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Microsoft is retiring or changing several features as it updates Copilot, but there is no single replacement plan: Group Chat and Copilot Labs are ending, Mico is moving to Learn Live, and Copilot Voice continues. Separate changes affect Microsoft Edge, Outlook, and Windows companion apps. Which changes matter to you depends on the product and account named in your notice—and some content will not carry forward.
What is ending, moving, or continuing?
Microsoft’s announced changes have different outcomes. Group Chat and Copilot Labs are retirements; Mico is a relocation; and Copilot Voice remains available. Other changes concern Edge, Outlook, and Windows apps, rather than one universal Copilot transition.
| Feature or product | What Microsoft or the reporting says | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Copilot Group Chat | Account updates began August 18, 2026, with a gradual rollout. Group Chat content does not carry forward after an account is updated. | Copy messages and download images before your account update. |
| Copilot Labs | Microsoft lists September 29, 2026 as the retirement date, with timing that can vary by account update. Experiments become inaccessible. | Save or download generated creations, including 3D assets and audio clips, before the update. |
| Mico | The animated character is leaving the Copilot voice experience and continuing in Learn Live. The change began in August and rolls out in waves. | Expect voice history to migrate; Mico appearance settings do not. |
| Copilot Voice | Microsoft says, “Voice in Copilot isn’t going away.” | You can continue using voice conversations without the Mico character. |
| Copilot Mode in Edge | Microsoft announced its retirement on May 13, 2026, as Copilot functions are integrated into Edge. | Check the current Edge experience and availability for your account and market. |
| Outlook Meeting Insights | Windows Central reported a planned retirement by early September 2026, with Copilot meeting preparation as the alternative for licensed users. | Check your organization’s current Microsoft 365 notices and licensing. |
| Calendar, People, and Files companion apps | TechRadar reported that support for the Windows companion apps ends in December 2026. | Use the relevant Microsoft 365 apps and locations described below. |
What happens to Group Chat messages and Copilot Labs creations?
Group Chat history and images
Microsoft says Group Chat content will not carry forward when your account is updated. Because the rollout is gradual and account-specific, August 18, 2026 is the start of updates—not a universal cutoff on that day. Before your account changes, copy any messages you want to keep and download images you need. Microsoft Support says the feature is ending as it focuses on “streamlined, high-quality interactions,” adding that learnings from Group Chat are being incorporated into broader Copilot improvements.
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Labs is a separate change, with a different date and content risk. Microsoft lists September 29, 2026 as the retirement date and says experiments will no longer be accessible; timing may vary with the account update. Save or download any generated assets you want to retain. Do not assume that a creation will be available in the updated experience.
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- Instant Copilot. Unlock new possibilities with the dedicated Copilot key, which gives you instant access to experiences that can enhance your productivity¹.
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- Clicks in place instantly Use in combination with the Surface Pro (11th Edition), Pro 9 and Pro 8* kickstand for a perfect laptop experience anywhere.
Is Mico coming back to Copilot Voice?
Microsoft says Mico is continuing in Learn Live, rather than remaining as the animated character in the Copilot voice experience. The rollout began in August 2026 and happens in waves, so there is no single date that applies to every account. Microsoft says voice conversation history migrates, but Mico-specific appearance settings do not. Voice itself continues; the change is to the character and where it is available.
What changes in the updated Copilot app?
Microsoft describes an updated app that brings chat and image creation together with access to Microsoft 365 apps and files. The transition differs for personal, work, and school accounts. Microsoft says personal data and organizational data remain separate; a work or school account does not merge its data with a personal account.
Rank #2
- Instant Copilot. Unlock new possibilities with the dedicated Copilot key, which gives you instant access to experiences that can enhance your productivity¹.
- Enhance your experience With the new microphone mute key and snipping key
- Full keyboard experience. Features a full mechanical keyset, backlit keys, and a large trackpad for precise navigation and control. Optimal key spacing allows fast, fluid typing.
