(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat: New ways to include files and emails in prompts

Message Center ID: MC1139489
Microsoft 365 suite
Plan for Change
New feature User impact Admin impact
October 2025 November 2025 December 2025 January 2026
Desktop Web

Summary

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in the prompt box, enhancing response relevance. Email access is limited to Outlook. Rollout begins October 2025, completing by January 2026. No admin action is needed; users see only accessible content.

Details

Updated December 17, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience. Thank you for your patience.

We're enhancing Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat with new capabilities that make it easier for users to include work content—such as files and emails—in their prompts. By typing ‘/’ in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly.


Note: For users without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Chat is not automatically grounded in the organization’s graph or the user’s personal graph - this is only available for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license when using Chat in Work scope.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377.

When this will happen:

  • Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112)
  • Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by end of January 2026 (previously late November 2025). Roadmap ID 500377.

How this affects your organization:

This update improves usability and prompt relevance in Copilot Chat by allowing users to reference files and emails in their prompts (without uploading them manually) or as part of suggested prompts under the input box. Users will only see content they have access to, based on interaction signals (such as accessed, modified, or shared) and properties (such as creation or last update date).

No changes to default settings or user permissions are required.

What you can do to prepare:

No admin action is required. You may want to inform your users about the new reference capabilities.

Learn more: Using Context IQ to refer to specific files, people, and more in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat

Compliance considerations

ConsiderationExplanation
Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed?Yes, users can now access specific data types (files, emails) they have permission to view directly from Copilot Chat by typing '/' in the prompt box.
Does the change provide end users any new way of interacting with generative AI?Yes, users can now more easily include specific data types (files, emails) in their prompts, improving grounding and relevance of Copilot responses.


Related Roadmap Items

Change History

December 17, 2025 at 10:30 PM Updated
Summary
Previous
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in Outlook, enhancing prompt relevance and usability. Email access rollout is from October to November 2025. No admin action is needed; users see only content they have permission to access.
New
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in the prompt box, enhancing response relevance. Email access is limited to Outlook. Rollout begins October 2025, completing by January 2026. No admin action is needed; users see only accessible content.
Last Updated Date
Previous
2025-11-07T23:36:37.337Z
New
2025-12-17T20:38:25.210Z
Body Content
Previous

Updated November 7, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience. Thank you for your patience.

We're enhancing Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat with new capabilities that make it easier for users to include work content—such as files and emails—in their prompts. By typing ‘/’ in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly.


Note: For users without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Chat is not automatically grounded in the organization’s graph or the user’s personal graph - this is only available for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license when using Chat in Work scope.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377.

When this will happen:

  • Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112)
  • Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by late November 2025 (previously late October). Roadmap ID 500377.

How this affects your organization:

This update improves usability and prompt relevance in Copilot Chat by allowing users to reference files and emails in their prompts (without uploading them manually) or as part of suggested prompts under the input box. Users will only see content they have access to, based on interaction signals (such as accessed, modified, or shared) and properties (such as creation or last update date).

No changes to default settings or user permissions are required.

What you can do to prepare:

No admin action is required. You may want to inform your users about the new reference capabilities.

Learn more: Using Context IQ to refer to specific files, people, and more in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat

Compliance considerations

ConsiderationExplanation
Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed?Yes, users can now access specific data types (files, emails) they have permission to view directly from Copilot Chat by typing '/' in the prompt box.
Does the change provide end users any new way of interacting with generative AI?Yes, users can now more easily include specific data types (files, emails) in their prompts, improving grounding and relevance of Copilot responses.


New

Updated December 17, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience. Thank you for your patience.

We're enhancing Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat with new capabilities that make it easier for users to include work content—such as files and emails—in their prompts. By typing ‘/’ in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly.


Note: For users without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Chat is not automatically grounded in the organization’s graph or the user’s personal graph - this is only available for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license when using Chat in Work scope.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377.

When this will happen:

  • Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112)
  • Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by end of January 2026 (previously late November 2025). Roadmap ID 500377.

How this affects your organization:

This update improves usability and prompt relevance in Copilot Chat by allowing users to reference files and emails in their prompts (without uploading them manually) or as part of suggested prompts under the input box. Users will only see content they have access to, based on interaction signals (such as accessed, modified, or shared) and properties (such as creation or last update date).

No changes to default settings or user permissions are required.

What you can do to prepare:

No admin action is required. You may want to inform your users about the new reference capabilities.

Learn more: Using Context IQ to refer to specific files, people, and more in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat

Compliance considerations

ConsiderationExplanation
Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed?Yes, users can now access specific data types (files, emails) they have permission to view directly from Copilot Chat by typing '/' in the prompt box.
Does the change provide end users any new way of interacting with generative AI?Yes, users can now more easily include specific data types (files, emails) in their prompts, improving grounding and relevance of Copilot responses.


