MC1162289 – (Updated) Microsoft Outlook: Summarize email with Copilot chat (archived)

Product:

Copilot, Exchange, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Outlook, Windows

Platform:

Android, iOS, Mac, Online, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact

Links:

503316

Details:

Summary:
Outlook now offers email and attachment summarization via Copilot chat for Microsoft 365 Copilot license holders with pinning enabled. Available across platforms and Outlook versions, it requires no admin setup and rolls out worldwide from October to November 2025. No compliance issues identified.

Details:
Updated October 2, 2025: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction]
We're introducing a new way to quickly summarize emails and attachments using Copilot chat in Outlook. With a single click, users can generate concise summaries of email content and attachments, helping them stay focused and save time. This feature supports both Classic and New Outlook for Windows and is available to users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and pinning enabled.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 503316.
[When this will happen:]
Targeted Release (Worldwide): Rollout underway by early October 2025; expected completion by early November 2025.
General Availability (Worldwide): Begins mid-October 2025; expected completion by late November 2025.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability, Targeted Release

Created:
2025-09-30

updated:
2025-11-15

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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MS workload name

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linked item details

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Pictures

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Experience Disruption
Users may experience confusion or frustration if they are not informed about the new summarization feature, leading to underutilization of the tool and potential inefficiencies in email management.
   - roles: End Users, IT Support Staff
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=503316

Increased Support Requests
Without prior preparation and communication, the introduction of the new feature may lead to an increase in support requests from users who encounter issues or have questions about the functionality, impacting IT resources.
   - roles: IT Support Staff, Help Desk Personnel
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=503316

Configutation Options**

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Data Protection**

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explanation for non-techies**

Microsoft Outlook is introducing a new feature that allows users to quickly summarize emails and attachments using a tool called Copilot chat. Imagine having a personal assistant who reads through your emails and gives you a brief overview of the important points, so you don't have to spend time going through every detail yourself. This is essentially what the new summarization feature does. It's like having a quick notes version of your emails, helping you focus on what matters most and saving you time.

This feature is available to users who have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and have enabled a setting called "pinning." It works across various platforms, including Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows, and is available in both the Classic and New versions of Outlook for Windows. Think of it as a universal tool that works on any device you might use for checking your emails.

The rollout of this feature started in October 2025 and is expected to be completed by November 2025. Users will notice a new option in their Outlook to summarize email content using Copilot chat. This means that with just one click, you can get a summary of your emails and attachments, making it easier to manage your inbox.

The good news is that no special setup or admin configuration is needed to use this feature. It's automatically enabled for those who meet the requirements, and it respects existing policies, so there are no changes needed from an administrative perspective. This is like getting a new tool in your toolbox without having to read a complicated manual or make adjustments to your current setup.

For organizations, there are no compliance issues identified with this feature, but it's always a good idea to review it in the context of your specific needs. If you wish, you can inform your team about this new capability and update any internal documentation to reflect its availability. This way, everyone can take advantage of the time-saving benefits of email summarization.