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(Updated) Open Outlook emails directly in Copilot chat

Message ID
MC1223826
View in Message Center
Services
Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365)Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
Category
Stay Informed
Tags
New featureUser impact
Rollout
May 2026

Summary

Starting mid-May 2026, users can open Outlook emails directly within Microsoft 365 Copilot chat, viewing emails side-by-side without changing permissions or admin controls. The feature is enabled by default, requires no admin action, and aims to reduce context switching during Copilot interactions.

Details

Updated April 29, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

We’re introducing a new capability that enables users to open Outlook emails directly within any full‑app Microsoft 365 Copilot experience, including Copilot chat. This enhancement helps reduce context switching by allowing users to view referenced emails alongside their Copilot interaction.

[When this will happen:]

General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout begins mid-May 2026 (previously late April) and is expected to complete by late May 2026 (previously early May).

[How this affects your organization:]

Who is affected:

  • All users who access Microsoft 365 Copilot full‑app experiences, including Copilot chat.

What will happen:

  • Users will be able to open Outlook emails directly from references or sources shown in Copilot chat.
  • Emails will open side‑by‑side within the Copilot experience.
  • The feature is enabled by default.
  • Existing Microsoft 365 permissions and data access models remain unchanged.
  • No changes are made to Outlook, Exchange Online, or Copilot admin controls.

[What you can do to prepare:]

  • No administrator action is required.
  • Update internal documentation if needed.

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.

Change History

Show
April 29, 2026 at 10:30 PM Updated
Summary
Previous
Starting late April 2026, users can open Outlook emails directly within Microsoft 365 Copilot chat, viewing emails side-by-side without changing permissions or admin controls. The feature is enabled by default, requires no admin action, and aims to reduce context switching during Copilot interactions.
New
Starting mid-May 2026, users can open Outlook emails directly within Microsoft 365 Copilot chat, viewing emails side-by-side without changing permissions or admin controls. The feature is enabled by default, requires no admin action, and aims to reduce context switching during Copilot interactions.
Last Updated Date
Previous
2026-04-21T16:15:43.103Z
New
2026-04-29T22:09:55.793Z
Body Content
Previous

Updated April 21, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

We’re introducing a new capability that enables users to open Outlook emails directly within any full‑app Microsoft 365 Copilot experience, including Copilot chat. This enhancement helps reduce context switching by allowing users to view referenced emails alongside their Copilot interaction.

[When this will happen:]

General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout begins late April 2026 (previously mid-February) and is expected to complete by early May 2026 (previously late February).

[How this affects your organization:]

Who is affected:

  • All users who access Microsoft 365 Copilot full‑app experiences, including Copilot chat.

What will happen:

  • Users will be able to open Outlook emails directly from references or sources shown in Copilot chat.
  • Emails will open side‑by‑side within the Copilot experience.
  • The feature is enabled by default.
  • Existing Microsoft 365 permissions and data access models remain unchanged.
  • No changes are made to Outlook, Exchange Online, or Copilot admin controls.

[What you can do to prepare:]

  • No administrator action is required.
  • Update internal documentation if needed.

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.

New

Updated April 29, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

We’re introducing a new capability that enables users to open Outlook emails directly within any full‑app Microsoft 365 Copilot experience, including Copilot chat. This enhancement helps reduce context switching by allowing users to view referenced emails alongside their Copilot interaction.

[When this will happen:]

General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout begins mid-May 2026 (previously late April) and is expected to complete by late May 2026 (previously early May).

[How this affects your organization:]

Who is affected:

  • All users who access Microsoft 365 Copilot full‑app experiences, including Copilot chat.

What will happen:

  • Users will be able to open Outlook emails directly from references or sources shown in Copilot chat.
  • Emails will open side‑by‑side within the Copilot experience.
  • The feature is enabled by default.
  • Existing Microsoft 365 permissions and data access models remain unchanged.
  • No changes are made to Outlook, Exchange Online, or Copilot admin controls.

[What you can do to prepare:]

  • No administrator action is required.
  • Update internal documentation if needed.

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.

April 21, 2026 at 6:30 PM Updated
Title
Previous
Open Outlook emails directly in Copilot chat
New
(Updated) Open Outlook emails directly in Copilot chat
Summary
Previous
Starting mid-February 2026, users can open Outlook emails directly within Microsoft 365 Copilot chat, viewing emails side-by-side without changing permissions or admin settings. This feature is enabled by default, requires no admin action, and aims to reduce context switching.
New
Starting late April 2026, users can open Outlook emails directly within Microsoft 365 Copilot chat, viewing emails side-by-side without changing permissions or admin controls. The feature is enabled by default, requires no admin action, and aims to reduce context switching during Copilot interactions.
Last Updated Date
Previous
2026-01-29T00:40:37.367Z
New
2026-04-21T16:15:43.103Z
Tags
Previous
New feature,User impact
New
Updated message,New feature,User impact
Body Content
Previous

[Introduction]

We’re introducing a new capability that enables users to open Outlook emails directly within any full‑app Microsoft 365 Copilot experience, including Copilot chat. This enhancement helps reduce context switching by allowing users to view referenced emails alongside their Copilot interaction.

[When this will happen:]

General Availability (Worldwide): rollout begins mid-February 2026 and is expected to complete by late February 2026.

[How this affects your organization:]

Who is affected:

  • All users who access Microsoft 365 Copilot full‑app experiences, including Copilot chat.

What will happen:

  • Users will be able to open Outlook emails directly from references or sources shown in Copilot chat.
  • Emails will open side‑by‑side within the Copilot experience.
  • The feature is enabled by default.
  • Existing Microsoft 365 permissions and data access models remain unchanged.
  • No changes are made to Outlook, Exchange Online, or Copilot admin controls.

[What you can do to prepare:]

  • No administrator action is required.
  • Update internal documentation if needed.

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.

New

Updated April 21, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

We’re introducing a new capability that enables users to open Outlook emails directly within any full‑app Microsoft 365 Copilot experience, including Copilot chat. This enhancement helps reduce context switching by allowing users to view referenced emails alongside their Copilot interaction.

[When this will happen:]

General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout begins late April 2026 (previously mid-February) and is expected to complete by early May 2026 (previously late February).

[How this affects your organization:]

Who is affected:

  • All users who access Microsoft 365 Copilot full‑app experiences, including Copilot chat.

What will happen:

  • Users will be able to open Outlook emails directly from references or sources shown in Copilot chat.
  • Emails will open side‑by‑side within the Copilot experience.
  • The feature is enabled by default.
  • Existing Microsoft 365 permissions and data access models remain unchanged.
  • No changes are made to Outlook, Exchange Online, or Copilot admin controls.

[What you can do to prepare:]

  • No administrator action is required.
  • Update internal documentation if needed.

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.

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