November 8, 2025 at 12:31 AM Updated
Summary
Previous
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in the prompt box, enhancing relevance and usability. Email access in Outlook starts rolling out in October 2025. No admin action is needed; users see only content they have permission to access.
New
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in Outlook, enhancing prompt relevance and usability. Email access rollout is from October to November 2025. No admin action is needed; users see only content they have permission to access.
Last Updated Date
Previous
2025-09-24T16:46:20.000Z
New
2025-11-07T23:36:37.337Z
Body Content
Previous

Updated September 24, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.

Updated September 5, 2025: Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience.

We're enhancing Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat with new capabilities that make it easier for users to include work content—such as files and emails—in their prompts. By typing ‘/’ in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly.


Note: For users without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Chat is not automatically grounded in the organization’s graph or the user’s personal graph - this is only available for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license when using Chat in Work scope.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377.

When this will happen:

  • Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112)
  • Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by late October 2025 (previously late September). Roadmap ID 500377.

How this affects your organization:

This update improves usability and prompt relevance in Copilot Chat by allowing users to reference files and emails in their prompts (without uploading them manually) or as part of suggested prompts under the input box. Users will only see content they have access to, based on interaction signals (such as accessed, modified, or shared) and properties (such as creation or last update date).

No changes to default settings or user permissions are required.

What you can do to prepare:

No admin action is required. You may want to inform your users about the new reference capabilities.

Learn more: Using Context IQ to refer to specific files, people, and more in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat

Compliance considerations

ConsiderationExplanation
Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed?Yes, users can now access specific data types (files, emails) they have permission to view directly from Copilot Chat by typing '/' in the prompt box.
Does the change provide end users any new way of interacting with generative AI?Yes, users can now more easily include specific data types (files, emails) in their prompts, improving grounding and relevance of Copilot responses.


New

Updated November 7, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience. Thank you for your patience.

We're enhancing Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat with new capabilities that make it easier for users to include work content—such as files and emails—in their prompts. By typing ‘/’ in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly.


Note: For users without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Chat is not automatically grounded in the organization’s graph or the user’s personal graph - this is only available for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license when using Chat in Work scope.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377.

When this will happen:

  • Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112)
  • Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by late November 2025 (previously late October). Roadmap ID 500377.

How this affects your organization:

This update improves usability and prompt relevance in Copilot Chat by allowing users to reference files and emails in their prompts (without uploading them manually) or as part of suggested prompts under the input box. Users will only see content they have access to, based on interaction signals (such as accessed, modified, or shared) and properties (such as creation or last update date).

No changes to default settings or user permissions are required.

What you can do to prepare:

No admin action is required. You may want to inform your users about the new reference capabilities.

Learn more: Using Context IQ to refer to specific files, people, and more in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat

Compliance considerations

ConsiderationExplanation
Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed?Yes, users can now access specific data types (files, emails) they have permission to view directly from Copilot Chat by typing '/' in the prompt box.
Does the change provide end users any new way of interacting with generative AI?Yes, users can now more easily include specific data types (files, emails) in their prompts, improving grounding and relevance of Copilot responses.


September 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM Updated
Summary
Previous
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in Outlook, enhancing prompt relevance and usability. Email access rolls out mid to late September 2025. No admin action is needed; users see only content they have permission to access.
New
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in the prompt box, enhancing relevance and usability. Email access in Outlook starts rolling out in October 2025. No admin action is needed; users see only content they have permission to access.
Last Updated Date
Previous
2025-09-05T19:03:59.410Z
New
2025-09-24T16:46:20.000Z
Body Content
Previous

Updated September 5, 2025: Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience.

We're enhancing Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat with new capabilities that make it easier for users to include work content—such as files and emails—in their prompts. By typing ‘/’ in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly.


Note: For users without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Chat is not automatically grounded in the organization’s graph or the user’s personal graph - this is only available for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license when using Chat in Work scope.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377.

When this will happen:

  • Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112)
  • Emails: Rollout begins mid-September 2025 and completes by late September 2025 (Roadmap ID 500377).

How this affects your organization:

This update improves usability and prompt relevance in Copilot Chat by allowing users to reference files and emails in their prompts (without uploading them manually) or as part of suggested prompts under the input box. Users will only see content they have access to, based on interaction signals (such as accessed, modified, or shared) and properties (such as creation or last update date).

No changes to default settings or user permissions are required.

What you can do to prepare:

No admin action is required. You may want to inform your users about the new reference capabilities.

Learn more: Using Context IQ to refer to specific files, people, and more in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat

Compliance considerations

ConsiderationExplanation
Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed?Yes, users can now access specific data types (files, emails) they have permission to view directly from Copilot Chat by typing '/' in the prompt box.
Does the change provide end users any new way of interacting with generative AI?Yes, users can now more easily include specific data types (files, emails) in their prompts, improving grounding and relevance of Copilot responses.


