check before: 2025-09-15
Product:
Copilot, Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Outlook
Platform:
Online, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant
Status:
Rolling out
Change type:
New feature, Updated message, User impact
Details:
Summary:
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in the web chat prompt box, enhancing response relevance. Email access is limited to Outlook Copilot Chat. Rollout starts October 2025, completing by March 2026, with no admin action required.
Details:
Updated February 9, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience. Thank you for your patience.
We're enhancing Copilot Chat for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license with new capabilities that make it easier for them to include work content-such as files and emails-in their prompts when using Chat in Web scope. By typing '/' in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly.
Note: Web scope in Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Users must switch to Work scope to have Chat automatically grounded in content from their organization's graph or their personal graph.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377.
When this will happen:
Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112)
Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by end of March 2026 (previously end of January). Roadmap ID 500377.
Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability
Created:
2025-08-22
updated:
2026-02-10
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**
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is introducing a feature that allows users to quickly insert files and emails into conversations by typing '/' in the chat prompt, with the rollout for email integration starting in October 2025 and completing by March 2026, ensuring users can only access content they have permission to view.
Direct effects for Operations**
User Experience Enhancement
Users can now include files and emails in prompts, improving the relevance of responses and streamlining workflow. However, without preparation, users may experience confusion or frustration if they are unaware of this new feature and its usage.
- roles: End Users, Support Staff
- references: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/using-context-iq-to-refer-to-specific-files-people-and-more-in-microsoft-365-copilot-and-copilot-chat-272ac2c1-c5f7-49c9-8a42-2a8a87846fa0, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/roadmap?id=500377
Data Access and Compliance
The change allows users to access specific data types (files, emails) directly from Copilot Chat. If users are not prepared for this change, it may lead to unauthorized access or misuse of sensitive information, impacting compliance and data security.
- roles: Compliance Officers, Data Protection Officers
- references: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/using-context-iq-to-refer-to-specific-files-people-and-more-in-microsoft-365-copilot-and-copilot-chat-272ac2c1-c5f7-49c9-8a42-2a8a87846fa0, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/roadmap?id=500377
Configutation Options**
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Data Protection**
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explanation for non-techies**
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** AI generated content. This information must be reviewed before use.
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change history
| Date | Property | old | new |
| 2026-02-10 | MC Last Updated | 12/17/2025 21:40:03 | 2026-02-09T18:58:14Z |
| 2026-02-10 | MC Messages | Updated December 17, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience. Thank you for your patience.
We're enhancing Copilot Chat for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license with new capabilities that make it easier for them to include work content-such as files and emails-in their prompts when using Chat in Web scope. By typing '/' in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly. Note: Web scope in Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Users must switch to Work scope to have Chat automatically grounded in content from their organization's graph or their personal graph. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377. When this will happen: Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112) Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by end of January 2026 (previously late November 2025). Roadmap ID 500377. | Updated February 9, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience. Thank you for your patience.
We're enhancing Copilot Chat for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license with new capabilities that make it easier for them to include work content-such as files and emails-in their prompts when using Chat in Web scope. By typing '/' in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly. Note: Web scope in Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Users must switch to Work scope to have Chat automatically grounded in content from their organization's graph or their personal graph. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377. When this will happen: Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112) Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by end of March 2026 (previously end of January). Roadmap ID 500377. |
| 2026-02-10 | MC End Time | 03/02/2026 08:00:00 | 2026-04-27T09:00:00Z |
| 2026-02-10 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in the web chat prompt box, improving response relevance. Email access is limited to Outlook. Rollout starts October 2025, completing January 2026. No admin action is needed; users see only accessible content. | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in the web chat prompt box, enhancing response relevance. Email access is limited to Outlook Copilot Chat. Rollout starts October 2025, completing by March 2026, with no admin action required. |
| 2025-12-18 | MC Last Updated | 11/08/2025 00:33:55 | 2025-12-17T21:40:03Z |
| 2025-12-18 | MC Messages | Updated November 7, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience. Thank you for your patience.
We're enhancing Copilot Chat for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license with new capabilities that make it easier for them to include work content-such as files and emails-in their prompts when using Chat in Web scope. By typing '/' in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly. Note: Web scope in Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Users must switch to Work scope to have Chat automatically grounded in content from their organization's graph or their personal graph. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377. When this will happen: Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112) Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by late November 2025 (previously late October). Roadmap ID 500377. | Updated December 17, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience. Thank you for your patience.
