What Is Microsoft Copilot and How Do You Use It

Microsoft Copilot is a free AI assistant built into Windows 11 and Bing. It can answer questions, write text, summarize emails, and more.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Open Microsoft Copilot
2.Ask your first question
3.Try some helpful everyday requests
4.Use Copilot in Microsoft Word or Outlook
5.Keep your privacy in mind

Open Microsoft Copilot

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On Windows 11: Click the Start button, then type "Copilot" and click it from the results. You can also look for the Copilot button on your taskbar (it looks like a small colorful swirl). On older Windows or any device: go to bing.com/chat in your web browser — Copilot is built into Bing search.

Quick Tip

Many new Windows keyboards have a dedicated Copilot key (looks like two overlapping rectangles). Pressing it opens Copilot instantly.

Ask your first question

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Click in the text box at the bottom and type your question in everyday language. For example: "What is the weather going to be like this week?" or "Can you help me write a thank-you note to my doctor?" or "What does 'bandwidth' mean in plain English?" Then press Enter or click the send button.

Try some helpful everyday requests

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Copilot works well for: writing or polishing emails and messages, summarizing an article you paste in, explaining confusing tech or medical terms, giving you a simple recipe, looking up phone numbers or addresses, translating short phrases to Spanish, and suggesting what to say in a tricky situation.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: If Copilot's first answer is too long or technical, just reply "Can you say that in simpler language?" or "Give me just the short version."

Use Copilot in Microsoft Word or Outlook

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If you have Microsoft 365 (Word, Outlook, etc.), Copilot can appear directly inside those apps. In Word, look for a small Copilot icon in the toolbar. You can ask it to "Write a short paragraph about [topic]" or "Make this email more professional." This requires a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Keep your privacy in mind

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Copilot is powered by the internet and your conversations may be used to improve the AI. Avoid typing sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers, passwords, or bank account numbers into any AI assistant.

Warning

Never share passwords, SSN, credit card numbers, or medical ID numbers with any AI tool — including Copilot.

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Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant that Microsoft has built directly into Windows 11, Bing, and Microsoft 365. If you've heard of ChatGPT, Copilot is similar — you type a question or request in plain English, and it responds with helpful information, writes text for you, summarizes things, or helps you get things done on your computer.

The good news: Copilot is free. You don't need to sign up for anything extra if you already use Windows 11 or Bing. You can open it with a single button on many Windows keyboards (the one that looks like two diamond shapes), or find it in the Start menu.

Copilot can help with a surprising number of things: writing a birthday message, summarizing a long article, explaining a confusing news story, looking up information, editing a paragraph you wrote, or helping you figure out what a tech error means. This guide shows you the basics so you can start getting comfortable with it.

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