Artificial Intelligence
Microsoft fixes Outlook bug hiding Copilot buttons
Microsoft said it had resolved a classic Outlook issue that hid Copilot entry points for some users, after the problem resurfaced following updates and led to a temporary workaround.
- Microsoft said it had fixed a known issue in classic Outlook that removed Copilot Chat and Copilot buttons for some Windows users.
- The problem affected users with Copilot Chat (Basic) licences or Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) accounts, and the buttons could disappear from several parts of the interface.
- Microsoft said the issue came from a bug that stopped Outlook from retrieving some account information from a user profile.
- Microsoft said it had first fixed the problem in June, then reopened an investigation last month after updates caused it to return.
- Microsoft also said users could try a workaround by enabling Show Apps in Outlook, and that new Outlook and Outlook Web Access were not affected.
Microsoft said it had resolved a known problem in classic Outlook that had removed Copilot entry points for some Windows users. The affected users had Copilot Chat (Basic) or Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) access, and the buttons could vanish from more than one part of the interface.
In an updated support document, Microsoft said the missing control could appear above the ribbon, in the left app bar, or in the Add Apps area. It also said adding Copilot through ribbon customisation could leave the command greyed out or unavailable.
Microsoft said the fault was tied to a bug that stopped Outlook from pulling some account details from the user's profile. It added that a missing button could also be linked to licensing, app configuration, update channel, privacy settings, or other environmental factors.
The company said it had first announced a fix in June, but then reopened the issue last month after recent updates made it reappear. It also provided a temporary workaround that involved turning on Show Apps in Outlook settings, and said users could instead use new Outlook, Outlook Web Access, or create a new profile.
Named in this story
Companies
- Microsoft
- said it had fixed the issue and updated its support guidance
Products and systems
- classic Outlook desktop mail client
- was the Outlook version affected by the missing Copilot buttons
- Copilot Chat (Basic)
- was one of the access tiers affected by the bug
- Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium)
- was another access tier affected by the bug
- Outlook on the web
- was one of the unaffected ways to access Copilot
- Microsoft Copilot standalone app
- was another unaffected way to access Copilot
- Outlook Web Access (OWA)
- was listed as an unaffected Outlook option
How the source tells it
The piece was a plain technical update in a neutral support-note register, with no distinct emotive framing.
No emotive framing was found in the original.