Copilot Word and Excel Bugs? Upload image and file dialog box doesn't appear

Yong Chin Kuo 0 Reputation points
2026-11-12T07:36:54.6266667+00:00

Dear All,

Anyone experienced the issue of file upload via copilot in excel or word where when click the upload file and images, the file selection pop up dialog box doesn't appear?

I had checked few of my paid copilot license users, it is the same bug.

Tentative Alternative

  1. Drag and drops
  2. Use the upload cloud files option. Files need to be in one drive.
  3. Use the web version of word and excel.

Any help to resolve this is appreciated.

Microsoft Copilot | Other
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  1. Vikki-T 14,290 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-12T12:19:56.19+00:00

    Hi Yong Chin Kuo,

    Since drag-and-drop, OneDrive files, and Word or Excel for the web still work, the upload service itself appears to be available. The issue seems more specifically related to the desktop apps failing to open the local file picker when Upload file and images is selected.

    As this affects several licensed users, I would suggest comparing whether the affected devices are using the same operating system, Microsoft 365 Apps version/build, and update channel. It would also be helpful to confirm whether the issue occurs on devices outside the same managed environment or tenant.

    In addition to the checks already listed, please report the behavior directly from Word or Excel through Help > Feedback or File > Feedback. Include a screenshot or short recording, the affected app version and build, and mention that the issue is reproducible for multiple users in both Word and Excel. This will provide the Microsoft product team with the diagnostic information needed to investigate the desktop file-picker behavior.

    For now, the drag-and-drop, OneDrive, and web-app methods you identified are appropriate workarounds. Please note that this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators, contributors including external Microsoft employees cannot directly intervene in Microsoft product features or access back-end systems. My role is limited to providing technical guidance on reported issues, requests, or ideas. Thank you so much for your understanding.     

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-12T07:38:17.8266667+00:00

    This is not listed as a general Microsoft-known issue, so an administrator should first check tenant Service health and then validate the affected desktop installations’ update channel, license state, privacy settings, and connectivity.

    1. Check whether Microsoft has posted a tenant-specific incident

    Because several licensed users are affected, rule out a service-side incident before changing individual installations:

    1. Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center with an account that can view service health.
    2. Go to Health → Service health.
    3. Review:
      • Active issues Microsoft is working on
      • Issues for your organization to act on
      • Issue history for the previous 7 or 30 days
    4. Look for advisories involving Microsoft 365 Copilot or Microsoft 365 Apps.

    Service Support Administrator and Helpdesk Administrator roles can view Service health. An advisory may also contain a Microsoft-provided workaround or resolution timeline.^1^

    If an applicable incident exists, avoid reinstalling Office across the affected devices; track that incident instead.

    2. Validate the desktop build and update channel

    On one affected Windows device:

    1. Open Word or Excel → File → Account.
    2. Under Product Information, install available Office updates.
    3. Check the displayed update channel.
    4. If it says Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel, ask the Microsoft 365 Apps administrator to move the device to Current Channel or Monthly Enterprise Channel. Copilot features enabled by an assigned license are not available on Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel.^2^
    5. Restart every open Microsoft 365 application and test the attachment button again.

    Since the picker never opens, file format, size, and file permissions are not yet the relevant checks; those apply after Copilot receives a selected file. Microsoft does document that local paths are not supported and that files must be uploaded or cloud-hosted.^3^

    3. Refresh licensing and connected experiences

    Still on the test device:

    1. Go to Word or Excel → File → Account → Update License.
    2. Close and restart all Microsoft 365 applications.
    3. Return to File → Account → Account Privacy → Manage Settings.
    4. Ensure these are enabled:
      • Experiences that analyze your content
      • All connected experiences
    5. If these controls are disabled or managed, review the corresponding tenant policy rather than changing the device locally.^2^

    For macOS, use Word/Excel → About app name → More Info → Refresh License, restart all Microsoft 365 apps, and check Word → Preferences → Privacy for the same connected-experience settings.^2^

    4. Run Microsoft’s built-in connectivity diagnostic

    On an affected Windows computer:

    1. Open the Get Help application.
    2. Search for Copilot connectivity troubleshooter.
    3. Run it and review its findings for firewall rules or other connectivity blockers.
    4. If Copilot licensing or controls are also missing, separately run Copilot License Troubleshooter.^4^

    5. Escalate with a reproducible comparison

    If no service advisory exists and one fully updated Current/Monthly Enterprise Channel device still fails:

    • Record the Word/Excel version and build from File → Account → About Word/Excel.
    • Capture whether the failure occurs in both Word and Excel.
    • Test the same licensed account on another desktop device to distinguish an account/tenant issue from a device issue.
    • Record the exact time, affected user count, tenant update channel, and results of the connectivity troubleshooter.
    • Open a Microsoft 365 support request and state that Upload file and images is clickable, but no operating-system file picker opens, while Copilot itself remains available.

    The cloud-file and web methods you identified remain appropriate temporary workarounds, but they do not resolve the desktop picker failure.

    References

    1. How to check Microsoft 365 service health
    2. How to find and enable missing Copilot button in Microsoft 365 apps
    3. File upload in Microsoft Copilot
    4. Copilot troubleshooters | Microsoft Support
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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