Contact IT Support

 

 

 

 

Copilot Availability in Microsoft 365 Apps Has Changed

22 April, 2026

As of mid-April, Copilot is no longer available inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote unless you have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. We will share more details soon, including how the pilot will work.

Important to keep in mind

Features in cloud services can change over time. Tools or features that are free today may become paid later, and in some cases, paid features may later become more widely available. These changes are made by the vendor and are not controlled by KAUST.

If you were used to seeing Copilot inside these Microsoft 365 apps, this change is expected and does not mean something is broken.

What This Means for You

  • Copilot is no longer available inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license
  • You can still use Copilot through the Microsoft 365 Copilot app
  • Copilot features in Outlook for email and calendar remain available
  • You may now see clearer labels such as Copilot Chat for the free experience and Microsoft 365 Copilot for the licensed experience

What You Need to Do

No action is required.

You can continue using Copilot Chat as you do today.

What’s Coming Next at KAUST

KAUST IT is preparing a pilot rollout of Copilot for Microsoft 365, the enterprise licensed version of Copilot.

This will provide selected participants with:

  • Copilot directly inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 apps
  • More integrated AI capabilities across files, email, meetings, and Microsoft 365 data within the KAUST environment

At this stage:

  • Copilot for Microsoft 365 is not yet available for general purchase at KAUST
  • Access will begin through a controlled pilot phase