Microsoft Copilot

What Is It, In Plain Words?

Copilot is Microsoft's AI assistant. You type or say a question in everyday words and it answers in seconds. If you have a Windows computer, it's probably already there, often with its own key or a button on the taskbar.

It's also built into the Edge web browser and, for people who pay for Microsoft 365, into Word, Excel and Outlook. Like any chatbot, it's good at explaining and writing, and it can make mistakes.

What You Can Use It For

• Summaries. Open a long web page in Edge and ask Copilot, "Give me the main points of this page."
• Writing. "Help me write a polite complaint to my broadband company about my connection dropping." Then copy it into an email.
• Computer help. "How do I make the text bigger on my Windows laptop?" It walks you through the steps.

Getting Started Step By Step

On A Windows Computer

1. Look for the Copilot button on your taskbar at the bottom of the screen, or press the Copilot key if your keyboard has one. You can also type Copilot into the Start menu search.
2. Or open any web browser and go to copilot.microsoft.com.
3. You can start without signing in. To save your chats, click Sign in and use your Microsoft account (the one you use for Outlook, Hotmail or Windows).
4. Type your question in the box that says something like "Message Copilot" and press Enter.
5. Click one of the suggested follow-ups underneath, or type your own.

On A Phone Or Tablet

1. Open the App Store or Google Play and search for Microsoft Copilot, made by Microsoft Corporation.
2. Install it, open it, and sign in or carry on without an account.
3. Type in the box, or tap the microphone to talk.

Things To Try Typing

Copy any of these, or change the details to suit you.

What It Costs

Copilot is free on the web, in Windows, in Edge and in the phone app, with a Microsoft account or without one. Microsoft doesn't sell a separate Copilot plan for home users now. Instead, more Copilot comes with a Microsoft 365 subscription:

Prices checked 16 October 2026 on the official Microsoft 365 plans page (USA). Prices can change, so check there before you pay.

UK prices are from the UK version of the same page. The US page didn't show a monthly price for Premium when we checked.

If you already pay for Microsoft 365, check what your plan includes before buying anything else.

Privacy And Safety

• What it keeps. If you're signed in, Copilot saves your conversations to your Microsoft account so you can come back to them.
• How long. Microsoft keeps conversations for 18 months by default. You can delete one chat or your whole history at any time.
• How to change it. When you're signed in, Copilot's settings let you turn off model training (using your chats to train Microsoft's AI) and personalisation (Copilot remembering details about you). If you use Copilot without signing in, Microsoft says it doesn't train on your chats.
• Some conversations can be read by people at Microsoft for safety checks, and you can't opt out of that, so don't share anything very private.
• Never type passwords, PINs, bank or card numbers, your National Insurance number (UK) or Social Security number (USA).
• Check important answers about health, money or the law with your doctor, pharmacist, bank or a qualified adviser.
• Copilot often shows the websites it used. Click them to check where an answer came from.

Good Points And Watch-Outs

Good Points

• Already on most Windows computers, so nothing to install.
• Shows links to its sources, which makes checking easier.
• Voice: tap the microphone to talk, and it can read answers out loud.
• Text size: hold Ctrl and press + to make everything bigger. Windows also has a text size setting under Settings, Accessibility.

Watch-Outs

• It can be wrong and sound sure. Check anything important.
• The names are confusing: Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Pro have all been used. For home use, the free Copilot is the place to start.
• Copilot in Word and Excel needs a paid Microsoft 365 plan.
• Pop-ups may nudge you to upgrade. You don't have to.

Similar Tools

• ChatGPT: the best-known chatbot, with a simple app and voice mode.
• Gemini: Google's assistant, handy if you use Gmail or an Android phone.
• Claude: good at reading long documents and writing carefully.

Common Questions

Is Microsoft Copilot free?

Yes. Copilot is free on the web, in Windows, in the Edge browser and in the phone app. A Microsoft 365 subscription gives you more use and Copilot inside Word and Excel.

Do I need a Microsoft account?

No, you can try it without signing in. A free Microsoft account lets you save your chats.

Is Copilot the same as ChatGPT?

No. They're made by different companies, though they work in a similar way. Both answer questions in everyday language.

How do I open Copilot on my Windows computer?

Click the Copilot button on the taskbar, press the Copilot key if your keyboard has one, or type Copilot into the Start menu search.