No copilot access

Copilot in Microsoft 365 Family desktop apps is available only to the subscription owner; if the subscription was shared with you, the Family plan does not provide your account with in-app Copilot access.^1^

Check which case applies

1. Sign in to the Microsoft account dashboard and open Services & subscriptions.
2. Check whether your account is listed as the purchaser/owner of Microsoft 365 Family or receives it through family sharing. Microsoft’s license guidance confirms that only the owner can use Copilot in the desktop apps.^2^
3. Ensure Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook is signed in with that same account.

If you are a shared family member, this is the expected licensing behavior—not necessarily an outage. You can still use Copilot Chat through the web, but Copilot integration in the Microsoft 365 desktop apps requires your own qualifying subscription.^3^

If you are the subscription owner

Check these in order:

1. Check the usage allowance: In the Microsoft account, select Services & subscriptions and review the AI-credit or feature-limit status. Microsoft 365 Family includes AI usage limits, and the apps notify you when a limit is reached.^4^
2. Refresh the license on Windows: Open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint → File → Account → Update License. Close and reopen every Microsoft 365 app.
3. Refresh the license on Mac: Open an Office app → application-name menu → About <app name> → More Info → Refresh License. Restart all Microsoft 365 apps.^5^
4. Check privacy settings:
   • Windows: File → Account → Account Privacy → Manage Settings
   • Mac: Word → Preferences → Privacy
   Turn on Experiences that analyze your content and All connected experiences.
5. If only Excel is affected, save the workbook to OneDrive and enable AutoSave; Copilot in Excel does not work with an unsaved file.^1^

Age requirements can also remove AI features from Microsoft 365 apps even when the account otherwise qualifies for AI credits.^1^

References

1. Frequently asked questions about Copilot in Microsoft 365 subscriptions | Microsoft Support
2. What Copilot license do I have | Microsoft Support
3. Whats the difference between Microsoft Copilot (free) and Copilot in Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Support
4. How AI usage works across Microsoft 365 subscriptions for individuals
5. [Mac](https://support.microsoft.com/office/foundations-experiences/how-to-find-and-enable-missing-copilot-button-in-microsoft-365-apps)