Quick answer
The most common reason is that Copilot is not assigned to your account or that the app is not updated to a version that supports it. First check that the license is active and that you are signed in with the right account, then update Office and restart the app. If it still does not show, check the administrator settings and language and region support.
How to recognize the problem
- The Copilot button is missing from the toolbar in Word, Excel or Outlook
- Copilot shows for colleagues but not for you on the same computer
- Copilot worked before but disappeared after an update
- The icon is visible but greyed out and does not respond to clicks
- Copilot does not appear in Teams or in the browser
Most common causes
License not assigned to the account
Copilot in Microsoft 365 only works if the appropriate license is assigned to your account. If the company bought the license but did not assign it to you, the button will not appear.
Outdated app version
Older versions of Office and Teams do not include Copilot or show it only partially. Updates are sometimes not installed automatically.
Signed in with the wrong account
If you are signed in with a personal Microsoft account instead of a work account, Copilot will not appear even when the license exists.
Administrator turned off Copilot
In the Microsoft 365 admin center, Copilot can be limited to a group of users or turned off completely. In that case, no setting on your computer will bring it back.
Cache and temporary data
A corrupted app or browser cache can hide new interface elements, including Copilot.
Step-by-step fix
- 1
Check which account you are signed in with
In the app, open
File > Account(or click your picture in the top right corner). Check that it shows your work email address, not a personal account. If not, sign out and sign in again with your work account. - 2
Check whether the license exists
On the same
File > Accountpage, check which account is signed in and which subscription is shown. The product list itself does not have to show Copilot as a separate item, so if you are not sure whether your account has a Copilot license, contact your administrator and ask them to check the assignment in the Microsoft 365 admin center. - 3
Update Office
Open any Office app and go to
File > Account > Update Options > Update Now. If Office was installed from the Microsoft Store, update it through the Store. Wait for the update to finish and close all Office apps. Then open them again. - 4
Restart the app and the computer
Close all Word, Excel and Outlook windows, then restart the computer. After the restart, open the app and check whether Copilot has appeared in the toolbar or on the right side.
- 5
Check the Copilot settings in the app
In Word and Excel, open
File > Optionsand review the items related to Copilot, if any. Make sure the option to show Copilot is not turned off. If there are no such items, that usually means it is controlled by the administrator or that it is not available in your version of the app. - 6
Clear the browser and app cache
If you use Copilot in a browser, clear the cache and cookies for the Microsoft 365 domain or try in a private window. In Teams, sign out and sign in again, and if needed clear the app cache in its settings.
- 7
Check language and region
The availability of Copilot and some features can depend on language, region and license plan. In
File > Options > Language, check which primary language is set. If you suspect the language is the problem, temporarily switch to English and check whether the button appears, then restore the previous setting. - 8
Reinstall the app
If none of the above helps, remove Office or Teams and install them again from the official Microsoft website, signed in with your work account. Before that, save all open documents and back up important local files. Uninstalling the app does not remove documents, but it can remove local settings.
If Copilot still does not show
First check whether the problem occurs on multiple computers and in multiple apps. If Copilot is not visible anywhere, the problem is most likely at the account or license level, not on your computer. Ask your administrator to check license assignments, service status and any restrictions for user groups in the Microsoft 365 admin center. It is also useful to check the Microsoft service status page, as occasional outages do happen. If Copilot is visible on the web but not in desktop apps, use it temporarily through the browser until the problem is resolved. Note the exact error text or take a screenshot, as this speeds up diagnosis.
How to prevent it
- Install Office and Teams updates regularly
- Use only your work account on your work computer
- Occasionally check which licenses are assigned to your account
- Do not change language and region unnecessarily and restore them after testing
When to call a professional
If Copilot does not show on any computer and in any app, or if you suspect the license is not assigned correctly, it is better to contact IT support than to change installations and account settings yourself.
AI automation · AI agents that process documents, emails and dataFAQ
Why do my colleagues see Copilot but I do not?
Most likely there is a difference in license or account. Check in `File > Account` which account and which products are shown, then ask your administrator to compare the license assignment with your colleague's account.
Is Copilot free in Microsoft 365?
There is a free version of Copilot and limited features in some plans, but full capabilities in Word, Excel and Outlook in a business environment usually require a separate Copilot license. Without the appropriate license, the button does not appear or is limited.
Can I turn on Copilot myself if the administrator turned it off?
No. Those settings can only be changed by the administrator in the Microsoft 365 admin center. You can check the account, updates and cache, but you cannot bypass an organizational restriction.