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How to Find and Use the Microsoft Copilot Icon in Windows and Microsoft 365 Apps

The Copilot icon can open the Windows app or identify an in-document control. Here’s where to find each and what to check if the button is missing.
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The Copilot icon can identify either the standalone Copilot app or an in-document button, and those are different entry points. In Windows, search Start for Copilot or check the taskbar. In Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, look for the Copilot Dynamic Action Button in the document’s lower-right corner. Seeing the icon does not by itself confirm that your account has access to every Copilot feature.

What the new Copilot icon looks like

Microsoft Design describes the current mark as two distinct forms joined into one silhouette. The forms can move in relation to one another, while color shifts and blends across contexts. That means there is no single fixed color treatment to use as the only test of whether an icon is Copilot. Check the nearby app name and where the control appears as well. Microsoft Design’s explanation of the Copilot icon was published October 5, 2026.

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The icon’s motion is intended to communicate Copilot activity. Microsoft Design says the design keeps a connection to the original gradient while allowing color to change from one context to another. The mark identifies the product, not your license status or whether a specific feature is enabled.

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Why an older screenshot may show a different name or icon

Microsoft has changed the app’s branding over time. The former Microsoft 365 (Office) app is now called the Microsoft Copilot app across web, mobile, and Windows. Microsoft began rolling out the “Microsoft 365 Copilot” app name and icon on January 15, 2025; its current support guidance describes the simpler Copilot name and icon. An older screenshot may therefore show a different label or artwork. See Microsoft’s app transition guidance.

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Find and open Copilot on Windows

  1. Check Start and the taskbar. Open Start and search for Copilot, or look for a pinned Copilot app on the taskbar. Microsoft says the app should already be installed on new Windows 11 PCs.
  2. Install it if it is missing. Get the Copilot app from Microsoft Store, as described in Microsoft’s Windows access instructions.
  3. Sign in with the account you intend to use. A personal Microsoft account and a work or school Microsoft Entra account can provide different experiences. In the app, check the label beside your profile—Personal or Work—to confirm which context is active. Microsoft’s Copilot app guide covers the available platforms and account context.
  4. Choose a launch method. On Windows, you can open Copilot with the Copilot key on a compatible keyboard, press Windows key + C, or opt into the “Hey, Copilot” wake-word experience. Shortcut behavior can be configured in Copilot settings; a dedicated Copilot-key keyboard is not required.

Microsoft also lists a Copilot desktop app for Mac and Copilot apps for iOS and Android. Its support guidance gives copilot.cloud.microsoft as the web entry point.

Find Copilot inside Word, Excel, or PowerPoint

The Copilot control in a document is separate from the Windows Copilot app. In Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, look in the document’s lower-right corner for the Copilot Dynamic Action Button. Microsoft says you can move it next to the ribbon. The location guidance applies to those three apps; it should not be treated as a universal location in every Microsoft app. See Microsoft’s instructions for finding a missing Copilot button.

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  • Clicks in place instantly Use in combination with the Surface Pro (11th Edition), Pro 9 and Pro 8* kickstand for a perfect laptop experience anywhere.

If the in-document Copilot button is missing

Work through these checks in order. For a work-managed device, ask your IT support team about organization-controlled settings rather than changing them yourself.

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  1. Confirm the account and license. Copilot access in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote depends on the Microsoft 365 subscription and organizational license. A visible Copilot app or icon does not establish that your account is entitled to the in-document feature.
  2. Check the app version and update channel. Update to a supported current build. Microsoft says business users on the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel do not have Copilot features in their apps under that channel guidance; organization-managed users should ask IT whether the channel or deployment policy explains the missing control.
  3. Refresh license validation. Microsoft identifies license refresh as a troubleshooting step. In the web apps, refresh the page; blocked third-party cookies can also interfere with license validation.
  4. Review connected-experience privacy settings. These settings may affect Copilot availability. If the device is managed by your organization, consult IT before changing them.

For the specific license names and access distinctions, use Microsoft’s current Copilot license guide. It identifies work-account labels including Copilot Chat (Basic), M365 Copilot (Basic), and M365 Copilot (Premium); access to apps differs by license. For personal desktop-app access, Microsoft says a qualifying subscription is required and access is tied to the subscription owner.

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Why two people may see different Copilot screens

Finding the app or button is only one part of the question. The active account, license, app build, update channel, privacy settings, and rollout state can all affect which controls or capabilities appear. Microsoft’s September 25, 2026 announcement describes new Copilot app capabilities with staged rollout: Home and Code were to begin rolling out through the Frontier program in the coming weeks, while Autopilot was expanding to private preview at the end of that month. Those are dated rollout statements, not a guarantee that every user has those features now. See the Microsoft announcement.

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  • Instant Copilot. Unlock new possibilities with the dedicated Copilot key, which gives you instant access to experiences that can enhance your productivity¹.
  • Enhance your experience With the new microphone mute key and snipping key
  • Full keyboard experience. Features a full mechanical keyset, backlit keys, and a large trackpad for precise navigation and control. Optimal key spacing allows fast, fluid typing.
  • Slim and compact Performs like a traditional, full-size keyboard.
  • Clicks in place instantly Use in combination with the Surface Pro (11th Edition), Pro 9 and Pro 8* kickstand for a perfect laptop experience anywhere.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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