How to Use Copilot Cowork

Last updated

Copilot Cowork lets you hand off real tasks to AI inside Microsoft 365. It already knows your schedule, your files, and how you work. You describe what you need, and Copilot works across Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and more to get it done. Here's how to get started.

Quick start

  1. Make sure your admin has enabled Copilot Cowork (it's off by default and needs a Microsoft 365 Copilot license).
  2. Open Copilot at microsoft365.com or in any Microsoft 365 app, then switch on the Cowork toggle.
  3. Describe an outcome, like "Sort my inbox from the last 24 hours," and let it work.
Getting started with Copilot Cowork step by step

Stay up to date with Copilot Cowork

Get the latest news, tips, and updates straight to your inbox.

Step-by-step

1

Make sure it's enabled

Copilot Cowork became generally available on June 16, 2026, but it's turned off by default. You need a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, and your admin has to enable Cowork and set spending limits before you can run tasks. Check with your IT admin if you don't see it yet.

2

Open Copilot in Microsoft 365

Once it's enabled, you can access Copilot Cowork through the Copilot experience in Microsoft 365. Open any Microsoft 365 app or go to microsoft365.com and launch Copilot from the sidebar, then switch on the Cowork toggle to go from chat to action.

3

Start with a simple task

Try something concrete: "Sort through my inbox from the last 24 hours" or "Summarize my last Teams meeting." Copilot will work across your apps to get it done. Start small to see how it handles your data.

4

Describe outcomes, not steps

Instead of telling Copilot each action to take, describe the result you want. Say "Create a presentation from this document" rather than listing every slide. Copilot figures out the steps across Word, PowerPoint, and other apps.

5

Let it work across apps

The power of Copilot Cowork is that it coordinates across Microsoft 365. It can pull data from Outlook, write it into Excel, and then build a PowerPoint from the results. Think in terms of workflows, not single actions.

6

Review and refine

Always review what Copilot produces before sharing it. The more specific your instructions, the better the results. Over time, you'll learn how to phrase tasks for the best output.

Ready to try something? Browse all Copilot Cowork tips.

How to enable Copilot Cowork (for admins)

Copilot Cowork is off by default. An admin turns it on from the Microsoft 365 admin center. Every user also needs a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, and Cowork then bills by usage in Copilot Credits ($0.01 per credit) on top of that license.

  1. In the Microsoft 365 admin center, open the Cost Management dashboard for usage-based billing.
  2. Enable usage-based billing, choosing pay-as-you-go, prepaid credits, or existing capacity.
  3. Set spending limits and policies at the tenant, group, or user level to control cost.
  4. Once enabled, Copilot Cowork appears for licensed users in the Copilot app.

The Dynamics 365 Sales and Customer Service plugins are enabled by default; most other plugins need admin approval before users can add them. For the complete walkthrough with screenshots and tips, see our How to Enable Copilot Cowork guide.

Can't find Copilot Cowork?

If you don't see Copilot Cowork, it's almost always one of these:

  • It isn't enabled yet. Cowork is off by default. If nobody at your organization has turned it on, ask your IT admin to enable it and set a spending limit.
  • You don't have the license. Cowork requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. Without it, the Cowork toggle won't appear.
  • You're looking in the wrong place. Open Copilot from microsoft365.com or a Microsoft 365 app, then look for the Cowork toggle in the Copilot experience.
  • How to tell if it's on. Once your admin has enabled it and you have a license, the Cowork option shows up in Copilot. If it's still missing after both are in place, contact your IT admin.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get access to Copilot Cowork?

Copilot Cowork became generally available worldwide on June 16, 2026. You need a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, and because Cowork is off by default, your admin must enable it and set spending limits before you can use it.

How do I turn on or activate Copilot Cowork?

Individual users can't turn it on themselves. An admin enables Copilot Cowork in the Microsoft 365 admin center, sets up usage-based billing, and defines spending limits. Once it's enabled and you have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Cowork appears in the Copilot app.

Where do I find Copilot Cowork?

Open Copilot from microsoft365.com or any Microsoft 365 app (like Teams, Word, or Outlook), then switch on the Cowork toggle to go from chat to action. If you don't see the toggle, it isn't enabled for your account yet.

What can Copilot Cowork do?

Copilot Cowork runs complete, multi-step tasks across Microsoft 365 instead of answering one prompt at a time. It can sort your inbox, build presentations and spreadsheets, run analyses with cited sources, and prepare you for meetings, coordinating across Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. It can also browse the web through your local Edge browser (in preview) within enterprise policies.

How much does Copilot Cowork cost?

Copilot Cowork uses usage-based billing in Copilot Credits priced at $0.01 per credit, on top of a required Microsoft 365 Copilot license. The credits a task uses depend on the model, the data it retrieves, the number of tool calls, and how long it runs.

Is there a free trial for Copilot Cowork?

There is no standalone free trial. It requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and bills per task in Copilot Credits. Tenants that took part in the Frontier preview received a billing grace period until July 1, 2026. To test it cheaply, an admin can enable it with a small spending limit.

What Microsoft 365 plan do I need for Copilot Cowork?

You need a Microsoft 365 Copilot User Subscription License. The usage-based Copilot Credit charges for Cowork are billed in addition to that license.

What apps does Copilot Cowork work with?

Copilot Cowork works across Microsoft 365 apps including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint. It can coordinate tasks that span multiple apps, and can also browse the web through your local Edge browser (in preview) within enterprise policies.

Is Copilot Cowork the same as Microsoft Copilot?

Copilot Cowork builds on Microsoft Copilot but goes further. While Copilot helps you with individual tasks in each app, Cowork can execute multi-step workflows across apps autonomously.

Can Copilot Cowork access all my files?

Copilot Cowork can access files and data within your Microsoft 365 environment based on your existing permissions. It respects the same security and compliance policies as your other Microsoft 365 apps.

Can I give Copilot Cowork multiple tasks at once?

Yes. You can delegate multiple tasks and Copilot will work through them, coordinating across your Microsoft 365 apps to complete each one.

Want to go deeper? Read the complete guide to using Copilot Cowork, or learn what Copilot Cowork is.