516044 – Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365): Metadata understanding support for queries scoped to SharePoint document libraries or folders

Product:

Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot, SharePoint

Platform:

Online, Web, World tenant

Status:

In development

Change type:

Links:

Details:

We’re introducing column metadata support for queries in Microsoft 365 Copilot when a SharePoint library or folder is attached or its URL is provided. This enhancement improves contextual relevance by enabling Copilot to leverage additional metadata from the selected library, delivering more accurate and meaningful results.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability

Created:
2025-10-18

updated:
2025-10-18

Docu to Check

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MS workload name

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Inaccurate Search Results
Without proper preparation, users may receive irrelevant or inaccurate search results when querying SharePoint document libraries, leading to confusion and inefficiency.
   - roles: End Users, Content Managers
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/introducing-microsoft-365-copilot-in-sharepoint/

Increased Support Tickets
The introduction of new features without adequate training or documentation may lead to an increase in support tickets as users struggle to adapt to the changes, impacting IT support resources.
   - roles: IT Support Staff, End Users
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/introducing-microsoft-365-copilot-in-sharepoint/

Configutation Options**

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explanation for non-techies**

Imagine you're at a library, trying to find a book on a specific topic. You have two options: you can either wander around the aisles, hoping to stumble upon the right book, or you can ask the librarian for help. The librarian, with their knowledge of the library's catalog and organization, can quickly direct you to the exact location of the book you need. This is similar to how Microsoft 365 Copilot now works with SharePoint document libraries and folders.

When you search for information in a SharePoint library, it's like trying to find that book on your own. You might eventually find what you're looking for, but it could take some time. With the new feature in Microsoft 365 Copilot, it's as if you have a librarian at your side. Copilot can now use additional information, known as metadata, about the documents in the library to help you find what you need more efficiently.

Metadata is like the labels on the library shelves that tell you which section you're in, or the tags on a book that indicate its genre or subject. In a SharePoint library, metadata might include details like the author of a document, the date it was created, or the department it belongs to. By understanding this metadata, Copilot can provide more accurate and relevant search results, just like the librarian who knows exactly where to find the book you want.

This enhancement means that when you attach a SharePoint library or provide its URL to Copilot, it can use this extra layer of information to better understand your query. This results in more meaningful answers and saves you time, much like how a librarian helps you navigate the vast collection of books in a library.