copilot web search is off

Question

I am using microsoft word and this message appeared. How can I turn this web search on? Web search is off. Responses won't include current web-based insights, which may limit relevance and accuracy. Turn it on

Answer 1

I still was not able to turn the Copilot web search on, I need assistance. Is there a number to speak to customer service or a technician?

Answer 2

In Word, the “Web search is off” message comes from Microsoft 365 Copilot’s web search setting. Turning it on is a two‑step process: the organization’s admin must allow web search, and then the user can enable it in Copilot Chat.

1. Confirm that web search is allowed by the organization
   • Web search in Copilot is controlled by the Allow web search in Copilot policy in the Cloud Policy service for Microsoft 365.
   • If this policy is set to disable web search, the “Web content” toggle will not be available and web search cannot be turned on by the user.
   • To enable it, an IT admin must configure Allow web search in Copilot to allow web search for the relevant users or groups.
2. Turn on web search in Copilot Chat (if the admin has enabled it)
   • Open Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat in work mode.
   • Select the … menu in the top‑right corner.
   • Turn on the Web content toggle.
   • When this toggle is on, Copilot responses can include real‑time web content.

If the organization has disabled web search, Copilot will still respond in Word, but without current web‑based insights, and the message about web search being off will continue to appear until the admin changes the policy.

---

References:

• Understanding web search in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
• Data, privacy, and security for web search in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
• Turn off Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps