Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
There is nothing to download for browser-based Microsoft Copilot; open copilot.cloud.microsoft in a current browser and sign in with the work or school account that has the Microsoft Copilot license assigned.^1^
1. Verify the account and license
- Open
copilot.cloud.microsoftin Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. - Sign out if a personal account or a different organizational account appears.
- Sign back in with the work or school account supplied by your organization.
- Ask your Microsoft 365 administrator to confirm that:
- Your account has an eligible Microsoft 365 prerequisite plan.
- A Microsoft Copilot license is assigned to your specific user account.
Microsoft Copilot requires both a qualifying prerequisite license and a Microsoft Copilot license. Copilot Chat has different licensing requirements, so access to Copilot Chat alone does not confirm that licensed Microsoft Copilot features are assigned.^2^
If you receive a license-validation error, select the profile icon on Microsoft 365 and use Sign in with a different account to ensure that the licensed organizational account is active.^3^
2. If Copilot fails inside Word, Excel, or PowerPoint for the web
Third-party cookies are needed for Copilot license validation in these web apps. Refresh the page first. If Copilot is still missing or reports a license-validation error, test with the documented cookie setting.^4^
Prefer a site-specific exception where your browser or organizational policy supports one. Avoid weakening browser privacy settings globally unless it is a temporary diagnostic test.
- Microsoft Edge: Settings and more → Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data.
- Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security.
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Enhanced Tracking Protection → Custom.
- Safari: Microsoft’s instructions require checking both the Privacy and Advanced tabs; use the complete browser-specific procedure rather than changing only one Safari option.^3^
If global cookie blocking or cross-site-tracking protection is temporarily disabled for testing, re-enable it immediately afterward. If these settings are controlled by your organization, do not bypass the policy—ask IT to configure the required exception.
3. If the site loads but cannot connect
Your IT administrator should verify that organizational filtering, proxy, firewall, Conditional Access, and app-control policies permit copilot.cloud.microsoft and the complete *.cloud.microsoft domain. Copilot also requires Microsoft 365 and Copilot network endpoints and secure WebSocket connectivity.^1^
On Windows, two customer-facing diagnostics are available:
- Open the Get Help app.
- Search for Copilot License Troubleshooter if Copilot is missing.
- Search for Copilot connectivity troubleshooter if it cannot connect.
- Follow the findings displayed by Get Help.^5^
If these checks do not resolve it, provide your IT administrator with the exact browser error message and a screenshot with personal or organizational information hidden. For a business account, Microsoft directs unresolved license-validation issues to the Microsoft 365 administrator, who can contact Microsoft Support.^3^
References
- Microsoft Copilot requirements
- License options for Microsoft Copilot
- I am getting license validation errors with Copilot | Microsoft Support
- [Mac](https://support.microsoft.com/office/foundations-experiences/how-to-find-and-enable-missing-copilot-button-in-microsoft-365-apps)
- Copilot troubleshooters | Microsoft Support