Add knowledge sources to an agent

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

Note

Features in this article are powered by the GitHub Copilot harness, which uses Copilot Credits for usage-based billing. Learn more about Copilot Credits in Overview of billing for agents powered by the GitHub Copilot harness.

Usage-based billing applies to using, building, testing, and evaluating agents. These actions might consume Copilot Credits.

About knowledge in agents powered by the GitHub Copilot harness

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

Learn more in Knowledge sources summary for supported source types, limitations, and configuration considerations shared between the classic and new experiences.

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 using the search box.
    • Select a source type such as Upload file, Public websites, SharePoint, Azure AI Search, Dataverse, Dynamics 365, Salesforce, ServiceNow, or Azure SQL. Or, use the See suggestions button to browse other sources.

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

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

Knowledge behavior in agents powered by the GitHub Copilot harness

The enhanced orchestration runtime in agents powered by the GitHub Copilot harness uses knowledge sources differently than the standard harness:

  • No general knowledge toggle: Agents powered by the GitHub Copilot harness don't have a general knowledge on/off toggle. Knowledge access is managed 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.

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 GitHub Copilot harness. Compare behavior by testing in the Preview tab.
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