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Why Microsoft 365 Business Premium Does Not Include Copilot
Question details
A subscriber cannot find Copilot in their Microsoft 365 Business Premium applications and wants to know if the service is included in their current plan.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to access Microsoft Copilot AI features within Microsoft 365 applications for business.
- Observed behavior
- Copilot is not visible or accessible because it is an add-on service that is not included by default in the base Microsoft 365 Business Premium subscription.
Ensure you have global administrator or billing administrator privileges for your organization's Microsoft 365 tenant to view, purchase, and modify licenses.
Purchase and Assign the Microsoft 365 Copilot Add-on License
Since Copilot is not included in the base Business Premium subscription, an administrator must purchase it as a separate add-on and assign it to eligible users.
Microsoft 365 Copilot for business is a separate commercial add-on. While Microsoft 365 Business Premium is an eligible prerequisite plan, the AI capabilities require an additional paid license per user.
Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center using an account with billing or global administrator permissions.
Navigate to 'Billing' in the left-hand menu, select 'Purchase services', search for 'Microsoft 365 Copilot', and complete the checkout process for the required number of users.
Go to 'Users' > 'Active users', select the employee who needs Copilot, click on the 'Licenses and apps' tab, and check the box next to Microsoft 365 Copilot to assign it.
Instruct the user to restart their Microsoft 365 applications (like Word or Excel) to allow the new license changes to sync and display the Copilot icon.
Try WPS Office for a Lightweight and Cost-Effective Experience
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- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do any Microsoft 365 commercial plans include Copilot for free?
No. Microsoft 365 Copilot is a paid add-on for commercial and enterprise plans, including Business Standard, Business Premium, E3, and E5. It is not bundled for free in any base business subscription.
Can individual employees buy Copilot if they have Business Premium?
Individual employees cannot purchase the commercial Microsoft 365 Copilot license on their own. A Microsoft 365 tenant administrator must purchase the add-on and assign it to the employee's account.
Why isn't Copilot showing up in Word after my admin assigned the license?
License synchronization can take up to 24 hours. Ensure you are signed into your Microsoft 365 apps with the correct business account, and try clicking 'Update License' in your account settings or completely restarting the application.
