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Updated February 9, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Access to emails by typing '/' in the prompt box will only be available when using Copilot Chat in Outlook. This applies to both the full app and side pane experience. Thank you for your patience.
We're enhancing Copilot Chat for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license with new capabilities that make it easier for them to include work content—such as files and emails—in their prompts when using Chat in Web scope. By typing ‘/’ in the prompt box, users can quickly search and reference relevant files or emails, streamlining prompt creation and improving Copilot responses. Additionally, some suggested prompts beneath the input box will now include relevant files or emails to help users get started quickly.
Note: Web scope in Copilot Chat is still grounded only in the web. Users can also choose to include additional content in the prompt for Copilot to reason over, such as with the methods described above. Users must switch to Work scope to have Chat automatically grounded in content from their organization’s graph or their personal graph.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500377.
When this will happen:
- Files: Currently available (Roadmap ID 497112)
- Emails: Rollout begins early October 2025 (previously mid-September) and completes by end of March 2026 (previously end of January). Roadmap ID 500377.
[How this will affect your organization:]
This update improves usability and prompt relevance in Copilot Chat by allowing users to reference files and emails in their prompts (without uploading them manually) or as part of suggested prompts under the input box. Users will only see content they have access to, based on interaction signals (such as accessed, modified, or shared) and properties (such as creation or last update date).
No changes to default settings or user permissions are required.
What you can do to prepare:
No admin action is required. You may want to inform your users of these changes.
Learn more: Using Context IQ to refer to specific files, people, and more in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat
Compliance considerations
| Consideration | Explanation |
| Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed? | Users can now access specific data types (files, emails) they have permission to view directly from Copilot Chat by typing '/' in the prompt box. |
| Does the change provide end users any new way of interacting with generative AI? | Users can now more easily include specific data types (files, emails) in their prompts, improving grounding and relevance of Copilot responses. |
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{
"snapshot_item": {
"action_required_by": null,
"ai_action_required_by": "2026-01-31T00:00:00Z",
"ai_actions": [
"Inform users about referencing files/emails in Copilot Chat"
],
"ai_master_tags": [
"User",
"Admin",
"Copilot License"
],
"ai_model": "gpt-4.1",
"ai_summary": "Copilot Chat in Outlook will let licensed users quickly reference files and emails by typing \u0027/\u0027 in the prompt, improving prompt relevance; email access rollout starts October 2025 through March 2026.",
"ai_topics": [
"Copilot",
"Outlook"
],
"category": "planForChange",
"details_map": {
"Platforms": "Desktop, Web",
"RoadmapIds": "500377",
"Summary": "Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now lets users include files and emails in prompts by typing \u0027/\u0027 in the web chat prompt box, enhancing response relevance. Email access is limited to Outlook Copilot Chat. Rollout starts October 2025, completing by March 2026, with no admin action required."
},
"id": "MC1139488",
"importance": 5,
"is_major_change": false,
"last_modified": "2026-02-09T17:58:14Z",
"ms_products": [
"Copilot"
],
"platforms": "Desktop, Web",
"roadmap_ids": [
"500377"
],
"services": [
"Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365)"
],
"severity": "normal",
"tags": [
"Updated message",
"New feature",
"User impact"
],
"title": "(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: New ways to include files and emails as part of prompts in chat web scope"
}
}