Summary
This month’s update marks a significant expansion of what you can do with Copilot inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. If you’ve ever wished Copilot could be more seamlessly integrated into your daily workflow—without jumping between apps or chat windows—this is the moment you’ve been waiting for.
Microsoft is rolling out Copilot Chat directly within Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, allowing users to interact with AI in the flow of their work. Whether you’re writing, analyzing, presenting, or emailing, Copilot is now just a click away in the ribbon.
And here’s the exciting part: For unlicensed users, this marks the first time AI is embedded directly into Microsoft 365 apps, offering web-grounded chat and basic document support. That means even without a Copilot license, you can still benefit from intelligent assistance—provided your admin has enabled pinning.
How It Works
Once enabled, you’ll see a Copilot Chat button in the ribbon of supported apps. Clicking it opens a side panel where you can interact with Copilot without leaving your current file.
The chat respects your last state—if it was open when you closed the file, it’ll reopen automatically next time.
Access is granted to:
- Licensed users with Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Unlicensed users if the Pin Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat setting is enabled in the admin center
Admins can manage this via the Microsoft 365 admin center. If the setting is “Do not pin,” unlicensed users won’t see the chat. Switching it to “Pin” makes Copilot Chat available to everyone.
No additional configuration is needed unless you want to adjust pinning behavior.
Why It Matters
This update is a game-changer for productivity and accessibility. By embedding Copilot Chat directly into the apps we use every day, Microsoft is removing friction and making AI assistance more intuitive and inclusive.
For licensed users, it’s a smoother, faster way to get help—whether you’re drafting a report, crunching numbers, or preparing a presentation.
For unlicensed users, it’s a breakthrough: AI is now part of the Microsoft 365 experience, offering real-time chat and basic document support without needing a full Copilot license.
From an admin perspective, it’s low-maintenance and high-impact. The only action needed is reviewing your pin settings to ensure users get access.
Conclusion
This blog post was based on Microsoft Message Center ID MC1096218, retrieved using the Message Center Agent. The update reflects changes rolling out from June through September 2025, and it’s one of the most exciting enhancements to Microsoft 365 Copilot yet.
đź”— Learn more and manage settings: Manage Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat | Microsoft Learn
đź› Generated with the help of Message Center Agent