Add knowledge sources to an agent (Microsoft Copilot)

In the new agent experience, knowledge sources define what your agent can access and reference when responding to users. Add and manage knowledge from the Build tab.

Note

The harness used to build this agent uses usage-based billing. Using, building, testing, and evaluating agents might consume Copilot Credits. Learn more in Overview of usage-based billing.

About knowledge in agents powered by the Microsoft Copilot harness

Agents powered by the Microsoft Copilot harness support the same categories of knowledge sources as the standard harness, including websites, SharePoint, and uploaded files. In agents powered by the Microsoft Copilot harness, access knowledge configuration from the Knowledge button on the Build tab.

However, agents powered by the Microsoft Copilot harness use knowledge sources differently than the standard harness:

  • No general knowledge setting: Agents powered by the Microsoft Copilot harness don't have a general knowledge on/off setting. Manage knowledge access through the specific sources you add.
  • File uploads are always available: The Add knowledge dialog includes a drag-and-drop upload area for adding files directly.

Add knowledge sources

  1. Open your agent in Copilot Studio.

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

  3. In the components panel on the right, select the Knowledge button.

  4. Use the Add knowledge dialog to add a source. You can:

    • Drag and drop files or select the upload area to upload documents directly.
    • Search for a knowledge source by using the search box.
    • Select a source type such as Public websites, SharePoint, OneDrive for Business, Salesforce, ServiceNow, or Azure SQL (Featured), or switch to the Advanced tab for more types such as Azure DevOps Wiki, Azure DevOps Work Items, Custom Connector, or Enterprise websites.

    Note

    If your organization blocked a knowledge source, you can't select it. Learn more in Knowledge sources blocked by your organization's policy.

  5. Follow the configuration steps for the selected knowledge source type.

  6. Select Save or Add to confirm the knowledge source.

OneDrive for Business selection limit

When you add OneDrive for Business as a knowledge source, you can add multiple individual files, folders, or combinations of the two at a time. Your administrator might set a limit on how many items you can select at once, and the dialog warns you if you go over it. Each file or folder counts as one item, whether you select it with Browse items or enter its URL. A folder includes its subfolders and files but still counts as one item. Learn more about how many files and folders each source can include in OneDrive limits.

If you select more items than the limit allows, a warning appears in the dialog, such as "You can only select up to 5 items at once. Remove 1 item to continue." Add to agent isn't available until you remove the extra items. To add more items, finish adding the first five, and then open the Add knowledge dialog again for the rest.

If your environment also lets you upload and sync SharePoint files from the Add knowledge dialog, the same five-item limit applies to the SharePoint files and folders you select that way. This option isn't available in every environment.

Knowledge sources blocked by your organization's policy

Your organization can configure which knowledge sources are available in Copilot Studio by using the Knowledge sources for agents setting in Power Platform admin center.

When the Knowledge sources for agents setting blocks a knowledge source, it appears disabled in the Add knowledge panel and you can't select it. Hover over the cross Image of a cross icon in the Add knowledge panel icon next to the disabled knowledge source to see why the knowledge source isn't available.

Screenshot showing a knowledge source blocked by your organization's policy in the Add knowledge panel

The message identifies the policy restriction that prevents the knowledge source from being used. If you need access to a blocked knowledge source, contact your administrator.

Suggested knowledge sources

When you enable suggestions for your environment, the Add knowledge dialog shows a See suggestions button. Select it to open the Suggested knowledge sources step, which lists knowledge sources recently added to other agents in the environment. You can add sources from that list.

Treat suggestions as starting points, not decisions. Review each suggested source before you add it:

  • Confirm the source contains the content your agent should reference.
  • Update the source name and description after you add it, so the agent can tell when to use it.
  • Test the agent in the Preview tab to confirm it uses the source the way you expect.

Suggestions come from sources recently added to other agents in your environment, so they can differ between environments.

Suggested sources from your organization's connectors

When you add a connector-based knowledge source such as Salesforce or ServiceNow, the table selection step can show a Suggested group at the top of the All list. It suggests tables or entities from the connection you chose. Suggestions appear only when they're enabled for your environment.

Because these suggestions depend on your environment's connector readiness, they don't appear for every agent:

  • Suggestions appear only after you select a connection for the connector and open its table selection step, and only when suggestions are enabled for your environment.
  • Suggestions appear only on the All filter and respect your search term.
  • After you add a suggested table, review the source's name and description and test the agent in the Preview tab.

Limitations

Some knowledge source configuration options available in the standard harness might have a different interface or different default behavior in agents powered by the Microsoft Copilot harness. Compare behavior by testing in the Preview tab.

  • Last updated on