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How to use Microsoft Copilot: beginner guide
Open copilot.microsoft.com or the Copilot app on Windows or your phone, sign in with a Microsoft account, and type or talk. The basic Copilot is free. Copilot inside Word, Excel and Outlook depends on your Microsoft 365 plan.
Prices checked Oct 2026.
Where to find it
On a Windows PC, look for the Copilot app in the Start menu or taskbar. Anywhere else, go to copilot.microsoft.com or install the Copilot app on iPhone or Android.
Signing in with a Microsoft account (the one you use for Outlook.com or Xbox) keeps your chats.
What to ask first
Use it like any chat assistant: write an email, explain a bill, plan a trip, summarize a web page. Ask follow-ups like "make it shorter" until it's right.
Copilot can also make images from a description, handy for invitations and flyers.
Copilot in Word and Excel
Copilot inside Office apps depends on your Microsoft 365 subscription. Read Is Microsoft Copilot free? before paying for anything new.
Deciding between Copilot and ChatGPT? See ChatGPT vs Copilot.
The first thing to type
Write a friendly 100-word email asking my neighbors to join a street cleanup on Saturday at 9am.Common questions
Is Microsoft Copilot free?
Yes, the basic Copilot chat is free. Copilot in Office apps depends on your Microsoft 365 plan.
Do I need Windows to use Copilot?
No. It works in a web browser and on iPhone and Android.
Is Copilot the same as ChatGPT?
No. They're separate products from Microsoft and OpenAI, though both are chat assistants.
Can Copilot make pictures?
Yes, it can create images from a text description.
Sources (checked 2026-10-20): www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/for-individuals