We're enhancing Copilot Chat for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license with new capabilities that make it easier for them to include work content-such as files and emails-in their prompts when using Chat in Web scope. By typing '/' in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly. Note: Web scope in Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Users must switch to Work scope to have Chat automatically grounded in content from their organization's graph or their personal graph. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377. When this will happen: Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112) Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by end of January 2026 (previously late November 2025). Roadmap ID 500377. |
| 2025-12-18 | MC End Time | 12/22/2025 08:00:00 | 2026-03-02T08:00:00Z |
| 2025-12-18 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in the web chat prompt box, enhancing response relevance. Email access is limited to Outlook Copilot Chat. Rollout starts October 2025, with no admin action needed. Users see only accessible content. | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in the web chat prompt box, improving response relevance. Email access is limited to Outlook. Rollout starts October 2025, completing January 2026. No admin action is needed; users see only accessible content. |
| 2025-11-08 | MC Last Updated | 09/24/2025 18:41:53 | 2025-11-08T00:33:55Z |
| 2025-11-08 | MC Messages | Updated September 24, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
Updated September 5, 2025: Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience. We're enhancing Copilot Chat for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license with new capabilities that make it easier for them to include work content-such as files and emails-in their prompts when using Chat in Web scope. By typing '/' in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly. Note: Web scope in Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Users must switch to Work scope to have Chat automatically grounded in content from their organization's graph or their personal graph. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377. When this will happen: Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112) Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by late October 2025 (previously late September). Roadmap ID 500377. | Updated November 7, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience. Thank you for your patience.
We're enhancing Copilot Chat for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license with new capabilities that make it easier for them to include work content-such as files and emails-in their prompts when using Chat in Web scope. By typing '/' in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly. Note: Web scope in Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Users must switch to Work scope to have Chat automatically grounded in content from their organization's graph or their personal graph. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377. When this will happen: Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112) Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by late November 2025 (previously late October). Roadmap ID 500377. |
| 2025-11-08 | MC End Time | 11/03/2025 08:00:00 | 2025-12-22T08:00:00Z |
| 2025-11-08 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets licensed users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in the web chat, enhancing prompt relevance. Email access in Outlook starts rolling out October 2025. No admin action is needed; users see only content they have permission to access. | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in the web chat prompt box, enhancing response relevance. Email access is limited to Outlook Copilot Chat. Rollout starts October 2025, with no admin action needed. Users see only accessible content. |
| 2025-09-24 | MC Messages | Updated September 5, 2025: Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience.
We're enhancing Copilot Chat for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license with new capabilities that make it easier for them to include work content-such as files and emails-in their prompts when using Chat in Web scope. By typing '/' in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly. Note: Web scope in Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Users must switch to Work scope to have Chat automatically grounded in content from their organization's graph or their personal graph. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377. When this will happen: Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112) Emails: Rollout begins mid-September 2025 and completes by late September 2025 (Roadmap ID 500377) | Updated September 24, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
Updated September 5, 2025: Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience. We're enhancing Copilot Chat for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license with new capabilities that make it easier for them to include work content-such as files and emails-in their prompts when using Chat in Web scope. By typing '/' in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly. Note: Web scope in Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Users must switch to Work scope to have Chat automatically grounded in content from their organization's graph or their personal graph. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377. When this will happen: Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112) Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by late October 2025 (previously late September). Roadmap ID 500377. |
| 2025-09-24 | MC Last Updated | 09/05/2025 21:05:47 | 2025-09-24T18:41:53Z |
| 2025-09-24 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets licensed users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in the web chat prompt box, enhancing response relevance. Email access via '/' is available only in Outlook Copilot Chat. No admin action is needed; rollout completes by late September 2025. | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets licensed users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in the web chat, enhancing prompt relevance. Email access in Outlook starts rolling out October 2025. No admin action is needed; users see only content they have permission to access. |
| 2025-09-06 | MC MessageTagNames | New feature, User impact | Updated message, New feature, User impact |
| 2025-09-06 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users easily include files and emails in prompts by typing ‘/’ to search and reference content, enhancing response relevance. Files support is available; email integration rolls out September 2025. No admin action is needed; users see only accessible content. | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets licensed users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in the web chat prompt box, enhancing response relevance. Email access via '/' is available only in Outlook Copilot Chat. No admin action is needed; rollout completes by late September 2025. |
| 2025-09-06 | MC Last Updated | 08/22/2025 02:06:15 | 2025-09-05T21:05:47Z |
| 2025-09-06 | MC Messages | We're enhancing Copilot Chat for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license with new capabilities that make it easier for them to include work content-such as files and emails-in their prompts when using Chat in Web scope. By typing '/' in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly.
Note: Web scope in Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Users must switch to Work scope to have Chat automatically grounded in content from their organization's graph or their personal graph. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377. When this will happen: Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112) Emails: Rollout begins mid-September 2025 and completes by late September 2025 (Roadmap ID 500377) | Updated September 5, 2025: Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience.
We're enhancing Copilot Chat for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license with new capabilities that make it easier for them to include work content-such as files and emails-in their prompts when using Chat in Web scope. By typing '/' in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly. Note: Web scope in Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Users must switch to Work scope to have Chat automatically grounded in content from their organization's graph or their personal graph. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377. When this will happen: Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112) Emails: Rollout begins mid-September 2025 and completes by late September 2025 (Roadmap ID 500377) |
| 2025-09-06 | MC Title | Microsoft 365 Copilot: New ways to include files and emails as part of prompts in chat web scope | (Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: New ways to include files and emails as part of prompts in chat web scope |
| 2025-09-06 | MC End Time | 09/18/2025 09:00:00 | 2025-11-03T08:00:00Z |
Last updated 1 week ago ago
