MC1189000 – M365 Change Digest

One-line summary

Microsoft 365 apps are updating Copilot with a unified UI, dynamic action button, contextual prompts, and new keyboard shortcuts for licensed users, rolling out from Dec 2025 to May 2026.

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Summary

Microsoft 365 is updating Copilot in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint with a new Dynamic Action Button on the canvas, contextual prompts, and improved keyboard/screen reader access. Rollout starts December 2025, completing by May 2026. No admin action required unless changing pin settings for Copilot Chat.

Body (from Message Center)

Updated May 11, 2026: We have updated the timeline and content. Thank you for your patience.

[Introduction]

We’re updating the Copilot experience in Microsoft 365 apps with simplified entry points for easier discovery and connection to Copilot in the context of working inside of Word, Excel, PowerPoint. In addition to the simplified UI outlined below, users will also see curated suggestions designed to help them get started with Copilot to edit their documents.

We’re reducing the number of entry points to Copilot in Word, Excel and PowerPoint so Copilot feels consistent, predictable and integrated with in-app workflows.

The new UI includes:

A Copilot Dynamic Action Button (DAB) at the bottom-right corner of the screen replacing the static button in the ribbon.
- This is an always-available, in-app Copilot primary entry point.
- The button allows a user to "dock" or move it to the side when they want to focus on the content.
- A user can right-click the Copilot button and select Dock or drag the icon to dock to the right of the content (or left of content for right-to-left locales). To re-engage with Copilot, a user simply clicks the smaller icon or drag it back to the canvas.
A contextual entry point on the canvas appears when a user selects text or takes action on canvas with Copilot.
Suggested User Actions (SUAs) show on hover from the Copilot Dynamic Action Button to offer contextual prompts that help a user know how to engage with Copilot.
Keyboard and screen reader access: The ability for to work with Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps when using a keyboard and screen readers has also been simplified.
- For users who have been using Alt + H, F, X to open the Copilot pane in Word, Excel and PowerPoint, they can now press F6 to give focus to the Copilot button and then use the up arrow to move between suggested prompts.
- Over time, Copilot keyboard shortcuts are being unified across Microsoft 365 apps and platforms, bringing consistency and supporting keyboard-first users and anyone using a screen reader.
- The updated shortcuts listed below are already available in Outlook and Word (Windows and Mac), with other apps coming soon.

Platform	Shortcut	Action
Windows (Win32 and Web)	Alt + C	Sets focus on the Copilot button in the canvas. If the Copilot Chat pane is already open, focus moves to the chat box so you can begin typing immediately.
Mac (Desktop and Web)	Cmd + Control + I	Sets focus on the Copilot button in the canvas.
All platforms	F6	Moves focus to the Copilot button in the canvas.

[When this will happen:]

General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout begins early December 2025 and is expected to complete by end of May 2026 (previously late March).

Word, Excel, PowerPoint (Web, Desktop, Mobile): rollout started for small % of users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and pinning enabled. These users will see the entry point for Copilot move out of the ribbon, represented by the icon pictured below.
We will continue the rollout progressively for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

[How this affects your organization:]

Who is affected:

Microsoft 365 users of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint across web, desktop, and mobile who are eligible for Microsoft 365 Copilot.

What will happen:

The Copilot entry point will move from the app ribbon into the document canvas. Users will see a new button in the canvas to open Copilot.
Contextual prompt suggestions will appear to help users engage with Copilot.
The feature remains ON by default for eligible users across web, mobile, and desktop.
Admins can still disable Copilot using the “Pin Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat” setting in the admin center.
No changes to Copilot functionality or value.

[What you can do to prepare:]

No admin action is required.
If your “Pin Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat” setting is configured to “Do not pin,” update it to “Pin” if you want users without a Copilot license to access Copilot Chat in Microsoft 365 apps.
Learn more:
- Manage Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat.
- Pin Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat in the Microsoft 365 apps

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.

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