Why is Copilot not working?
Quick answer
When Copilot isn’t working, the cause is usually a temporary Microsoft service outage, a sign-in or account problem, an out-of-date app or Windows, browser extensions or cache, or organization settings that turn it off on work accounts. First check whether Microsoft has reported an outage, then sign out and back in.
Copilot runs in Microsoft’s cloud, so many problems aren’t on your device at all. If it worked yesterday and nothing changed, an outage is the most likely reason.
Common causes and fixes
| Problem | Try this |
|---|---|
| Copilot won’t answer or shows errors | Check Microsoft’s service status page or outage reports; wait and try again |
| “Sign in to use Copilot” loops | Sign out of your Microsoft account and back in; check your Microsoft account password |
| Copilot missing from Windows | Update Windows and the Copilot app from the Microsoft Store |
| Copilot missing in Word or Excel | Check you have a plan that includes Copilot and that the app is updated |
| Grayed out on a work or school PC | Your organization may have disabled it; ask your IT team |
| Broken in the Edge browser | Update Edge, turn off extensions, and clear the cache |
| Not available at all | Copilot features vary by country, age and account type |
Step-by-step reset
- Restart your computer.
- Update Windows, Edge and the Copilot app.
- Sign out and back in to your Microsoft account.
- Try Copilot in another way, such as the website or phone app, to see if the problem is one app or your account.
- Reset the app in Windows: Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Copilot → Advanced options → Repair or Reset.
Still not working?
Use Get Help in Windows to contact Microsoft support; here’s how to get help in Windows. For a reminder of what each version of Copilot does, see what Copilot is.
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