Getting Started with Microsoft 365 Copilot: Tips for New Users

Getting Started with Microsoft 365 Copilot: Tips for New Users

Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI assistant that works with you in everyday Microsoft apps. Here’s what you need to know:

Key benefits:

  • Saves time on repetitive tasks
  • Improves productivity across apps
  • Helps catch up on missed information

To get started:

  1. Open a Copilot-enabled app
  2. Find the Copilot button in the menu ribbon
  3. Click to activate

Tips for best results:

  • Be specific in your requests
  • Always review and edit Copilot’s output
  • Combine AI help with your own expertise
App What Copilot Can Do
Word Draft and edit documents
Excel Analyze data and create charts
PowerPoint Generate slide decks
Outlook Summarize emails and draft responses
Teams Recap meetings and track action items

Remember: Copilot is a helper, not a replacement for your skills and judgment.

What is Microsoft 365 Copilot?

Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI sidekick that works with you in your everyday Microsoft apps. It’s here to make your work life easier and more creative.

How It Works

Copilot mixes AI smarts with your Microsoft 365 data. It’s not just about doing things faster – it’s about working smarter and freeing up your time.

What Can It Do?

Copilot can:

  • Write drafts
  • Sum up long texts
  • Make presentations
  • Crunch numbers
  • Recap meetings

Where You’ll Find It

Copilot fits right into:

App What It Does
Word Writes and edits
Excel Analyzes data
PowerPoint Creates slides
Outlook Handles emails
Teams Manages meetings

Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, says:

"This is a big step in how we use computers. It’ll change how we work and boost productivity."

Here’s a cool trick: In Word, just tell Copilot, "Write a feature announcement based on the IT doc." Don’t like it? Hit "Regenerate" for a new version.

Think of Copilot as your AI buddy, ready to help you work smarter across all your Microsoft 365 apps.

Getting ready to use Copilot

Let’s dive into what you need to start using Microsoft 365 Copilot:

License options

You’ll need two things:

  1. An eligible Microsoft 365 or Office 365 plan
  2. A Copilot add-on license ($30 per user per month)

Copilot works with plans like Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard, and Business Premium, as well as Office 365 E1, E3, and E5.

"The price for Microsoft 365 Copilot is $30 per user per month, regardless of industry, size, and Enterprise Agreement discount level."

Here’s how Copilot affects your total Microsoft 365 costs:

Existing M365 plan Cost increase
Microsoft 365 E5 53%
Microsoft 365 E3 83%
Microsoft 365 Business Premium 136%
Microsoft 365 Business Standard 240%

Computer requirements

Make sure you have:

  • Windows 10 or 11 (11 is better)
  • "Current" or "Monthly Enterprise Channel" for Microsoft 365 apps
  • Network access to Microsoft 365 endpoints

Required permissions

Users need:

  • Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory)
  • OneDrive account
  • Accounts on all Microsoft 365 apps, including the new Outlook

IT admins should:

  • Assign Copilot licenses in the Microsoft 365 admin center
  • Set up whiteboard access for Teams users
  • Check and update privacy settings in Microsoft 365 apps

"Create a plan around data access and management as a crucial first step before installation and setup of Copilot."

How to start using Copilot

Ready to dive into Microsoft 365 Copilot? Here’s how:

First-time setup

  1. Open a Copilot-enabled Microsoft 365 app (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, or Teams)
  2. Find the Copilot button in the menu ribbon
  3. Click to activate

Copilot might pop up on its own in apps like Word or PowerPoint when you create a new document.

Adjusting settings

To customize Copilot:

  1. Head to the Microsoft 365 admin center
  2. Find the Copilot settings section
  3. Tweak features to your liking

You can turn on "feedback features" to boost your Copilot experience.

Understanding the layout

Copilot blends right into Microsoft 365 apps. Here’s what you’ll see:

Feature Location Function
Command bar Top Enter prompts or questions
Sidebar Right side View Copilot’s responses
Copilot button Menu ribbon Quick access to Copilot

In Outlook, Copilot’s in the email composition window. For Teams, it helps during meetings with tasks like summarizing discussions.

To get the most out of Copilot:

  • Start simple: Clear requests lead to accurate responses
  • Review output: Make sure it fits your needs
  • Experiment: Try different prompts to explore Copilot’s abilities

For example, in Word, ask Copilot to "Summarize the key points from this document" for a quick overview.

