How to Use Copilot in Word

Quick Tips

• Microsoft Copilot is the company’s proprietary AI that helps generate and summarize text.
• Users who sign up for Copilot Pro can use the tool in Microsoft Word.
• Once installed, users can create drafts, change the tone of text, and use Copilot as a chatbot for inspiration.
• If Copilot stalls or crashes, restart Microsoft Word and try again.

How to Use Microsoft Copilot in Word for Drafts

Microsoft Copilot is a generative AI tool which means it can create text from prompts. Many people find this useful for generating first drafts and summaries, or even providing inspiration. Here’s how to use Copilot in Word for increased productivity.

Step 1: Download and install Copilot from the Microsoft Store or website — prices vary between regions and there’s a free trial.

Step 2: Open Word and you should see a prompt explaining how to get started with Copilot.

Step 3: Press “alt” and “I” together to open the Copilot draft box then provide prompts or ask questions to help create your first draft. The more specific your prompts, the closer to the topic your draft will be.

Step 4: Review your draft and choose “Keep it,” “Regenerate” (the circular arrows), or delete it with the dustbin icon. You can regenerate text as many times as you want.

How to Use Copilot in Word for Editing and Rewriting

Because AI-generated text can be what Microsoft calls “Usefully wrong,” it’s helpful to edit your text. You can do this manually or you can get Copilot to do some of the heavy lifting. Remember to always check any facts, figures, or stats yourself as Copilot doesn’t check for accuracy.

Step 1: Highlight the text you want to edit.

Step 2: Click the small Copilot logo to the left of the text.

Step 3: Click “Make changes” and enter your new prompts or editing guidelines.

Step 4: Review the new text highlighted in pale blue and choose whether to keep it or not.

Step 5: You can also transform information into a table using the same Copilot button and pressing “Visualize as a table.”

Chatting with Copilot in Microsoft Word

Sometimes it helps to have someone to bounce ideas back and forth. When you’re working on your own, Copilot can fill that gap. Learn how to use Microsoft Copilot in Word for chatting and inspiration below.

Step 1: Click the Copilot icon in the top right of the toolbar to open the chat box. Note: If you’ve used the chat pane previously, click “Change topic” to start a new conversation.

Step 2: Type any question about the document into the chat pane and press “Enter.”

Step 3: If an error response occurs, try a different question — Copilot can’t always provide the information requested. And, if Copilot hangs for more than 3-5 minutes, try restarting the Microsoft Word app.