Quickstart: Create an app with natural language in Microsoft Copilot Studio (preview)

Important

  • This is a preview feature.
  • Preview features aren't meant for production use and might have restricted functionality. These features are subject to supplemental terms of use, and are available before an official release so that customers can get early access and provide feedback.

By using Copilot Studio, you can quickly build a functional app by describing your business problem in natural language. Copilot Studio might ask clarifying questions and propose an approach before generating an interactive app preview that includes a data model, business logic, and a user interface. You can then refine the app through conversation before publishing and sharing it.

Apps created in Copilot Studio use Microsoft-hosted infrastructure that supports identity, governance, approved connectivity, and app inventory for administrators.

This quickstart shows you how to create an app for the first time. Learn how to:

  • Get an app started with natural language instructions.
  • Preview and test your app as it's built.
  • Refine the app through conversation, file uploads, and annotations.
  • Publish and share your app with others.

Prerequisites

  • Get access to Microsoft Copilot Studio.
  • Make sure the New experience toggle is enabled on the Home page.
  • Confirm that the App (Preview) tile appears. App creation is on by default, but your administrator can turn it off.

Note

App creation is powered by the GitHub Copilot harness. Usage-based billing applies to using, building, previewing, and testing apps. These actions might consume Copilot Credits. Learn more in Overview of usage-based billing.

Create an app using natural language

Copilot Studio helps you build apps that solve business problems without writing code. Describe what you want the app to do, and Copilot Studio generates the data model, logic, and user interface for you.

  1. Sign in to Microsoft Copilot Studio.

  2. On the Home page, select the App tile.

    Alternatively, select Apps (Preview) in the side pane to go to the Apps page, and then select New app.

  3. In the conversation area, describe the problem you want the app to solve. You can also attach files to provide more context.

  4. Select Submit.

  5. If prompted, answer follow-up questions about your requirements.

    When the agent has enough information, it starts building the app. When it's ready, the app preview appears and the chat moves to the left pane.

  6. Test the app in the interactive app preview.

  7. Continue refining the app by describing changes, such as adding a filter, changing a field, revising the layout, or adjusting an action.

App creation begins as a conversation. After the agent has enough information to produce a first draft, the experience presents the app preview along with the available editing, publish, and share actions:

  1. Use the conversation area to answer questions, request app changes, and attach files for context.
  2. Select the dropdown menu to view the app's metadata and settings, and to access the Data and Connections views.
  3. Use the interactive app preview to validate app features, behavior, and connected data.
  4. Switch between the app preview and the underlying code.
  5. Play, share, and publish the app.

Screenshot of the app page when an app is created.

Improve your app

Now that you have an app, test how changes to different parts of it affect its behavior, and improve it. Test it. Make some changes. Test it again. Repeat.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Chat with the agent to describe what you want to change, such as updating the layout, adding a field, changing text, or adjusting app behavior. The agent updates the data model, business logic, and user interface as needed to keep the app consistent.
  • Upload a file by selecting + in the chat to attach a document, spreadsheet, or image that provides more context for your changes.
  • Share a screenshot for context by selecting + in the chat to add a screenshot that shows what you're seeing or which part of the app you want to change.
  • Annotate the app canvas by selecting +, selecting the annotation option, and marking the part of the app you want to change.
  • Preview changes as you go by reviewing the updated app in the interactive preview and continuing to iterate until the app works the way you want.

You can also connect the app to sample data, browser-local storage, or an organizational data source such as a SharePoint list or Dataverse table. Learn more in Manage data in your app (preview).

Publish your app

When you're satisfied with your app, publish a stable version and share it with selected people and groups.

  1. Open your app.
  2. Select Publish to create a stable, shareable version of the app.
  3. Select Share, and choose the people or groups who should have access.

Sharing an app doesn't automatically give people access to its underlying data. Ensure the people you share it with also have access to the connected data source. Learn more in Publish and share an app.

What's next?

You created an app using natural language, tested it in the interactive preview, refined it through conversation, and published it. Congratulations! Your app has many more capabilities, so try it out and explore the advanced features.

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