No copilot access

Douglas Hohnke 0 Reputation points
2026-11-13T14:07:33.19+00:00

I have a family 356 subscription. Why does Copilot no longer function?

Microsoft Copilot | Other
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  1. Marcin Policht 112.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-11-13T15:49:51.59+00:00

    That's likely related to the service-wide outage. Unfortunately this is still the ongoing recovery.

    You can monitor the latest updates via https://status.cloud.microsoft/

    Here is the latest available information:

    User impact: Users may be unable to access or perform several actions in Microsoft 365 services.

    Current status: Our recovery efforts to restore service health throughout the affected environment is progressing. In parallel, we're continuing to pursue multiple workstreams to pinpoint the source of the issue and ensure the recovery of the affected environment. This issue impacts Outlook.com, OneDrive, OneNote, Microsoft To Do, Teams, and Microsoft 365 for the web although you may also see issues in other Microsoft 365 services.

    Next update by: Friday, November 13, 2026, at 2:30 PM UTC

    If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

    hth

    Marcin

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-13T14:08:33.29+00:00

    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)
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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