Using Copilot in Word

[nerdslife_team]

Hey everyone, I wanted to share how you can get the most out of Copilot in Microsoft Word. This AI tool can really boost your document creation and editing, and it works across Windows, Mac, and iPad. While it’s still in development for phones, you can jump in on supported devices right now.

Getting Copilot to Appear in Word

Sometimes, even if you have the right subscriptions, Copilot might not show up right away. Here’s how to enable it:

1. The first place to check is the ‘Home’ tab ribbon. If you see the Copilot button there, you’re good to go!

2. If the button is missing, try this next: completely close all Word windows. On Windows, hit the ‘Close’ button. On a Mac, right-click the Word icon in the dock and select ‘Quit’ to fully close the app.

3. Now, reopen Word. The Copilot button should hopefully be visible when you open a document.

Method 1: Updating Your License

If simply restarting doesn’t work, try updating your license:

1. Click on ‘File’ in the Word menu.
   
   
2. Next, select ‘Account’.
   
   
3. Click the ‘Update License’ button.
   
   
4. You will then need to sign in to verify your subscription. Click ‘Sign in’ and use the Microsoft account linked to both your Microsoft 365 and Copilot Pro subscriptions.
   
   
5. Restart Word after signing in. The Copilot button should now appear.

Method 2: Reinstalling Word

1. If Copilot is still missing, consider reinstalling Word. This makes sure you have all the latest updates applied, which might be needed for Copilot to work correctly.

Using Copilot to Create Documents

Once you’ve got Copilot up and running, here’s how you can use it to generate content:

1. When you open a new document, the ‘Draft with Copilot’ dialog should pop up.
   
   
2. If you are working in an existing document, you can either start a new line, where the ‘Draft with Copilot’ button will appear, or click ‘Inspire Me’ to have Copilot continue writing based on the existing content.
   
   
3. You can activate Copilot by starting a new line and clicking the ‘Copilot’ button, or by using the Alt + I shortcut.
   
   
4. In the ‘Draft with Copilot’ box, type in your prompt. This could be a simple request or detailed instructions. Just keep it under 2000 characters.

   Note: Unlike Copilot with Microsoft 365, Copilot Pro doesn’t let you upload files, so you’ll have to copy/paste any outlines or notes into the prompt.

5. Click ‘Generate’ to let Copilot create content.
   
   
6. If you need to stop Copilot at any point, click ‘Stop generating’.
   
   
7. After the content is generated, you can ‘Keep it’, ‘Regenerate’ for a new version, or ‘Delete’ to discard it. If you regenerate, you can give Copilot more guidance, like “Make it more concise.”
   
   
8. Use the arrows to navigate through different generated versions.
   
   
9. To exit the Copilot dialog, decide to keep or discard generated content.

Improving Existing Content With Copilot

Copilot isn’t just for new docs, it also helps refine what you’ve already written.

1. Highlight the text you want to change.
2. Click the ‘Copilot’ icon that pops up near the selected text.
   
   
3. Choose ‘Rewrite with Copilot’.
   
   
4. Copilot will show you a few rewritten versions. Use the arrows to look through them. You can ‘Replace’ the original text or ‘Insert Below’. If you’re not happy with the suggestions, you can ‘Regenerate’ for new options or use ‘Adjust Tone’ to modify the style.
   
   
5. To turn text into a table, select the text, click ‘Copilot’, and choose ‘Visualize as a table’.
   
   
6. Copilot will generate a table. You can use arrows to navigate between suggestions. You can ‘Keep it’, ‘Discard’ it, ‘Regenerate’, or give more instructions, such as adding a column.
   
   

Interacting With Copilot Directly

You can also have a chat with Copilot to assist with tasks.

1. Click the ‘Copilot’ icon in the ‘Home’ tab ribbon to open the chat panel.
   
   
2. The chat interface will open on the right side of your screen.
   
   
3. In the chat, ask Copilot to write about topics, modify content, summarize documents, or answer questions about the document. Type your prompt and click send to receive a response.
   
   
4. If you prefer to talk, click the ‘Microphone’ icon to dictate your prompt.
   
   
5. Click ‘View Prompts’ (the book icon) for ideas on how to use Copilot. You will see example prompts under categories such as ‘Create’, ‘Understand’, and ‘Ask’.
   
   
6. Copilot can provide citations when answering questions or generating summaries, so you can check the information in your doc.
   
   
7. You can also use the chat for research outside of your document.
8. Remember, chat conversations with Copilot are not saved and will clear when you close the panel.

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Microsoft has made document creation and editing much easier by integrating Copilot into Word. The AI assistance is available to users with Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscriptions.