Copilot tips for October 2026

Copilot Keeps Getting More Useful

Microsoft is adding new Copilot features almost every month, and it can be hard to keep up. Here are the changes worth knowing about this October, and some practical tips to help your team get better results.

1. The New Copilot Home

The Copilot app will open on a new Home screen that combines Chat and Cowork in one place, so you can switch between asking questions and getting multi-step tasks done from the same prompt box. Copilot Chat is also learning to carry out longer tasks — such as drafting emails, managing meetings and creating Office files — and will ask for your approval before taking any sensitive action.

This is rolling out to early-access (Frontier) users first, with wider availability to follow, and some of the new features need a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence.

2. Copilot in SharePoint and OneDrive

Copilot in SharePoint and OneDrive is becoming generally available. That means you can ask Copilot about your documents right where they’re stored — for example:

• “Summarise the key changes between these two versions of the proposal.”
• “Which files in this folder mention the Henderson project?”
• “Create a one-page FAQ from the documents on this site.”

Copilot only ever shows people content they already have permission to see — which makes it a good moment to check who has access to your SharePoint sites.

3. Hand Over a Meeting in Outlook

Going on leave, changing role or passing a project on? Outlook now lets you transfer a meeting or recurring series you organise to a colleague, without cancelling it and sending a new invite.

1. Open your Calendar in Outlook.
2. Right-click a meeting you organise and choose Change organizer.
3. Enter your colleague’s name, add a note if you like, and click Send.

The meeting stays yours until they accept. It works in the new Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web and the calendar in Teams (not classic Outlook), and Teams meetings aren’t included yet.

5 Prompting Tips for Better Results

1. Say who it’s for. “Summarise this for our finance director” gets a very different answer from “summarise this”.
2. Set the tone and format. Ask for bullet points, a table, a short email or a friendly tone.
3. Point Copilot at the right source. Use “/” to reference a specific file, email or meeting.
4. Keep the conversation going. Follow up with “make it shorter” or “add a summary table” instead of starting again.
5. Always check the output. Copilot is a great first draft, but you’re still the editor.

Reflective IT Tip

The best prompts include who it’s for, the tone you want and the format you need. For example: “Summarise this contract for our finance director in five bullet points.”

How Reflective IT Can Help

Thinking about Copilot for your business? We can check your data permissions are in good shape first, advise on licensing, and run practical training so your team gets value from day one. Take a look at our Copilot tips and tricks for more ideas.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a paid licence to use these features?

Copilot Chat is included with most Microsoft 365 business plans. Copilot in SharePoint and OneDrive, and some of the new Home features, need a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence.

Can Copilot see files I don’t have access to?

No. Copilot respects your existing Microsoft 365 permissions, so it can only use content you’re already allowed to see.

Why can’t I see the new Copilot Home yet?

Microsoft releases new features in stages. Early-access users get them first and everyone else follows over the coming weeks.

Need Help or Have Questions?

Our team is always happy to help. Contact us, speak to your Technical Account Manager, or get in touch directly:

📞 0207 317 4535 | 📧 support@reflectiveit.com