Is Microsoft Copilot safe? Privacy settings explained simply

What Microsoft says happens to your chats

Microsoft updated the Copilot app on August 18, 2026. For the new app, signed in with a personal Microsoft account, Microsoft's help page says: "Prompts, responses, and your file contents when using the Microsoft Copilot app aren't used to train foundation models."

Using an older version of the app? Microsoft has a separate page for that, and on the older version you had to switch training off yourself. Updating the app is the simplest fix.

Ads and memory

If you use Copilot without a Microsoft 365 subscription, you might see ads. Microsoft says personalized ads may use your chat history and saved memories. To stop that, open Copilot Settings, then Personalization, and turn off Allow ads personalization.

Copilot can also save memories about you. In the same Personalization screen you can delete memories or turn off Saved memories. Turning it off doesn't delete what's already saved, so press Delete all memories too if you want a clean slate. There's also a One shared experience switch that stops your chats shaping what you see on Bing, Edge and MSN.

How to keep it more private

Delete a chat from the Chats list with the ... menu, then Delete. To delete your whole history, use Microsoft's privacy dashboard.

Never type passwords, full card or bank numbers, your Social Security number, or someone else's medical details, into Copilot or any chat tool. Our Is ChatGPT safe? guide has a full list.

Is it safe for work or confidential files?

Signed in with a work or school account, Copilot follows your employer's rules, not the personal ones on this page. If your job handles confidential information, ask your IT team before pasting anything in. At home, cover names and account numbers first.

The bottom line

Copilot is a reasonable, safe choice for everyday help, especially on a Windows computer. Spend two minutes in Settings, Personalization: switch off ad personalization and review your memories. The free version is explained in Is Microsoft Copilot free?, and Copilot for beginners shows how to start.

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Common questions

Does Microsoft train Copilot on my chats?

For the new Copilot app (from August 18, 2026), Microsoft says prompts, responses and file contents aren't used to train foundation models.

Does Copilot show ads?

If you don't have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you might see ads. You can turn off ad personalization in Settings, Personalization.

Can I delete my Copilot history?

Yes. Delete single chats from the Chats list, or your whole history from Microsoft's privacy dashboard.

Is Copilot safe for confidential information?

Keep confidential details out of the personal version. On a work account, follow your employer's IT rules.

Sources (checked 2026-10-26): support.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/microsoft-copilot/activity-history, support.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/microsoft-copilot/privacy-controls, www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/for-individuals