Copilot is built into Word on Windows and Mac, but you need to turn it on

Microsoft Copilot is already part of Word if you have a recent version — you do not need to download or install anything separate. On Windows, Copilot appears as a button in the ribbon at the top of the document. On Mac, it lives in the toolbar. The catch is that it only works if you are signed in with a Microsoft account and have an active Microsoft 365 subscription (the paid version, not the free web version of Word).

If you do not see the Copilot button, your version of Word may be older than the one that includes it. Word for Windows got Copilot in early 2024, and Mac followed later that year. You can check your version by opening Word, going to File > Account, and looking at the version number. If it is older than version 2404, you may need to update.

Key Takeaways

  • Copilot in Word requires a Microsoft 365 subscription and a Microsoft account sign-in — it does not work with free Word Online or standalone Office licenses.
  • The Copilot button appears in the ribbon on Windows and in the toolbar on Mac; if you do not see it, update Word through the Microsoft Store or the auto-update feature.
  • Copilot can summarize documents, draft sections, rewrite text, and answer questions about your document, but it works best when you give it specific instructions.
  • Your document content is sent to Microsoft servers when you use Copilot, so do not use it on confidential material unless your organization has approved it.

Finding and opening Copilot in Word on Windows

On Windows, open any document in Word and look at the top ribbon. You should see a button labeled "Copilot" — it usually appears near the right side of the ribbon, sometimes grouped with other tools. Click it once to open the Copilot panel on the right side of your screen.

If the button is not there, make sure you are signed into Word with your Microsoft account. Click File in the top left, then Account, and check that you see your email address under "User Information". If you see "Sign in" instead, click it and enter your Microsoft credentials. After signing in, close and reopen Word, and the Copilot button should appear.

If you still do not see it after signing in, your version of Word is likely older than 2404. Go to File > Account again and click "Update Options" > "Update Now" to install the latest version. This may take a few minutes.

Finding and opening Copilot in Word on Mac

On Mac, open Word and look at the toolbar at the top of the window. The Copilot button looks like a small icon (usually a sparkle or "C" symbol) and typically sits toward the right side of the toolbar. Click it to open the Copilot panel on the right.

If you do not see the button, first check that you are signed in. Click Word in the menu bar, then Preferences, then Account, and verify your Microsoft email is listed. If not, click "Sign in" and enter your credentials.

If the button still does not appear after signing in, your Mac version of Word may need an update. Click Word in the menu bar, then Check for Updates, and install any available updates. Restart Word afterward.

What you can do with Copilot in Word

Once the Copilot panel is open, you can ask it to do several things with your document. You can ask it to summarize what you have written, draft new sections based on a prompt, rewrite existing text in a different tone or style, or answer questions about the content in your document. For example, you might type "Make this paragraph more concise" or "Draft an introduction for this report" or "What are the main points in this document?"

Copilot works best when you give it specific instructions. Instead of "Make this better," try "Rewrite this in a formal tone for a business audience" or "Summarize this in two sentences." The more detail you provide about what you want, the more useful the result will be.

You can also use Copilot to brainstorm. If you are stuck on how to start a section or what to include, you can ask it for ideas. Keep in mind that Copilot generates text based on patterns in its training data — it does not search the internet or pull from sources outside your document, so it cannot fact-check claims or add citations.

Privacy and security considerations

When you use Copilot in Word, the text in your document is sent to Microsoft servers to process your request. This means you should not use Copilot on documents that contain confidential, proprietary, or sensitive information unless your organization has reviewed and approved it. Check with your IT department or security team if you work for a company with strict data policies.

Microsoft states that it does not use your document content to train Copilot or improve its models, but the data does pass through their systems. If your organization uses Microsoft 365 with enterprise security settings, your administrator may have options to restrict Copilot use or route it through additional security layers.

Troubleshooting common problems

If Copilot opens but gives you an error or says it cannot process your request, the most common cause is an internet connection issue. Copilot requires an active internet connection to work. Check that you are connected to Wi-Fi or a network, and try again.

If you get a message saying you do not have permission to use Copilot, your Microsoft 365 subscription may not include it, or your organization may have disabled it. Copilot is included in most Microsoft 365 plans for individuals and businesses, but some older or restricted plans do not have it. Contact Microsoft Support or your IT administrator to confirm your subscription includes Copilot access.

If Copilot is slow to respond or times out, try closing the panel and reopening it. If the problem persists, restart Word entirely. Occasionally, restarting your computer can also help if Word has been running for a long time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay extra for Copilot in Word?

No. Copilot in Word is included with a Microsoft 365 subscription at no additional cost. You do not need to buy a separate Copilot Pro plan. However, you do need an active Microsoft 365 subscription — it does not work with free Word Online or a one-time Office license.

Can I use Copilot if I only have Word Online?

Not yet. Copilot in Word is currently available only in the desktop versions of Word (Windows and Mac). Microsoft has not released it for Word Online, though this may change in the future.

What happens to my document after I use Copilot?

Your document stays in Word exactly as it was. Copilot generates suggestions and text in the panel on the right, but nothing is automatically added to your document. You decide what to keep, what to edit, and what to discard. You always have full control over what ends up in your final document.

Can Copilot read and summarize a document I did not write?

Yes. You can open any document in Word and ask Copilot to summarize it, extract key points, or answer questions about it. This works whether you wrote the document or someone else did.