Step-by-Step Guide to Activating Microsoft Copilot in Teams
You can turn on Microsoft Copilot in Teams. First, make sure your group has the right licenses and permissions. Next, you need to enable Copilot features in the Teams Admin Center. Many groups find this tool very helpful. More than 70% of groups with Copilot use it in Microsoft Teams, as shown below:
Microsoft Copilot helps people get more work done. It can write meeting notes and change messages into other languages. This saves teams time and helps them work together better. You will get faster meeting summaries and better teamwork when you turn it on.
Key Takeaways
Check that your team has the right Microsoft 365 licenses and admin permissions before you turn on Copilot in Teams.
Admins need to give out Copilot licenses, turn on transcription, and set app permissions in the Teams Admin Center to use Copilot features.
Use the newest Teams desktop or web apps because free versions do not have Copilot.
Copilot saves time by making meeting notes, writing summaries, and translating messages. This helps teamwork and makes people more productive.
If Copilot does not show up, try restarting Teams, updating your apps, checking your licenses, or getting help from Microsoft support.
Prerequisites
You need to check some things before you turn on Microsoft Copilot in Teams. These steps help your group get ready for an easy setup.
Licensing
You must have the right licenses to use Copilot in Teams. Most people need a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. If you want special calling features, you might need more licenses. Here is a simple guide:
You also need a Microsoft 365 subscription like E3, E5, or Business Premium. Some subscriptions include Copilot Chat for free, but the full Copilot add-on costs extra each month. Admins can give out licenses in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. They can use security groups to choose who gets access.
Tip: You can look at your license in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center under Billing > Licenses.
Admin Access
You need admin rights to set up Microsoft Copilot in Teams. Only admins can give licenses, change settings, and manage permissions. Here are the main steps for admins:
Sign in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
Give Copilot licenses to users.
Go to the Teams Admin Center.
Click Meetings > Meeting Policies and turn on Copilot.
Use app permission policies to pick who can use Copilot.
Admins also need to set up permissions in Microsoft Entra ID and register the right apps. This keeps your group safe.
Supported Teams Versions
You must use a Teams version that works with Copilot. Copilot works with the newest Teams desktop and web apps. Free Teams versions do not work with Copilot. Make sure everyone has the latest Teams apps and a good Microsoft 365 subscription. Admins can check if users can use Copilot in the Teams Admin Center. If you do these steps, you will be ready to turn on Copilot and help your team work better.
Microsoft Copilot Setup
Setting up Microsoft Copilot in Teams helps your group work better. You need to do a few steps to make sure it works right. This part will show you how to give out licenses, set up the Teams Admin Center, and turn on Copilot features.
Assign Licenses
You have to give the right licenses before anyone can use Microsoft Copilot in Teams. Try it first with a small group. This helps you find problems early.
Log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center with your admin account.
Go to the Users menu and pick Active users.
Choose a user who needs Copilot. Click Manage product licenses.
Check the box for the Copilot license and save.
For many users, give licenses to a security group in Microsoft Entra ID. This saves time and keeps things neat.
After testing, give licenses to more users or everyone.
Watch how people use Copilot and change license assignments if needed.
Tip: Make a group of early users. They can give feedback and help others learn Copilot.
Configure Admin Center
After you give out licenses, set up the Teams Admin Center. This step makes sure Copilot works with the right settings.
Open the Teams Admin Center.
Go to Meetings and pick Meeting Policies.
Pick a policy or make a new one for your group.
Turn on Transcription. This lets Copilot make meeting notes and summaries.
Set the Copilot option to On, On with saved transcript required, or On with transcript saved by default.
Save the policy.
Make sure Teams and Microsoft 365 apps are updated. Updates bring new Copilot features and fix bugs.
Note: Microsoft Copilot in Teams gets updates almost every month. New tools and fixes come often, so keep your apps updated.
Enable Copilot Features
Now you need to turn on Copilot features and control who can use them. Policies and permissions help keep your data safe.
Go to Teams apps in the Teams Admin Center.
Pick Permission policies. Use the global policy for everyone or make custom ones for some users.
Choose which apps and Copilot agents users can use. You can allow all, block all, or pick certain apps.
Give custom policies to users or groups as needed.
Use unified app management if your group uses this system. This lets you manage apps and agents in one place.
⚠️ Security Reminder: Always check your Teams and SharePoint permissions. Copilot only shows data to people who have access, but wrong settings can cause data leaks. Use tools like Microsoft Purview to protect data and keep your security settings current.
You should also teach your team how to use AI safely. Remind them not to share private data by mistake. Watch Copilot activity to spot anything odd.
