Add a tool to an agent (preview)

[This article is prerelease documentation and is subject to change.]

You can add tools to your agent from the Build tab. Tools let your agent perform actions, connect to external services, and retrieve real-time data during conversations.

Note

This article reflects the new agent experience in Microsoft Copilot Studio, which is currently available as a production-ready preview. Learn about the two experiences in Classic vs. new agent experience.

  • Production-ready previews are subject to supplemental terms of use.
  • Some capabilities available in the classic experience aren't yet available in the new experience.
  • Agents created in the new experience can't be converted to the classic experience.

Prerequisites

Add an existing tool from the Build tab

  1. Sign in to Copilot Studio and open your agent.

  2. In the agent navigation bar, select the Build tab.

  3. In the components panel, select the Tools button.

  4. In the Add a tool dialog, browse or search for the tool you want to add. Use the Featured, Model Context Protocol (MCP), Connectors, or Workflows tabs to filter by tool type.

  5. Select the tool to view its details, including a description and the actions it provides.

  6. Select Add to add the tool to your agent.

Configure a tool after adding it

After adding a tool, you might need to:

  • Authenticate: Some tools require you to sign in or provide credentials before they can be used. Follow the authentication prompts when they appear.
  • Select actions: For connectors that provide multiple actions, you can select which specific actions to make available to your agent.
  • Review the description: Ensure the tool's description accurately reflects what it does. The agent's orchestration runtime uses the description to determine when to invoke the tool.

Add a new custom tool

If the tool you need isn't available in the browser, you can add a custom tool. Currently, the new experience supports adding custom tools from an existing Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. This allows you to connect to custom services, databases, or APIs that expose capabilities as tools through the MCP standard.

Important

The procedure that follows assumes you have an MCP server already set up and exposed. If you don't have an MCP server, you need to create one. Learn more in Create a new Model Context Protocol (MCP) server.

Add an MCP server

You can connect to an existing Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that exposes custom capabilities as tools.

  1. In the components panel on the right, select the Tools button.

  2. In the Add a tool dialog, select + Add next to the search bar, and then the Model Context Protocol (MCP) button.

  3. On the Add MCP Server page, enter the server name, description, URL, and any required authentication details.

  4. Select Add at the bottom of the dialog to connect to the server.

    Learn more in Connect your agent to an existing Model Context Protocol (MCP) server.

Create a new workflow

You can create a new workflow and add it as a tool.

  1. In the components panel on the right, select the Tools button.

  2. In the Add a tool dialog, select + Add next to the search bar, and then select Workflow.

  3. The workflow designer page appears so you can create a workflow.

  4. When you're done creating your custom workflow, select the Save icon in the upper-right corner, and then select Publish.

  5. Return to your agent's Build tab to test the workflow.

    Learn more in Edit and manage your agent flow or workflow in the designer.

Tips for effective tool descriptions

Tip

The tool's name and description are critical for accurate tool invocation. The enhanced orchestration runtime uses these to decide when to invoke a tool, so:

  • Use clear, specific names that describe the action (for example, "Create support ticket" rather than "Ticket tool")
  • Write descriptions that explain when the tool should be used and what it returns
  • Avoid vague or overlapping descriptions between tools
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