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(Updated) Collaborate with Copilot in Outlook while drafting email

Message ID
MC1239932
View in Message Center
Service
Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365)
Category
Stay Informed
Tags
New featureUser impactAdmin impact
Rollout
March 2026April 2026

Summary

Microsoft 365 Copilot will be integrated into Outlook’s email compose experience starting March 2026, allowing licensed users to collaborate with Copilot side-by-side while drafting emails. It will be enabled by default on supported clients, with no changes to admin controls or workflows. No action is required.

Details

Updated March 4, 2026: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

We’re introducing a new drafting experience in Outlook that enables users to collaborate directly with Microsoft 365 Copilot while composing email. This experience helps users move from a blank message to a polished draft more efficiently by allowing them to iterate with Copilot in chat next to the compose view, while staying in full control of the final content.

[When this will happen]

  • General availability (Worldwide): Rollout will begin in early March 2026 and is expected to complete by late April 2026.
  • Initial availability includes Outlook on the web and the new Outlook for Windows, with Outlook for iOS, Android, and Mac following shortly. Support for classic Outlook for Windows will arrive later in 2026.

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected

  • Users in your organization who have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and use Outlook on supported clients.

What will happen

  • Users will see a new Copilot side‑by‑side drafting experience when composing email
  • Users can collaborate with Copilot in real time to refine, expand, or rewrite content directly within the compose surface:

    user settings

    user settings

  • The experience is enabled by default for licensed users.
  • Existing policies related to email access, governance, and protection continue to apply; there are no changes to admin controls at this time.
  • There is no change to existing workflows outside the compose experience.

[What you can do to prepare]

No action is required.

You may choose to:

  • Update internal training materials to help users understand this new drafting experience.
  • Review upcoming Learn and help documentation as it becomes available.

[Compliance considerations]

No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.

Change History

Show
March 4, 2026 at 10:31 PM Updated
Title
Previous
Collaborate with Copilot in Outlook while drafting email
New
(Updated) Collaborate with Copilot in Outlook while drafting email
Summary
Previous
Microsoft 365 Copilot will be integrated into Outlook's compose window starting March 2026, enabling real-time collaboration for email drafting. Available initially on Outlook web and new Windows Outlook, it is enabled by default for licensed users, with no changes to admin controls or workflows. No action required.
New
Microsoft 365 Copilot will be integrated into Outlook’s email compose experience starting March 2026, allowing licensed users to collaborate with Copilot side-by-side while drafting emails. It will be enabled by default on supported clients, with no changes to admin controls or workflows. No action is required.
Last Updated Date
Previous
2026-02-27T17:18:55.723Z
New
2026-03-04T18:22:55.540Z
Tags
Previous
New feature,User impact,Admin impact
New
Updated message,New feature,User impact,Admin impact
Body Content
Previous

[Introduction]

We’re introducing a new drafting experience in Outlook that enables users to collaborate directly with Microsoft 365 Copilot while composing email. This experience helps users move from a blank message to a polished draft more efficiently by allowing them to iterate with Copilot in the compose window, while staying in full control of the final content.

[When this will happen]

  • General availability (Worldwide): Rollout will begin in early March 2026 and is expected to complete by late April 2026.
  • Initial availability includes Outlook on the web and the new Outlook for Windows, with Outlook for iOS, Android, and Mac following shortly. Support for classic Outlook for Windows will arrive later in 2026.

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected

  • Users in your organization who have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and use Outlook on supported clients.

What will happen

  • Users will see a new Copilot side‑by‑side drafting experience when composing email (screenshots 1 and 2):

    user settings

    user settings

  • Users can collaborate with Copilot in real time to refine, expand, or rewrite content directly within the compose surface (screenshot 3):

    user settings

  • The experience is enabled by default for licensed users.
  • Existing policies related to email access, governance, and protection continue to apply; there are no changes to admin controls at this time.
  • There is no change to existing workflows outside the compose experience.

[What you can do to prepare]

No action is required.

You may choose to:

  • Update internal training materials to help users understand this new drafting experience.
  • Review upcoming Learn and help documentation as it becomes available.

[Compliance considerations]

No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.

New

Updated March 4, 2026: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

We’re introducing a new drafting experience in Outlook that enables users to collaborate directly with Microsoft 365 Copilot while composing email. This experience helps users move from a blank message to a polished draft more efficiently by allowing them to iterate with Copilot in chat next to the compose view, while staying in full control of the final content.

[When this will happen]

  • General availability (Worldwide): Rollout will begin in early March 2026 and is expected to complete by late April 2026.
  • Initial availability includes Outlook on the web and the new Outlook for Windows, with Outlook for iOS, Android, and Mac following shortly. Support for classic Outlook for Windows will arrive later in 2026.

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected

  • Users in your organization who have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and use Outlook on supported clients.

What will happen

  • Users will see a new Copilot side‑by‑side drafting experience when composing email
  • Users can collaborate with Copilot in real time to refine, expand, or rewrite content directly within the compose surface:

    user settings

    user settings

  • The experience is enabled by default for licensed users.
  • Existing policies related to email access, governance, and protection continue to apply; there are no changes to admin controls at this time.
  • There is no change to existing workflows outside the compose experience.

[What you can do to prepare]

No action is required.

You may choose to:

  • Update internal training materials to help users understand this new drafting experience.
  • Review upcoming Learn and help documentation as it becomes available.

[Compliance considerations]

No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.

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