MC1165054 – (Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Teams channels available in Context IQ prompts

Product:

Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Teams

Platform:

Online, Web, World tenant

Status:

Rolling out

Change type:

Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact

Links:

429645

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft 365 Copilot will integrate Context IQ to allow users to search and insert Teams channels in prompts, enhancing response relevance. Rollout begins December 2025, enabled by default, affecting all Copilot users with channel access. No admin action required; user notification and documentation updates recommended.

Details:
Updated November 24, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction:]
Microsoft is enhancing Copilot (Microsoft 365) with Context IQ (CIQ), a set of AI capabilities that allows users to search for, select, and insert relevant enterprise or personal data directly into their prompts or conversations. When writing Copilot prompts in the chat box, users will be able to use Context IQ to search for and select Teams channels. This helps ground prompts in contextually relevant data, improving the accuracy and usefulness of Copilot responses.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 429645.
[When this will happen:]
General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout begins early December 2025 (previously late November) and is expected to complete by early January 2026 (previously early December 2025).

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability

Created:
2025-10-04

updated:
2025-11-25

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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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 Impact
Users may experience confusion or frustration if they are not informed about the new feature, leading to potential misuse or underutilization of the Context IQ capabilities in Copilot.
   - roles: End Users, Support Staff
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/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/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=429645

Operational Impact
Without proper preparation, the rollout may lead to an increase in support tickets as users encounter issues or have questions about the new feature, straining IT resources.
   - roles: IT Support, Helpdesk Staff
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/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/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=429645

Configutation Options**

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Data Protection**

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explanation for non-techies**

Imagine you're writing a legal brief or preparing a case file, and you need to quickly reference a specific conversation or piece of information from a previous meeting. Traditionally, you might have to sift through piles of documents or search through numerous emails to find what you need. Microsoft 365 Copilot, with its new integration of Context IQ, is like having a smart assistant who can instantly fetch these details for you.

Starting in December 2025, when you're using Microsoft 365 Copilot to draft a message or a report, you can use Context IQ to search for and insert information from Teams channels directly into your work. Think of it as having a virtual librarian who knows exactly where every book is and can bring it to you in seconds. This means that if you need to reference a discussion from a specific Teams channel, you can easily pull that information into your document, making your work more accurate and contextually relevant.

This feature will be available to everyone using Microsoft 365 Copilot who has access to Teams channels. It's like having a personalized index of all the channels you are part of, and you can quickly search through them without leaving your current task. The rollout of this feature is automatic, so there's no need for any technical setup or admin intervention. It's as if your office has been upgraded with a new filing system that organizes itself without you having to lift a finger.

For managers and HR staff, this means your teams can work more efficiently, spending less time searching for information and more time focusing on strategic tasks. It’s a bit like having a new office tool that streamlines your workflow, allowing everyone to access the information they need with minimal effort.

In terms of compliance, there are no new considerations identified, but it's always a good idea to review how this feature fits into your organization's data handling policies. Overall, this update is designed to make accessing and using information in Microsoft 365 more seamless and intuitive, enhancing productivity across the board.