Copilot License Issues

How to Add Copilot Licenses to Microsoft 365 E3

Phi Hung Vo Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

Administrators need to verify Microsoft 365 Copilot availability and assign licenses for their Office 365 E3 tenant.

How to Add Copilot Licenses to Microsoft 365 E3

Product: Microsoft 365 E3
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: An organization wants to equip its Microsoft 365 E3 users with Microsoft 365 Copilot capabilities.
Observed behavior: The tenant administrator needs guidance to acquire and assign Copilot add-on licenses correctly in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

Before you start

Ensure you have global administrator or billing administrator privileges in your Microsoft 365 tenant before attempting to purchase or assign new licenses.

Solution 1Recommended

Purchase and Assign Copilot Licenses via Microsoft 365 Admin Center

This is the primary method for tenant administrators to acquire Copilot add-ons and assign them to eligible E3 users.

Microsoft 365 Copilot is an add-on license available for Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 subscribers. Availability and purchasing options depend on your specific tenant configuration and region.

Access the Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Purchase the Copilot Add-on

Navigate to 'Billing' and select 'Purchase services' from the left-hand menu. Search for 'Microsoft 365 Copilot' and complete the checkout process for the required number of licenses.

Navigate to Active Users

Go to 'Users' and click on 'Active users'. Select the user or group of users to whom you want to assign the Copilot license.

Assign the License

In the right-hand properties pane for the selected user, click the 'Licenses and apps' tab. Check the box next to 'Microsoft 365 Copilot' and click 'Save changes'.

Purchase and Assign Copilot Licenses via Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Check Eligibility: Consult Microsoft's official Copilot licensing documentation to verify user prerequisites, such as having an active Entra ID account and compatible update channels for Office applications.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Microsoft 365 Copilot included in the E3 subscription?

No, Microsoft 365 Copilot is not included by default in the E3 plan. It is a separate premium add-on that requires an additional purchase per user.

Who has permission to purchase and assign Copilot licenses?

Only users assigned the Global Administrator or Billing Administrator roles can purchase add-on services and assign licenses in the Microsoft 365 admin center.

Where can I review the prerequisites for Microsoft 365 Copilot?

You can consult the official Microsoft 365 Copilot overview and licensing documentation on the Microsoft Learn website (learn.microsoft.com) to verify tenant and user eligibility.

Microsoft Copilot Issues