Microsoft Will Automatically Install 365 Copilot App in October

Microsoft will start automatically installing the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on Windows devices that have Microsoft 365 desktop client apps, excluding those in the European Economic Area (EEA). The rollout is expected to begin in early October and finish by mid-November,according to Bleeping Computer. The company has advised IT administrators to inform their helpdesk teams and users in advance to minimize confusion and support requests.

The Microsoft 365 Copilot app brings the AI-powered Copilot assistant directly into Microsoft 365 apps, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as other tools like Notebooks and AI agents. This centralized app provides an easy way for users to access Copilot features and AI capabilities across Microsoft 365, simplifying discovery and improving engagement with productivity tools.

The app will appear in the Windows Start Menu and be enabled by default. However, IT administrators managing Microsoft 365 deployments have the option to opt out of automatic installation via the Microsoft 365 Apps Admin Center. To do so, admins can sign in, navigate to Customization > Device Configuration > Modern App Settings, select the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, and clear the “Enable automatic installation” option.

Many users may notice a new Copilot app icon in the Start Menu, but in some cases, the app might already be installed, resulting in no visible changes. Microsoft aims to make Copilot more accessible and visible to users by integrating it directly into the desktop environment.

This rollout follows recent steps by Microsoft to expand Copilot’s reach. In late September 2025, Microsoft will integrate Microsoft 365 Copilot agents into the Edge sidebar, allowing users to access AI features while browsing. Earlier, the company introduced a new setting enabling admins to pin the Copilot app to the Windows taskbar, ensuring that users have multiple entry points to AI-powered productivity tools.

Microsoft’s strategy emphasizes both accessibility and administrative control. While the app will be automatically installed for most users, IT teams retain the ability to manage deployment, ensuring organizations can tailor the rollout to their needs. With Copilot now more deeply integrated into Microsoft 365, users can expect a more streamlined workflow and faster access to AI-enhanced features, reinforcing Microsoft’s push to embed AI tools across its productivity suite.

The combination of automatic installation, taskbar pinning, and Edge sidebar integration highlights Microsoft’s focus on making AI tools a core part of daily workflows for its users, while giving admins the flexibility to manage deployments effectively.