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Copilot Chat not working

Adrienne Goforth 5 Reputation points
2026-03-17T18:45:46.0166667+00:00

When I highlight something and click the "ask copilot" button my copilot opens, but it doesn't do anything. How can I fix this?

Microsoft Copilot | Windows Copilot | Feature
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  1. Clary-N 11,395 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-03-18T01:10:26.2866667+00:00

    Hi Adrienne Goforth,

    I can understand how inconvenient this must be, especially when you expect Copilot to help and it opens but doesn’t respond.

    To make sure we’re looking at the right scenario, could you help me clarify a couple of details?

    • Where are you using Ask Copilot when this happens (for example, in a Microsoft 365 app, web browser or somewhere else)?
    • When does it occur, does it happen every time or only in certain situations?
    • Are you selecting text first and then choosing Ask Copilot, or does the same thing happen when you open Copilot directly?

    Once I have a better picture of where and how this is happening, I can suggest the most relevant next steps for you. As a quick check for now, you may want to close and reopen the app you’re using and make sure you’re signed in to your Microsoft account, as that can sometimes help refresh Copilot.

    Please let me know the details when you have a moment. I’ll be glad to help you take this further.

    If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

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  2. AI answer

    2026-03-17T18:45:56.3866667+00:00

    The behavior matches a general Copilot-not-working issue rather than a selection problem. Use the standard Copilot troubleshooting steps for Microsoft 365 apps:

    1. Follow the guidance in "How to find and enable missing Copilot button in Microsoft 365 apps" to confirm Copilot is correctly enabled and visible in the app where Ask Copilot is used.
    2. If Copilot still opens but doesn’t respond, contact the Microsoft 365 admin and have them verify:
      • The account is assigned a license that supports Microsoft 365 Copilot.
      • Copilot is not blocked by organizational policies (for example, privacy or data-loss-prevention settings that can block Copilot-related connectors or features).
    3. If the issue persists after license and policy checks, have the admin open a support ticket with Microsoft, referencing that Copilot is present but non-functional in the client.

    These steps address the common causes where Copilot appears in the UI but cannot complete or return responses.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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