If you follow these steps, you set up Microsoft Copilot in Teams for safe and good use. You can always change policies and permissions if you need to.
Using Copilot in Teams
Chats and Channels
You can use Microsoft Copilot in Teams chats and channels to help with work. To begin, check that your admin has set up the Copilot agent at least once. Next, link the agent to Teams and Microsoft 365 Copilot channels in the settings. You can get the agent from the Teams app store or a shared link. Add the agent to your team channels or group chats. Use '@mention' to talk to the agent and see what it says. If you do not see the agent, try refreshing Teams or sign out and back in.
Tip: Change how the agent looks and what it says about itself. This helps everyone know what it does before you add it to a channel.
Meetings
Microsoft Copilot helps you keep up during Teams meetings. If you join late, click Open Copilot to get a quick summary. During the meeting, open Copilot from the controls and pick View Prompts to make notes, list action items, or review what was said. You can pop out the Copilot window to do other things while you watch the meeting. At the end, ask Copilot to sum up the meeting and list what to do next.
You can also turn on transcription and recording for better notes and action items. The meeting organizer picks which Copilot features people can use.
Integration with Microsoft 365
Microsoft Copilot works with other Microsoft 365 apps to help you with tasks and notes. In OneNote, Copilot can make to-do lists and sort tasks using AI. You can use Copilot Notebooks to collect things from files, chats, and OneNote pages in one spot. This makes it easy to ask questions, get summaries, and write new things. Copilot also works with SharePoint and OneDrive, so your notes and tasks stay current.
Productivity Tips
To get the best results from Copilot, use clear and detailed prompts. For example, instead of saying “Summarize this,” say “Summarize this chat in 3 bullet points and include any open questions.” You can ask Copilot to make tables of action items, rewrite messages, or list follow-up questions. Copilot can also turn chats into tasks and sum up documents fast.
Note: Teams users have saved hours each week by letting Copilot handle meeting notes, sum up chats, and organize tasks. You can learn more in the Microsoft 365 learning hub or by joining user groups.
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Sometimes, you may have trouble using Microsoft Copilot in Teams. Many people say Copilot does not show up in Teams, but it works in other Microsoft 365 apps. You might upgrade your subscription and check admin settings, but Copilot still does not appear. You may update licenses and settings many times, but the problem stays. This can last for weeks and make people upset.
To solve these problems, try these steps:
Restart Teams and your computer to fix small problems.
If that does not work, reinstall Teams with the Teams bootstrapper.
Make sure Teams is updated to the newest version.
Try the Teams web app to see if the problem is only on the desktop app.
Clear the Teams cache. Close Teams, delete files in
%appdata%\Microsoft\Teams, and restart Teams.Check Teams Meeting Policies in the admin center. Make sure Copilot and transcription are turned on.
Test Teams on another device to see if the problem is with your device.
💡 Tip: Microsoft has troubleshooters for Copilot. Use the license troubleshooter to check if you have a good license. Use the connectivity troubleshooter to find network problems like blocked firewalls.
Support Resources
If you still need help, you can use Microsoft’s support and community resources.
Microsoft has a support page for Copilot in Teams. You can find guides, video lessons, and prompts for different users.
The Microsoft 365 Copilot help and learning pages cover Teams and other apps.
You can join the Microsoft 365 Copilot community to ask questions, share ideas, and join online events with experts.
For more help, go to the Copilot in Teams support page at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot-teams.
You can start using Microsoft Copilot in Teams by doing a few things. First, make sure you have the right Microsoft 365 license. Next, turn on transcription or recording in Teams. Use Copilot in meetings to get quick summaries and action steps. After meetings, check the recaps to see what happened. Copilot helps your team work better and saves time. You also get help right away during meetings. Try using prompt ideas and export your meeting summaries. For more help, go to the Microsoft 365 Copilot hub on Microsoft Learn.
FAQ
How do you check if Copilot is enabled in Teams?
Go to the Teams app. Click your profile picture. Select "Settings." Look for Copilot features under "General." If you see Copilot options, your admin has enabled it.
What should you do if Copilot does not appear after setup?
Restart Teams and your computer. Update Teams to the latest version. If Copilot still does not show, ask your admin to check your license and permissions.
Can you use Copilot in Teams on mobile devices?
You can use Copilot in the Teams mobile app if your organization supports it. Some features may work only on desktop or web versions.
How do you add Copilot to a Teams channel?
Open the channel. Click "Apps" or the "+" icon. Search for Copilot. Add it to the channel. Use "@Copilot" to start using it in chats.
Is your data safe when using Copilot in Teams?
Copilot follows your Teams and Microsoft 365 permissions. Only people with access to files or chats can see Copilot results. Always check your privacy settings.