What it does
5 features
Microsoft Copilot Cowork · Work agent
Product and access
Generally available; a distinct work mode in Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Core features
5 features from provider sources · checked on 19 October 2026. Availability and limitations follow below.
Usable AI models
Fixed choice across providers
The default is Auto, but you can pick GPT, Claude and Grok models from the menu, some of them only in the Frontier program. Admins can turn Claude off, and inside the EU Data Boundary only GPT models are offered. The checked pages do not mention own keys or own models.
Model families named
- OpenAI (GPT)
- Anthropic (Claude)
- xAI (Grok)
- Model choice
- Automatic or your choice
- Your own API key
- Not stated
- Router or custom endpoint
- Not stated
- Local models
- Not stated
- Depends on
- Admin approval, Region, Preview or beta
The rating covers the generally available main access. Documented · Sources accessed on
Microsoft Learn: Choose a model for Copilot Cowork · Microsoft: Copilot Cowork is now generally available
Does it fit my task?
2 practical tasks · 3 requirements and limits
A good fit if …
- an admin enables Cowork for you through a spending policy with usage-based billing
- you want tasks in email, Teams, OneDrive and SharePoint handled with your existing permissions and Purview protection
- you want recurring tasks triggered by schedule or by incoming emails and Teams messages
Less suitable if …
- you work without a Microsoft 365 tenant and admin enablement; access depends on a spending policy
- you do not want usage-based billing (Copilot Credits)
Editorial assessment based on provider documentation. Not a product test.
Practical tasks
Editorial examples based on documented features. No product tests performed.
Example task 1
- Your input
- Summarize project materials for a meeting.
- Possible result
- A draft for expert review.
- What to check
- Check inputs, output and performed actions.
Example task 2
- Your input
- Check approved spreadsheets for discrepancies.
- Possible result
- A draft for expert review.
- What to check
- Check inputs, output and performed actions.
Summarize project materials for a meeting.
Your possible prompt
Organize these shared documents by topic. Create an overview with deadlines and next steps. Prepare draft replies for my approval.
Adjust the task, data and permissions.
Requirements and limits
Can I use it?
With requirements
Europe & regional availability
Provider sources reviewed again. This assessment applies to the access described here.
Reviewed scope: Product access and explicitly stated exceptions
Reviewed on:
With requirements
Worldwide access for Microsoft 365 Copilot customers
Microsoft reports Copilot Cowork as generally available worldwide since June 16, 2026. It requires Microsoft 365 Copilot, administrator enablement and usage-based billing setup. Individual preview features may require additional enablement.
Region, reason and source
Region covered: Germany; other countries according to the provider list
Documented reason: The sources state access conditions; they do not show EU regulation as a cause.
Official source · www.microsoft.com · Official source · learn.microsoft.com
Accounts & permissions
Based on provider documentation. Permissions depend on the account, integration and organization policies. Review the permissions actually requested before use.
Configuration covered: Copilot Cowork in a Microsoft 365 tenant, enabled through a spending policy
Sources reviewed:
Show all 3 points
Documented
Account used
Automated tasks run as the user who created them and see only that user's data. Browser tasks run in Microsoft Edge on your device, using your existing sign-ins and your organisation's policies.
EvidenceDocumented
Admin approval
Access exists only through a spending policy that selects Cowork; the former agent setting in the admin center no longer controls access. Admins also control plugins, can turn off the Anthropic model family, and can switch browser use on or off with the Cowork Browsing setting. Publishing a plugin organisation-wide needs admin approval.
Evidence · EvidenceDocumented
Data access & team sharing
You can supply files, people, emails and Teams chats, channels and meetings as context, as well as files from OneDrive, SharePoint or Teams. Microsoft Purview is available to secure and govern Cowork. Each person must sign in to plugin connectors themselves. A shared plugin gives recipients no extra access.
Evidence · Evidence · Evidence
Memory and conversation continuity
4 of 6 criteria documented
Microsoft explicitly describes conversation-scoped context without transfer to new conversations.
Copilot Cowork; distinct from general Copilot memory
Sources accessed:
Documentation by criterion
StorageDocumented
Storage and scope
Documented context exists within a conversation; files reside in OneDrive or SharePoint. Durably learned personal memory is not provided here.
SelectionDocumented
Selection and timing
Cowork incorporates feedback and further messages during a running task. This is adaptation within the conversation.
Edit & deletePartly documented
Inspect, edit and delete
Messages, outputs and approvals can be reviewed; an editor for cross-conversation memories is outside the described model.
Access boundariesDocumented
Agent and channel boundaries
Memory and approval preferences apply to the individual conversation. Microsoft 365 sources continue to follow existing access permissions.
RetrievalDocumented
Retrieval
Cowork uses conversation history and connected work sources. Access to Microsoft 365 knowledge is distinct from learned long-term memory.
New conversationsPartly documented
Session reset and compaction
The application card states that memory does not persist across conversations. Technical compaction of active context is not explained.
Cost and effort
Prices as of 19 October 2026
Prices and included usage
Pricing checked
Copilot license plus USD 0.01 per Copilot Credit (PayGo).
- Billing depends on plan, usage and setup.
Setup
Requires a Copilot license, administrator approval and a usage budget.
Operation & oversight
Based on public provider documentation. Assessments are editorial inferences from the stated properties. Actual time requirements and reliability have not been measured.
Deployment covered: Cloud operation in Microsoft 365 with scheduled and event-driven tasks
Sources reviewed:
Editorial assessment
Approvals, status display and audit log are documented, so oversight can rely on approval requests and the Automations page. Admins must set up usage-based billing and a spending policy beforehand.
Show all 6 points
Documented
Files and working state
Cowork processes files in a temporary, isolated environment inside the Microsoft 365 service boundary, uses them only for the duration of the task and removes the environment afterwards. Result files are in the output folder and the OneDrive Cowork folder; earlier chats and tasks can be referenced as context.
Evidence · EvidenceDocumented with conditions
Sign-ins
After the first sign-in to a plugin connector, Cowork remembers the authorisation unless you or an admin revokes it. The reviewed page does not say what happens on expiry.
EvidenceDocumented
Starting further runs
Further runs start manually, as scheduled prompts (up to 25) or as event-driven tasks on matching emails or Teams messages. You manage them on the Automations page.
EvidenceDocumented
Human intervention
Cowork asks before sensitive actions such as sending an email or posting in Teams. You can allow once, stop asking for the session, or cancel. Automated tasks present actions for approval by default; you can pre-authorise actions when creating the task.
Evidence · EvidenceDocumented
Resuming after failures
After a pause, Resume continues where Cowork stopped; connection or send errors offer Retry. You can return to earlier tasks from the home page. The page does not describe automatic retries of failed automations.
Evidence
Evidence and open questions
1 source · 1 open point
Open points
The reviewed sources contain no reliable information on these points. A gap says nothing about the product.
Requirements and limits: not yet confirmed
Sources and evidence
Provider sources reviewed; examples are editorial suggestions. No hands-on test.
Editorial team: Michael Meierhoff · sources reviewed on . Provider information is not independent evidence of performance.
Provider
Product and provider are documented through the linked original sources.
- Operator
- Microsoft
- Organization
- Provider
- Website
- www.microsoft.com
Changes to this profile 1
Added Microsoft Copilot Cowork with capabilities, access, pricing and sources.
These notes describe editorial changes. Source and pricing review dates appear in their respective sections.