New

Updated September 24, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.

Updated September 5, 2025: Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience.

We're enhancing Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat with new capabilities that make it easier for users to include work content—such as files and emails—in their prompts. By typing ‘/’ in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly.


Note: For users without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Chat is not automatically grounded in the organization’s graph or the user’s personal graph - this is only available for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license when using Chat in Work scope.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377.

When this will happen:

  • Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112)
  • Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by late October 2025 (previously late September). Roadmap ID 500377.

How this affects your organization:

This update improves usability and prompt relevance in Copilot Chat by allowing users to reference files and emails in their prompts (without uploading them manually) or as part of suggested prompts under the input box. Users will only see content they have access to, based on interaction signals (such as accessed, modified, or shared) and properties (such as creation or last update date).

No changes to default settings or user permissions are required.

What you can do to prepare:

No admin action is required. You may want to inform your users about the new reference capabilities.

Learn more: Using Context IQ to refer to specific files, people, and more in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat

Compliance considerations

ConsiderationExplanation
Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed?Yes, users can now access specific data types (files, emails) they have permission to view directly from Copilot Chat by typing '/' in the prompt box.
Does the change provide end users any new way of interacting with generative AI?Yes, users can now more easily include specific data types (files, emails) in their prompts, improving grounding and relevance of Copilot responses.


September 5, 2025 at 8:30 PM Updated
Title
Previous
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat: New ways to include files and emails in prompts
New
(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat: New ways to include files and emails in prompts
Summary
Previous
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users quickly include files and emails in prompts by typing ‘/’ to search and reference content, enhancing response relevance. Email integration rolls out by late September 2025. No admin action is needed, and users only access content they have permission to view.
New
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing '/' in Outlook, enhancing prompt relevance and usability. Email access rolls out mid to late September 2025. No admin action is needed; users see only content they have permission to access.
Last Updated Date
Previous
2025-08-22T00:06:56.877Z
New
2025-09-05T19:03:59.410Z
Tags
Previous
New feature,User impact,Admin impact
New
Updated message,New feature,User impact,Admin impact
Body Content
Previous

We're enhancing Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat with new capabilities that make it easier for users to include work content—such as files and emails—in their prompts. By typing ‘/’ in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly.

Note: For users without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Chat is not automatically grounded in the organization’s graph or the user’s personal graph - this is only available for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license when using Chat in Work scope.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377.

When this will happen:

  • Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112)
  • Emails: Rollout begins mid-September 2025 and completes by late September 2025 (Roadmap ID 500377)

How this affects your organization:

This update improves usability and prompt relevance in Copilot Chat by allowing users to reference files and emails in their prompts (without uploading them manually) or as part of suggested prompts under the input box. Users will only see content they have access to, based on interaction signals (such as accessed, modified, or shared) and properties (such as creation or last update date).

No changes to default settings or user permissions are required.

What you can do to prepare:

No admin action is required. You may want to inform your users about the new reference capabilities.

Learn more: Using Context IQ to refer to specific files, people, and more in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat

Compliance considerations

ConsiderationExplanation
Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed?Yes, users can now access specific data types (files, emails) they have permission to view directly from Copilot Chat by typing '/' in the prompt box.
Does the change provide end users any new way of interacting with generative AI?Yes, users can now more easily include specific data types (files, emails) in their prompts, improving grounding and relevance of Copilot responses.
New

Updated September 5, 2025: Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience.

We're enhancing Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat with new capabilities that make it easier for users to include work content—such as files and emails—in their prompts. By typing ‘/’ in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly.


Note: For users without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Chat is not automatically grounded in the organization’s graph or the user’s personal graph - this is only available for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license when using Chat in Work scope.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377.

When this will happen:

  • Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112)
  • Emails: Rollout begins mid-September 2025 and completes by late September 2025 (Roadmap ID 500377).

How this affects your organization:

This update improves usability and prompt relevance in Copilot Chat by allowing users to reference files and emails in their prompts (without uploading them manually) or as part of suggested prompts under the input box. Users will only see content they have access to, based on interaction signals (such as accessed, modified, or shared) and properties (such as creation or last update date).

No changes to default settings or user permissions are required.

What you can do to prepare:

No admin action is required. You may want to inform your users about the new reference capabilities.

Learn more: Using Context IQ to refer to specific files, people, and more in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat

Compliance considerations

ConsiderationExplanation
Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed?Yes, users can now access specific data types (files, emails) they have permission to view directly from Copilot Chat by typing '/' in the prompt box.
Does the change provide end users any new way of interacting with generative AI?Yes, users can now more easily include specific data types (files, emails) in their prompts, improving grounding and relevance of Copilot responses.


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