If Copilot is not showing up in Excel or Word, you’re not alone. Many users expect to see the Copilot icon instantly after subscribing to Microsoft 365 or enabling AI features—but sometimes it simply doesn’t appear. Whether you’re using Excel for reports, Word for documents, or both for business tasks, missing Copilot can slow down productivity and cause frustration.
In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through why Copilot is not showing in Excel or Word, and provide a step-by-step fix you can follow immediately. This troubleshooting guide covers Windows, Mac, web versions, account settings, licensing issues, and more.
Why Is Copilot Not Showing Up in Excel or Word?
Before jumping into solutions, it’s important to understand the most common reasons:
- Your Microsoft 365 plan does not include Copilot.
- Your organization hasn’t assigned the Copilot license.
- You’re not signed into the correct Microsoft account.
- Excel or Word is outdated.
- Copilot hasn’t been enabled in settings.
- You’re using a version that doesn’t support Copilot.
- Admin restrictions in work or school accounts.
Now let’s fix it step-by-step
Step-by-Step Fix: Copilot Not Showing in Excel or Word
Step 1: Check If Your Microsoft 365 Plan Includes Copilot
Copilot is not automatically included in all Microsoft 365 plans.
For Personal Users
Copilot requires:
- Microsoft 365 Personal or Family
- Active subscription
- Updated Office apps
For Business Users
Copilot requires:
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Business Premium, or Enterprise plan
- Copilot add-on license assigned by admin
How to Check:
- Go to account.microsoft.com
- Click Services & Subscriptions
- Verify your plan includes Copilot
If Copilot is not included, you’ll need to upgrade your subscription.
Step 2: Make Sure You Are Signed Into the Correct Account
One of the most common issues is using the wrong Microsoft account.
Fix:
- Open Excel or Word
- Click File
- Click Account
- Check the email address shown
Make sure this is the same account that has the Copilot subscription.
If not:
- Click Sign Out
- Sign back in with the correct account
Restart Excel or Word afterward.
Step 3: Update Excel or Word to the Latest Version
Copilot only works on updated versions of Microsoft 365 apps.
On Windows:
- Open Excel or Word
- Click File
- Select Account
- Click Update Options
- Choose Update Now
On Mac:
- Open Excel or Word
- Click Help
- Select Check for Updates
- Install available updates
After updating, restart your app.
Step 4: Enable Connected Experiences
Copilot relies on cloud-connected services. If connected experiences are disabled, Copilot won’t appear.
To Enable:
- Open Excel or Word
- Go to File
- Click Options
- Select Trust Center
- Click Trust Center Settings
- Select Privacy Options
- Enable:
- “Turn on optional connected experiences”
- “Turn on experiences that analyze your content”
Click OK and restart the app.
Step 5: Check If Copilot Is Enabled in the Ribbon
Sometimes Copilot is installed but hidden.
Fix:
- Right-click on the Ribbon
- Select Customize the Ribbon
- Look for Copilot
- Make sure it’s checked
- Click OK
If Copilot appears after this, problem solved.
Step 6: Confirm Your Organization Assigned the License (Work/School Accounts)
If you’re using a company or school account, your admin must assign Copilot.
Ask Your IT Admin to:
- Go to Microsoft 365 Admin Center
- Select Users
- Choose your account
- Assign the Copilot license
Without this step, Copilot will not appear.
Step 7: Switch to the Correct Update Channel
Some features are only available in specific update channels.
Check Update Channel:
- Open Excel
- Go to File
- Click Account
- Check the update channel under About
If needed, your admin may need to switch you to:
- Current Channel
- Monthly Enterprise Channel
Step 8: Try Excel or Word Online
If Copilot isn’t showing on desktop, try the web version.
- Go to office.com
- Sign in
- Open Excel or Word online
- Check if Copilot appears
If it works online but not on desktop, reinstalling Office may fix it.
Step 9: Repair Microsoft Office
Corrupted files may prevent Copilot from loading.
On Windows:
- Open Control Panel
- Click Programs
- Select Microsoft 365
- Click Change
- Choose Quick Repair
- If needed, try Online Repair
Restart your computer after repair.
Step 10: Reinstall Microsoft 365
If none of the above works:
- Uninstall Microsoft 365
- Restart your computer
- Download the latest version from Microsoft
- Install and sign in again
Copilot Still Not Showing? Check These Advanced Causes
Regional Availability
Copilot may not yet be available in all regions.
Delayed Feature Rollout
Microsoft sometimes rolls out features gradually.
Unsupported Excel Version
Copilot only works with:
- Microsoft 365 (subscription version)
- Not supported in Office 2019 or 2021 standalone versions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Copilot not showing in Excel but showing in Word?
It could be a version issue. Update Excel separately and restart.
Why is Copilot missing after renewal?
Try signing out and signing back in to refresh the license.
Does Copilot work offline?
No. Copilot requires internet access.
Final Checklist: Quick Fix Summary
✔ Confirm subscription includes Copilot
✔ Sign into correct account
✔ Update Excel/Word
✔ Enable connected experiences
✔ Check Ribbon customization
✔ Confirm license assignment (business users)
✔ Repair Office
✔ Reinstall if needed
Conclusion
If Copilot is not showing up in Excel or Word, the issue is usually related to licensing, account login, outdated software, or disabled settings. By following this step-by-step troubleshooting guide, you should be able to restore Copilot quickly and get back to working smarter with AI.
Microsoft Copilot is a powerful productivity tool, and once properly enabled, it can help you generate documents, analyze spreadsheets, summarize content, and automate repetitive tasks efficiently.
If the problem persists after trying all steps, contacting Microsoft Support or your IT administrator is the next best action.
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