Copilot "New design" (as of 2026-05-28) - "Work mode" and "Web mode" covered by "Work IQ"?

Question

In Copilot "Old design", "Work mode" and "Web mode" exist, allows the user to set scope to include work resources (i.e. the "Work mode") or not (i.e. the "Web mode").
"Web mode" is useful when an answer from Copilot is desired not to be influenced by work resources, but

Information about confidentiality by Copilot ("AI answer") https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5611406/copilot-toggle-work-or-web states:

"

The security regarding typing prompts and loading documents with sensitive information differs between the Copilot Work and Copilot Web modes. When using Microsoft 365 Copilot (Work mode), enterprise data protection (EDP) applies, which includes enhanced security, privacy, and compliance controls. This means that prompts and responses are protected under the same terms that apply to customer data for users of Microsoft 365 Copilot.

In contrast, when using Microsoft Copilot (Web mode), it is designed for personal tasks and may not provide the same level of protection for sensitive information. Users are advised to avoid entering sensitive or proprietary work information in prompts while using the Web mode. Therefore, if security for sensitive information is a concern, it is recommended to use the Work mode with Microsoft 365 Copilot.

"

Does Work IQ offer the same distinction?

Or is another 'feature' available in Copilot "New design" equivalent to "Work mode" and "Web mode" in "Old design"?

Answer 1

Yes. In the current Microsoft 365 Copilot experience, the equivalent distinction still exists as a work versus web toggle, and Work IQ is the work-grounding layer behind the work-scoped experience.

Supported distinctions:

1. Work IQ = work-grounded experience
   • Work IQ is the intelligence layer that personalizes Microsoft 365 Copilot using organizational data, context, and tools.
   • When the Work IQ button is on, Copilot Chat is a work-based chat experience grounded in Microsoft Graph and limited to content the signed-in work or school account can access.
2. Web mode remains separate from Work IQ grounding
   • When the Work IQ button is off, Copilot Chat can show results from the internet in addition to content accessible to the signed-in work account.
   • Separate documentation also describes a work mode and a web mode toggle in Copilot Chat:
     • work mode is grounded in work data available through Microsoft Graph
     • web mode is grounded in public web data from the Bing search index
3. In the newer experience, the old Work/Web distinction was not removed
   • Microsoft documents that licensed users can toggle between web and work within the Microsoft 365 Copilot app.
   • The work toggle enables work-scoped chat capabilities of the paid Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
   • The web toggle enables web-grounded chat capabilities.
4. Admin control exists for web search behavior
   • IT admins can manage web access with the Allow web search in Copilot policy.
   • One supported configuration is: Disabled in Microsoft 365 Copilot Work mode; Enabled in Microsoft 365 Copilot Web mode and Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat.
   • This confirms Microsoft still treats work mode and web mode as distinct behaviors.

Based on the available documentation, Work IQ does not replace the distinction between work mode and web mode. Instead:

• Work IQ is the work intelligence/grounding layer
• web mode is the separate web-grounded mode
• the equivalent of the old design is the current work/web toggle or Work IQ on/off behavior in Microsoft 365 Copilot

The provided context does not state that web mode has the same sensitive-data handling distinction described in the linked Q&A, so only the documented mode distinction can be confirmed here.

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• Work IQ overview
• Which Copilot is right for me or my organization?
• Updated Windows and Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat experience
• Data, privacy, and security for web search in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
• Frequently asked questions about Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

Answer 2

So where do I find the feature to switch between "Work mode" and "Web mode" in Copilot "New design"?