Copilot in Microsoft OneNote for Windows Desktop Update

Starting December 12, 2025, OneNote for Windows desktop will update Copilot features to open in the Copilot Chat pane instead of separate windows or direct canvas insertion. This change applies to all users automatically, with no required action, and maintains enterprise grounding and compliance.

[Introduction]

Starting December 12, 2025, Copilot in Microsoft OneNote for Windows desktop will improve the experience for on-canvas Copilot features. Instead of opening a separate window or inserting content directly on the OneNote canvas, features such as Take Notes with Copilot, Summarize Page, Create a Task List, and Rewrite Page will now open in the Copilot Chat pane. This update enables the latest Copilot Chat capabilities for these features, providing a more consistent and integrated experience.

Previous experience:

New experience:

[When this will happen:]

Rollout begins December 12, 2025 and will apply to all versions of OneNote for Windows desktop.

[How this affects your organization:]

• Who is affected:
  • All users of the Microsoft OneNote Windows desktop application.
• What will happen:
  • On-canvas Copilot features will open in the Copilot Chat pane instead of a separate window or inserting content directly on the canvas.
  • Users will no longer be able to explicitly refer to “this section” or “this notebook” in prompts.
  • Enterprise grounding remains unchanged.
  • The update will be applied automatically; no admin or user action is required.

[What you can do to prepare:]

• No action is required for this change to take effect.
• If needed, communicate this update to helpdesk staff and update internal documentation.
• For additional support, use Help > Support in OneNote for Windows or contact your Microsoft support team.

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization