check before: 2025-09-15
Product:
Copilot, Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Outlook
Platform:
Online, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant
Status:
varies
Change type:
New feature, Updated message, User impact
Details:
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.
Details:
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.
Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability
Created:
2025-08-22
updated:
2025-09-24
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 with Copilot Chat
Users may experience confusion or frustration if they attempt to use the new file and email referencing feature without understanding how to properly utilize the '/' command, leading to ineffective prompts and responses.
- 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
If users are not informed about the new capabilities, they may inadvertently attempt to access sensitive files or emails, leading to potential compliance issues and data privacy concerns.
- 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 |
| 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 4 days ago
