not work on every website. A site may be blocked by policy, missing from an allow list, or present on a block list. To review URL controls, open:
Edge Settings > Copilot and AI > Browse with Copilot > Manage what URLs can or cannot be
Copilot may ask you to confirm, supervise, or take over for sensitive actions such as purchases, reservations, sending email, deleting calendar entries, banking, or using email sites. It cannot use saved passwords, autofill data, or wallet information to complete a task.
Microsoft Copilot versus Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
These products are easy to confuse because both use the Copilot name.
| Feature | Free consumer Microsoft Copilot | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat |
|---|---|---|
| Typical address | copilot.com | m365copilot.com or Microsoft 365 entry points |
| Account | No sign-in required for basic use; personal account for extra features | Work or school account |
| Subscription | Free consumer access | Requires a qualifying Microsoft 365 business subscription; additional capabilities depend on licensing |
| Prompt field | Consumer chat prompt | Message Copilot |
| Organization data | Not your Microsoft 365 work environment | May use authorized work data, depending on license, permissions, and mode |
In Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, enter your request in Message Copilot, then select Send. The source-upload control may be labeled Add content or Add and manage sources, depending on the current version of Microsoft’s interface.
Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license may be able to switch between work and web modes. Web mode uses public web information through the Bing search index. Work mode can use authorized Microsoft Graph content such as files, email, and chats. Access still follows your existing permissions.
Personal and work accounts cannot be used simultaneously in one Copilot session. At m365copilot.com, use one account type or the other. In Edge, separate browser profiles can keep personal and work sessions open at the same time.
Using Copilot in Edge with a work account
Microsoft says you no longer need to link a personal Microsoft account to a work account. Sign in to Edge with the work or school profile to access Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat through the Edge sidebar.
When you use Copilot with an Entra work account, enterprise data protection may apply. Microsoft says prompts, responses, and files are not used to train foundation models. Your organization can also restrict copying, pasting, or summarizing protected site content. If a work prompt or page-summary feature is unavailable, an administrator policy may be responsible rather than a browser fault.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| You cannot find “Bing Chat.” | Open copilot.com. The consumer product is now Microsoft Copilot. |
| Copilot asks you to sign in. | Basic use does not generally require sign-in, but a particular feature, region, age setting, or account policy may require it. Try the public Copilot site or sign in with a personal account. |
| The Edge sidebar does not summarize a page. | Confirm that the page is open, Copilot has permission to use Edge context, and Context Clues is not disabled. |
| Work data is missing. | Check that you are using the work or school Edge profile, have the appropriate Microsoft 365 license, and have permission to access the files or messages. |
| Browse with Copilot is missing. | Availability is limited by rollout, subscription, region, account, and organization policy. |
| Copilot gives a confident but wrong answer. | Ask for sources, provide the relevant document, verify dates and numbers against the original, and do not rely on it alone for medical, legal, financial, or security decisions. |
FAQ
Is Bing Chat still available?
Microsoft’s current consumer name is Microsoft Copilot. Use copilot.com, the Copilot app, or the Copilot sidebar in Microsoft Edge instead of looking for a separate Bing Chat product.
Can I use Microsoft Copilot without an account?
Yes. Microsoft says sign-in is not required for basic free Copilot use. Signing in with a personal Microsoft account enables features including chat history, image creation, longer conversations, and voice interactions.
Do I need ChatGPT to use Microsoft Copilot?
No. Microsoft Copilot is a Microsoft service with its own access points and account options. You do not need a separate ChatGPT account to use it.
What is the difference between Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat?
Free consumer Copilot is available at copilot.com and supports basic use without sign-in. Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is intended for work or school accounts, requires a qualifying Microsoft 365 business subscription, and may use authorized organizational data.
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In the Edge Copilot sidebar, select More (…) > Settings > Privacy, then turn off Context Clues. This stops Copilot from using the current webpage, page title, open tabs, or browser history as context.
Why is Browse with Copilot unavailable?
Microsoft describes the consumer feature as rolling out to Microsoft 365 Premium subscribers in the United States, with additional markets to follow. Website restrictions, account settings, and organization policies can also prevent access.
The Bottom Line
The current answer to “how do I sign up for Bing Chat?” is: open copilot.com. Microsoft now calls the service Microsoft Copilot, and basic use does not require an account. Sign in with a personal Microsoft account only when you want its additional features. For page analysis, open the page in Edge and select the Copilot icon; for work data, use Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat with the appropriate work or school account.
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