Basic tips for using Copilot

How to ask Copilot for help

Want Copilot to work its magic? Here’s the secret sauce:

  1. Give it clear context
  2. Follow up with specific instructions

For example, in Word, try this:

Summarize this document's key points. Focus on main arguments and supporting evidence.

Simple, right? This gives Copilot a clear target to aim for.

Writing clear requests

To get the best out of Copilot, your prompts need to be spot-on. Include these:

  • Your goal
  • Some background
  • Where to find the data
  • What you expect

Instead of "Write about our product", go for:

Draft a 500-word description for our new AI coffee maker. Use 'Product_Specs.docx' for features. Highlight how it makes mornings easier for busy professionals.

Using Copilot’s answers

Got Copilot’s response? Great! Now:

  1. Give it a thorough once-over
  2. Make sure it’s accurate and on-point
  3. If needed, tweak your prompt and try again

Remember: Copilot’s here to help, not do your job. Always double-check important stuff and add your own expertise.

Do’s Don’ts
Be specific Make vague requests
Break big tasks into smaller bits Expect perfection without review
Refine your prompts Rely only on Copilot
Use Copilot across Microsoft 365 Skip fact-checking

Advanced Copilot techniques

Using Copilot across Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365

Copilot works in many Microsoft 365 apps. Here’s how:

  • Word: Draft, edit, or summarize. Try: "Summarize this report in 3 bullet points."
  • PowerPoint: Make slides fast. Ask: "Create a 5-slide deck on Q4 sales."
  • Excel: Get data insights. Say: "Show monthly sales trend for last year."
  • Outlook: Manage emails. Try: "Sum up unread Johnson project emails."
  • Teams: Track meetings. Ask: "What did we decide in yesterday’s budget meeting?"

Fitting Copilot into your work routine

Make Copilot your daily helper:

1. Morning: Use Teams Copilot to check messages and plan your day.

2. Pre-meeting: Ask Copilot to summarize relevant emails and docs.

3. Writing: Let Copilot draft, then you edit.

4. Data work: Use Excel Copilot for quick trends and charts.

5. End of day: Ask Copilot to list your achievements and pending tasks.

Adapting Copilot for specific jobs

Customize Copilot for your role:

  • Sales: Link to Salesforce. Ask: "My top 3 opportunities this quarter?"
  • HR: Connect to Workday. Try: "How many vacation days left?"
  • Finance: Use with SAP. Ask: "Latest expense report status?"
  • Project management: Create custom plugins. Say: "List overdue website redesign tasks."

"The focus of Copilot Studio is to enable employees to improve their workflows today." – Microsoft

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Tips for getting the best results

How to ask good questions

Want Copilot to give you awesome answers? Be specific. Tell it exactly what you need.

Instead of "Write a report", try this:

"Draft a 500-word report on Q4 sales. Use our ‘Q4_Sales_2023.xlsx’ spreadsheet. Focus on top products and improvement areas. Compare to Q3 briefly."

See the difference? The more details you give, the better Copilot can help.

Checking and improving Copilot’s work

Copilot’s smart, but not perfect. Always double-check its work:

  1. Read everything
  2. Verify facts and numbers
  3. Spot areas needing more info
  4. Ask for specific revisions

Not happy with part of Copilot’s draft? Just say:

"Rewrite the third paragraph. Focus more on customer satisfaction scores. Use specific data from our recent survey."

Combining AI help with human knowledge

Copilot’s great, but it’s not you. Use it to kickstart tasks, then add your expertise.

Task Copilot Does You Do
Data Analysis Initial insights Add context, interpret
Writing First draft Edit, personalize
Presentations Basic slides Refine design, add depth
Emails Summarize threads Make choices, add personal touch

Copilot’s a helper, not a replacement. As Sarah Lundy from Microsoft IT Communications says:

"If you go a little deeper and add something like, ‘Make sure you touch on these three items,’ you can get dramatically better results, which can help you avoid having to make edits later."

Use Copilot to boost your work, not do it for you.

Fixing common problems

Using Microsoft 365 Copilot and hit a snag? Let’s tackle the most common issues.

Connection issues

Can’t connect? Try these:

  1. Check your internet
  2. Make sure Microsoft’s servers are up
  3. Restart your router and modem

Still no luck? Go deeper:

Step Action
1 Check firewall settings
2 Update network drivers
3 Call IT support

Odd responses

Copilot giving weird answers? Here’s what to do:

  • Hit refresh
  • Clear cache and cookies (Ctrl + Shift + Delete in Edge)
  • Turn off browser add-ons

If it’s still acting up, tell Microsoft. They’re working on it.

