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Microsoft Copilot in Word, Excel and Outlook: What It Does and Which Plan You Need
Inside Microsoft 365, Copilot drafts and summarizes in Word, builds formulas and charts in Excel, makes decks in PowerPoint, summarizes email threads in Outlook and recaps Teams meetings. The free Copilot app covers chat; Copilot inside the Office apps comes with certain Microsoft 365 plans at home and as a business add-on. You can also turn it off in each app.
If you use Microsoft 365, you’ve probably seen the Copilot icon appear in Word, Excel and Outlook. Here’s what it does in each app, which plan you need, and how to turn it off if it gets in the way. Plans and prices change often; the guides say what Microsoft’s own pages said when we checked.
What it does in each app
Word: draft, rewrite, summarize
Open the Copilot pane and describe the draft you want, pointing it to source files. It can rewrite a section or summarize a long document.
Guide: use Copilot in Word
Excel: formulas, charts and analysis
Select the Copilot icon and describe what you want in plain English, naming the columns. Check every formula on a row where you know the answer.
Guide: use Copilot in Excel
PowerPoint: a first deck
Describe the topic, audience and length, and Copilot builds a first draft of the presentation. Then make it yours.
Guide: use Copilot in PowerPoint
Outlook: long threads in seconds
Use the summary at the top of a long conversation, then let Copilot draft the reply.
Guide: use Copilot in Outlook
Teams: meeting recaps
With transcription on, ask Copilot during or after a meeting what was decided and who’s doing what.
Guide: use Copilot in Teams meetings
Which plan you need
The free Copilot app handles chat, images and questions. Copilot inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook at home comes with certain Microsoft 365 plans, and businesses add it per user. Before you pay, compare what’s included for your account type.
Guide: choose a Copilot plan
At work: know what’s allowed
If your employer gives you Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, use your work account for work data and follow your company’s rules.
Guide: use Copilot Chat at work safely
Don’t want it?
In Word, Excel and PowerPoint on Windows, Microsoft documents a setting to turn Copilot off in each app, and you can also hide it in Windows.
Guide: turn off Copilot
For developers: GitHub Copilot is a different product
GitHub Copilot writes code inside your editor and has its own plans, including a free one. Give it project rules in .github/copilot-instructions.md; our free AGENTS.md generator can help you write them.
Guides: GitHub Copilot in VS Code and custom instructions for GitHub Copilot
Start here
Begin with the beginner’s guide and check your privacy settings. All 20 guides are on the Copilot how-to page.
