Microsoft Copilot is Microsoft's AI chat agent. Starting April 15, 2026, Microsoft will be adjusting the places where the free version of Microsoft Copilot (Copilot Basic) will be available.
What's Changing
Starting April 15, Microsoft is adjusting where the basic version of Copilot Chat is available for users who do not have a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot Premium license.
For users without a premium license, Copilot Chat will be removed from inside the following Office apps:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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OneNote
Users will no longer see or be able to use the Copilot Chat sidebar or interface directly within these applications.
What Stays Available
The core Office apps are not changing—only the integrated in-app Chat experience is being removed for non-premium users. You can still access Copilot Chat (Basic) via:
Licensing and Costs
Full-time Employees who require the use of Copilot directly inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote must be licensed for Microsoft 365 Copilot Premium. The cost is $216 annually, and can be requested at this link: https://td.byui.edu/TDClient/79/ITHelpCenter/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=1214
| Only employees can request a Copilot premium license. Students are not eligible. |
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