Last updated: March 5, 2026
Microsoft Copilot may fail to respond, show errors, or not appear in your Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams). This can affect your productivity when relying on AI assistance for work tasks.
Subscription issues: Copilot requires a specific Microsoft 365 subscription or Copilot license.
Service outage: Microsoft services may be experiencing downtime.
Outdated Microsoft apps: Older versions of Office apps may not support Copilot.
Network restrictions: Corporate firewalls or network policies may block Copilot.
Account permissions: Your admin may not have enabled Copilot for your account.
• Go to account.microsoft.com and verify your subscription includes Copilot.
• Copilot Pro requires a separate subscription ($20/month) on top of Microsoft 365.
• If using a work account, check with your IT admin about Copilot licensing.
• Visit status.office.com to check for outages.
• Check downdetector.com for Microsoft 365 reports.
• If there's an outage, wait for Microsoft to resolve it.
• Open any Office app > File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.
• Copilot features require the latest version of Office apps.
• Restart the apps after updating.
• In any Office app, go to File > Account > Sign Out.
• Close all Office apps.
• Reopen and sign back in with your Microsoft account.
• Go to copilot.microsoft.com in your web browser.
• Sign in with your Microsoft account.
• If the web version works, the issue may be with your desktop apps.
• If using Microsoft Edge, click the Copilot icon in the sidebar.
• Make sure you're signed in to Edge with your Microsoft account.
• Try disabling other extensions that might conflict.
If Copilot still doesn't work, contact Microsoft support at support.microsoft.com. For work accounts, reach out to your IT administrator to verify Copilot is enabled for your organization.
Q: Do I need a special subscription for Copilot?
A: The free version of Copilot is available at copilot.microsoft.com. Copilot Pro ($20/month) adds AI features to Office apps. Copilot for Microsoft 365 ($30/user/month) is for business users.
Q: Why doesn't Copilot show up in my Word or Excel?
A: You need a Copilot Pro or Copilot for Microsoft 365 license. Make sure your apps are updated to the latest version and you're signed in with the correct account.
Q: Can I use Copilot offline?
A: No, Copilot requires an internet connection as it processes requests using cloud-based AI models.
Q: Is Copilot available on Mac?
A: Yes, Copilot is available in Microsoft 365 apps on Mac. Make sure your apps are updated to the latest version.