- Slim and compact Performs like a traditional, full-size keyboard.
- Clicks in place instantly Use in combination with the Surface Pro (11th Edition), Pro 9 and Pro 8* kickstand for a perfect laptop experience anywhere.
Microsoft says most eligible Copilot content migrates, while feature-specific exceptions apply. Group Chat messages and Labs creations are important exceptions, so save those separately rather than assuming all chat or generated content is being deleted. Microsoft’s troubleshooting page also says Podcasts and Deep Research are retired after August 18, but it displays the year as “20206.” That malformed year should not be treated as a clean date; check the current app or account notice for the applicable timing.
Free chat and image creation remain subject to capacity and usage limits. Microsoft describes subscriptions as providing higher limits and access to agents, but a subscription is not stated as a requirement to preserve content or use every Copilot function.
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- Unlock Microsoft Copilot in Windows (1) with a dedicated Copilot key: Seamlessly add the everyday AI companion to employee workflows for elevated productivity with a single keystroke
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- Switch Between Devices: Connect via Logi Bolt or Bluetooth and seamlessly switch between 3 of your devices with the Easy-Switch buttons for easy multitasking
What is changing in Edge, Outlook, and Windows companion apps?
Edge
Microsoft’s May 13, 2026 Edge announcement said Copilot Mode would be retired as Copilot functions were integrated into Edge. Existing Copilot Mode users were to retain priority access to new features through Copilot in Edge Preview. The announcement said Browse with Copilot was for Microsoft 365 Premium subscribers in the United States only. These were announcement-era availability details; check Edge for current access and market restrictions.
Outlook Meeting Insights
Windows Central reported on July 20, 2026 that Microsoft planned to retire Meeting Insights by early September in favor of Copilot meeting preparation for licensed users. The outlet quoted an archived Microsoft Message Center notice, but the notice itself is not independently verified here. Treat the change and licensing as reported details, and check your tenant’s current notices before relying on them.
Rank #4
- Instant Copilot. Unlock new possibilities with the dedicated Copilot key, which gives you instant access to experiences that can enhance your productivity¹.
- Enhance your experience With the new microphone mute key and snipping key
- Full keyboard experience. Features a full mechanical keyset, backlit keys, and a large trackpad for precise navigation and control. Optimal key spacing allows fast, fluid typing.
- Slim and compact Performs like a traditional, full-size keyboard.
- Clicks in place instantly Use in combination with the Surface Pro (11th Edition), Pro 9 and Pro 8* kickstand for a perfect laptop experience anywhere.
Calendar, People, and Files companion apps
TechRadar reported on September 22, 2026 that the Windows Calendar, People, and Files companion apps would become unsupported in December 2026. According to that report, the underlying data remains in Microsoft 365: Outlook and Teams provide calendar and people information, while Search, File Explorer, SharePoint, and OneDrive provide ways to find or access files. This is a press report, not independently verified Microsoft wording, so confirm the current notice for your device.
How to prepare for the changes
- Identify the affected product and account. Check whether the notice refers to personal Copilot, a work or school account, Edge, Outlook, or a Windows companion app. The name of the product determines which change applies.
- Save Group Chat content before your account update. Copy messages and download images you want to keep. The account-specific update is the relevant cutoff, not one date for all users.
- Download Labs creations before access ends. Save experiments and generated assets you want to retain ahead of your account’s update.
- Check the destination for relocated or integrated features. Mico continues in Learn Live; Copilot functions are being integrated into Edge; reported alternatives for Outlook and companion apps depend on licensing, platform, and current availability.
- Use current notices for rollout details. For Edge, Outlook, and Windows apps, check the app or your organization’s tenant notice because dates, access, and licensing can differ.
The key distinction is whether a feature is ending, moving, or being integrated elsewhere. Microsoft’s changes do not amount to a promise that every retired feature has a like-for-like replacement, and they do not mean every Copilot feature requires a paid subscription.
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