Copilot tips and limitations
Write clear, specific prompts
Like all conversational AI, Copilot works best when you give it clear, detailed prompts. Instead of vague requests like "help me write something," try "help me draft a 200-word professional email thanking a client for their business and mentioning our new product launch."
Include context to get better results:
- Your goal ("I'm preparing for a job interview," "I need to explain this concept to my team")
- The format you want ("in bullet points," "as a three-paragraph summary")
- Your audience ("for beginners," "in professional business language")
AI prompt: "Write a 150-word social media post announcing a new café opening, emphasizing locally sourced ingredients and a cozy atmosphere"
Leverage Copilot's web connectivity
Unlike some AI tools, Copilot can access current information from the web. This makes it especially useful for questions about recent events, current prices, weather, or anything that changes frequently.
AI prompt: "What are the top news stories in technology today?"
AI prompt: "What's the current weather forecast for Seattle this weekend?"
Use this capability when you need up-to-date information rather than just general knowledge.
Iterate and refine responses
Copilot is designed for conversation, so don't expect the perfect answer on your first try. If the response isn't quite right, ask for adjustments:
- "Make this shorter and more direct"
- "Add more examples"
- "Use a more casual tone"
- "Focus more on the benefits for small businesses"
This back-and-forth approach often produces better results than trying to craft one perfect prompt.
Use Copilot within Microsoft apps (with Copilot Pro)
If you have Copilot Pro and a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can use Copilot directly in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. This integration is powerful:
In Word: Ask Copilot to draft sections of your document, summarize content, or rewrite paragraphs in a different tone.
AI prompt in Word: "Summarize this five-page report into three key bullet points"
In Excel: Use Copilot to analyze data, create formulas, or generate charts based on your spreadsheet.
AI prompt in Excel: "Create a chart showing sales trends by month for the last year"
In PowerPoint: Ask Copilot to create slide outlines, suggest content, or reformat your presentation.
AI prompt in PowerPoint: "Create a five-slide presentation outline about sustainable business practices"
In Outlook: Draft emails, summarize long email threads, or suggest replies.
AI prompt in Outlook: "Write a polite email declining a meeting invitation due to a scheduling conflict"
Organize conversations by topic
Copilot saves your conversations (when you're signed in), but it's helpful to start new chats for different topics. This keeps things organized and ensures Copilot doesn't get confused by mixing unrelated subjects in one long thread.
You can rename or delete old conversations from the sidebar to keep your workspace clean.
Verify important information
Copilot can make mistakes or generate plausible-sounding but incorrect information (often called "hallucinating"). For anything critical (medical advice, legal questions, financial decisions, academic research), always verify Copilot's responses with reliable sources.
Use Copilot as a helpful starting point, not as the ultimate authority on important matters.
Be cautious with complex math and logic
While Copilot can handle basic calculations and simple logic, it can struggle with complex math or multi-step reasoning. For precise numerical work:
- Use a calculator or spreadsheet for important calculations
- Test any code Copilot generates to make sure it works
- Break complex problems into smaller, simpler steps
- Double-check mathematical outputs
AI prompt: "Explain the steps to calculate a 15% tip on a $68 restaurant bill, but don't do the calculation for me"
Use follow-up questions effectively
Copilot remembers the context of your current conversation, so you can ask follow-up questions without repeating everything:
- "Can you elaborate on the second point?"
- "What's an example of that?"
- "How would this apply to freelancers instead of traditional employees?"
This makes interactions more natural and efficient.
Respect privacy and security
Don't share sensitive personal information in your Copilot conversations:
- Avoid passwords, credit card numbers, social security numbers
- Be cautious with private medical or financial information
- Remove identifying details when discussing sensitive topics
Microsoft uses conversations to improve Copilot, and no online service is 100% secure.
Experiment with tone and style
You can ask Copilot to adjust the tone or style of its responses to match your needs:
AI prompt: "Rewrite this paragraph in a more formal, academic tone"
AI prompt: "Make this explanation more casual and conversational"
Copilot is flexible and can adapt to different audiences and contexts.
Try Copilot in different contexts
Depending on where you access Copilot, you get slightly different features:
- Web version: Full conversational AI experience, good for general tasks
- Windows 11 sidebar: Convenient quick access, can help with Windows settings
- Microsoft Edge sidebar: Useful for asking questions about webpages you're viewing
- Mobile app: Great for on-the-go questions and ideas
Experiment with these different access points to see which works best for your workflow.
Use Copilot for brainstorming and drafting
Copilot excels at helping you get started. Use it to:
- Generate multiple options quickly ("give me 10 ideas for...")
- Create rough drafts that you refine and personalize
- Overcome writer's block by getting a starting point
- Explore different approaches to a problem
Don't expect Copilot's first output to be perfect. Think of it as a collaborative partner that helps you move forward.
Related resources
Wondering how Copilot compares to other AI tools? See Which conversational AI should I use?. Curious about upgrading to Copilot Pro? Check out Copilot free vs paid: What do you get?. Interested in using multiple AI tools together? Visit Can I use multiple AI tools together?.