MC1193414 – (Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Add web links as references in Copilot Notebooks

Product:

Copilot, Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft 365 Copilot

Platform:

Online, Web, World tenant

Status:

In development

Change type:

Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact

Links:

516040

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft 365 Copilot Notebooks will allow users with a Copilot license to add public web links as references, expanding beyond file types like Word and Excel. This feature, enabled by default, began rolling out worldwide in mid-February 2026 and requires no special preparation.

Details:
Updated January 16, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction:]
We're introducing the ability to add public web links as references in Microsoft Copilot Notebooks. This enhancement allows users to ground Copilot responses on specific public web pages, expanding the types of content that can be used to inform and contextualize their work.
A Microsoft 365 Copilot license is required to use this feature.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 516040.
[When this will happen:]
General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout began in mid-February 2026 (previously mid-November 2025) and is expected to complete by end of February 2026 (previously mid-January).

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability

Created:
2025-12-09

updated:
2026-01-17

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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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Experience
Users may experience confusion or misuse of the new feature if they are not informed about how to effectively use public web links as references, potentially leading to misinformation or reliance on unverified sources.
   - roles: End Users, Content Creators
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=516040

Data Integrity
Without proper preparation, users may inadvertently include unreliable or irrelevant web links in their notebooks, compromising the quality and integrity of their work.
   - roles: Data Analysts, Project Managers
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=516040

Configutation Options**

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Data Protection**

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explanation for non-techies**

Microsoft 365 Copilot Notebooks are getting a new feature that allows users to add public web links as references. Think of it like being able to add bookmarks to your notebook, just like you might do in a physical book to mark important pages. Previously, you could only reference files like Word documents or Excel spreadsheets, but now you can directly link to web pages. This means if you find a useful article or a webpage that provides valuable information, you can easily link it in your notebook without having to save it as a file first.

This feature is automatically available to anyone with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, and there's no need to do anything special to start using it. It's like getting a new tool in your toolbox without having to install it yourself. This update started rolling out globally in February 2026 and should be available to everyone by the end of that month.

For those managing teams or providing guidance on using Microsoft 365, it might be helpful to let your team know about this new capability. It can enhance productivity by making it easier to organize and reference online information directly within Copilot Notebooks. You might also want to update any internal guides or documentation to include this new feature, ensuring everyone knows how to make the most of it.

In terms of compliance, there aren't any new considerations with this feature, but it's always a good idea to review how it fits with your organization's policies. This new capability simply adds more flexibility to how users can work with and reference information, making it a useful addition to the Microsoft 365 suite.