Access problems

Can’t get in? It might be your account or where your files are:

  1. Sign in with the right Copilot-licensed account
  2. Move files to OneDrive or SharePoint
  3. Allow third-party cookies for web apps

"If you’re still stuck after trying these, get in touch with Support", says Microsoft’s guide for home users.

Improving your work with Copilot

Microsoft 365 Copilot is your new productivity sidekick. Here’s how it can supercharge your workday:

Saving time with Copilot

Copilot takes care of the small stuff so you can focus on what matters:

  • It summarizes long email threads and drafts responses in Outlook
  • Organizes meetings and creates action points
  • Generates and formats content in Word and PowerPoint

A marketing team used Copilot to create campaign proposals in PowerPoint. The result? They cut prep time in HALF and spent more time on strategy.

Letting Copilot handle repetitive work

Say goodbye to boring tasks:

Task Copilot’s Magic
Data entry Automates Excel input
Report generation Creates financial reports
Scheduling Manages calendars

An accounting team put Copilot to work on monthly financial reports. They slashed report time from days to hours and reduced errors.

Working better with your team

Copilot is like a digital team assistant:

  • Summarizes discussions and tracks questions during calls
  • Provides insights during conversations
  • Helps team members catch up on missed info

"86% of early Copilot users said it made catching up on missed information easier." – Microsoft study

Want to boost teamwork with Copilot? Try this:

1. Ask for discussion summaries in Teams chats

2. Use the Copilot compose box during meetings

3. Request action item lists after meetings

Copilot isn’t just a tool – it’s your productivity partner. Give it a shot and watch your workday transform.

Keeping up with Copilot changes

Copilot for Microsoft 365 is always changing. Here’s how to stay informed:

New features

Microsoft updates Copilot monthly. To keep up:

  • Check the Microsoft 365 Roadmap
  • Read monthly "What’s New" blog posts
  • Pin Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps for in-app updates

For instance, April 2024 brought 16 new languages and better Excel data handling.

User groups

Connect with other Copilot users:

These groups are goldmines for tips and tricks.

Official Microsoft help

For support and guidance:

Resource What it offers
Copilot Academy Learning content in Viva Learning
Deployment Kit Pre-made comms and campaign briefs
M365 admin center Copilot settings (Global Admin needed)

Don’t forget to give feedback as you use Copilot. The thumbs up/down feature helps improve the service.

"86% of early Copilot users said it made catching up on missed information easier." – Microsoft study

Conclusion

Microsoft 365 Copilot is shaking up how we use Microsoft apps. It’s like having a smart assistant for your emails, data, and presentations. Here’s the scoop:

  • It works with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams
  • It can write emails, crunch numbers, and create content
  • You need a Microsoft 365 subscription to use it

Want to make the most of Copilot? Try this:

1. Start small

Kick off with easy stuff like drafting emails. Once you’re comfortable, tackle bigger tasks.

2. Be specific

Tell Copilot exactly what you need. It’s smart, but not a mind reader.

3. Double-check

Copilot’s good, but not perfect. Always review its work.

4. Stay updated

Copilot evolves fast. Keep an eye on Microsoft’s blog for new features.

"86% of early Copilot users said it made catching up on missed information easier." – Microsoft study

That’s a big win for saving time and boosting productivity.

FAQs

How do you enable Copilot in Teams?

Teams

Want to use Copilot in Microsoft Teams? Here’s how:

  1. Open Teams and go to Chat
  2. Pick a chat from your list
  3. Find the Copilot icon (top-right corner)
  4. Click "Open Copilot"

Now you’ll see a compose box on the right. Click "More prompts" for options like:

  • Highlights from the past day
  • Summarize recent messages
  • Ask questions about the chat history
Feature What it does
Chat summaries Gives you key points from 1, 7, or 30 days of chat
Q&A Answers questions about chat history
Highlights Shows important stuff from recent talks

Make sure you’re signed in with your Microsoft Entra account. Can’t access Copilot? Double-check that your account has an active license.

Microsoft says: "Copilot doesn’t share data with third parties or use user data to train the model."

For Teams admins: You can turn Copilot on or off in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. Meeting hosts can set Copilot to work during meetings only or both during and after.

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