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What Is Microsoft Copilot? A Plain-English Introduction

Copilot is Microsoft's family of AI helpers. You may see it as an icon in Windows, in the Edge browser or inside Word and Outlook. Some parts are free and some come with paid plans.

Step by step

  1. Look for the Copilot icon. In Windows, Edge or an Office app.
  2. Ask a simple question.
  3. Try a writing task in Word or Outlook. If your plan includes it.
  4. Check what is included in your plan. Microsoft explains this on its site.
  5. Turn off what you do not want. In settings.

What to expect

Expect help drafting and summarizing, depending on your plan and app.

Mistakes to avoid

Do not assume every feature is free. Avoid pasting sensitive work documents unless your employer allows it.

A good next step

Open Word or Outlook and look for the Copilot button to see what your plan includes.

Where you will find it

  • Inside the Edge browser and the Copilot app.
  • In some Windows computers, usually with a Copilot button in the taskbar.
  • Inside Word, Excel and Outlook for people with certain Microsoft 365 plans.
  • On your phone through the Copilot app.

What it can help with

  • Summarize a web page you are reading.
  • Draft or rewrite an email in Outlook.
  • Turn a pile of notes in Word into a clean document.
  • Explain a spreadsheet formula in Excel.
  • Answer questions with links to sources.

Try it, step by step

  1. Open Copilot. Click the Copilot icon in Edge or the Windows taskbar, or open the app.
  2. Ask a question. "Summarize this page in five bullet points."
  3. Open the sources. Click the links it gives to confirm the facts.
  4. Ask for edits. "Make that shorter and friendlier."

Using Copilot inside the apps you know

  1. Outlook. Ask it to summarize a long thread or draft a reply in your tone.
  2. Word. Ask it to turn bullet points into a letter or to shorten a page.
  3. Excel. Ask it to explain a formula or suggest a chart.
  4. PowerPoint. Ask it to draft slides from an outline, then edit them.

Free versus paid

  • The free Copilot app and Edge sidebar answer questions and draft text.
  • Features inside Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint usually require a Microsoft 365 plan that includes Copilot.
  • Your employer may provide a business version with extra data protections.
  • Plans change, so check Microsoft's current pages before paying.

Safety tips

  • Check facts, especially numbers and quotes.
  • Do not paste confidential work documents into a personal account.
  • Review what Copilot changes before you accept.
  • Understand which data Copilot can see, such as files you open and emails you share with it.

A prompt you can copy

Type this into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini

Write a polite, short email asking my landlord when the repairs will be done. Keep it under 80 words.

Good to know. Work or school accounts may have different rules from personal ones. Ask your IT team.

Want to try this with a friendly teacher?

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Common questions

Is it free?

Some features are free. Others require a paid plan.

Can it edit my documents?

In supported apps, it can suggest edits. You approve them.

Is Copilot the same as ChatGPT?

They are different products. Some Copilot features are built on technology from OpenAI, but the apps and features differ.

Do I need a Microsoft account?

For many features, yes. A free account works for the basics.

Is it safe for work documents?

Ask your employer. Business versions have different data protections from the free one.

Is Copilot built into Windows?

Many newer Windows PCs include a Copilot button or app.

Can I turn it off?

Yes, in most cases through settings.

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