Microsoft announced that it will begin automatically installing the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on Windows devices that have the Microsoft 365 desktop client apps. The app will be installed on devices outside of the European Economic Area (EEA), with the rollout set to start in early October and complete by mid-November. The company stated this move will simplify access to Copilot and ensure users can easily discover and engage with productivity-enhancing features.
The Microsoft 365 Copilot app provides a central point for users to access the Copilot assistant and its AI-powered features across the Microsoft 365 suite. This includes popular applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as other features such as Notebooks and AI agents. Microsoft has encouraged administrators to inform their organizations’ helpdesk teams and users about the automatic installation to help reduce any potential confusion and support requests.
For IT administrators, the company is providing a way to opt out of the automatic installation. To do so, they must sign in to the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center, navigate to Customization, then to Device Configuration, and finally to Modern App Settings. From there, they can select the Microsoft 365 Copilot app and uncheck the Enable automatic installation of Microsoft 365 Copilot app box.
While many users may notice a new icon in their Start Menu, some may not see a change because the app may have already been installed. The new app will be added to the Windows Start Menu and enabled by default upon installation. This effort is part of a broader push by Microsoft to make Copilot more accessible.
In line with this goal, Microsoft also recently announced other initiatives to expand access to Copilot. These include integrating Microsoft 365 Copilot agents into the Edge sidebar, which will begin in late September 2025, and adding a new setting for Microsoft 365 admins to pin the Copilot app to the Windows taskbar.
Reference:
