When you open a Microsoft 365 application and don’t see the Copilot icon in Settings, or the Draft with Copilot option is missing, it usually means the application hasn’t been fully set up yet.
This can happen for a few common reasons. Most of them are quick and easy to check.
Before you start
It helps to know:
Whether your account has an active Copilot license
Which Microsoft 365 application and version you are using
Which account you are signed into in the application
The Copilot experience can look different depending on your license and the version of the Microsoft 365 app you’re using.
Steps to take
Follow these steps in order. Each step rules out a common cause.
1. Confirm the account signed into the application
Copilot only appears if the signed‑in account has a Copilot license.
Open the Microsoft 365 application (for example, Word)
Go to File > Account
Check the email address shown
Make sure this is the account that has access to Copilot
If you are signed in with a different or secondary account, the Copilot icon will not appear.
2. Refresh your Copilot license
Sometimes the application needs a refresh to recognize the license.
Go to File > Account
Select Update License
Close all Microsoft 365 apps
Reopen the application
Check again for the Copilot icon
3. Check your update channel
Copilot does not appear in all update channels.
Go to File > Account
Look under Product Information
If you see Semi‑Annual Enterprise Channel, Copilot will not appear
Copilot requires the Current Channel or Monthly Enterprise Channel.
4. Check privacy and connected experiences
Copilot needs cloud features to be turned on.
Go to File > Account > Account Privacy
Select Manage Settings
Make sure the following are enabled:
Experiences that analyze your content
All connected experiences
If these are turned off, Copilot may not load or appear.
5. Update the application
Older versions of Microsoft 365 applications do not show Copilot features.
Go to File > Account
Select Update Options > Update Now
Allow the update to complete
Restart the application once the update is finished
Helpful to know
Copilot only appears when all requirements are met
The interface may look different depending on the application and version
If the Copilot sidebar opens but does not load, the cause is usually one of the steps above
If you’ve checked all the steps and still don’t see Copilot, you may need to confirm your license with your administrator or support team.
Read more info on how to find and enable missing Copilot button in Microsoft 365 apps.