How to enable Copilot on Microsoft Word

To enable Copilot on Microsoft Word, you need a Microsoft 365 and Copilot Pro subscription associated with the Microsoft account that you’re using with Word.
If the “Copilot” feature is still missing, open Word > File > Account and click the “Update License” button.
If you don’t have a pro subscription, you won’t be able to access the chatbot in the Office (Microsoft 365) apps.

On Microsoft Word, you can enable Copilot Pro, and in this guide, I will show you how. Copilot Pro is the paid version of the AI assistant that’s based on the free version of Copilot but has a bunch of new features, including access to chatbot from Microsoft 365 apps.

If you already have a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription, it’s important to note that Copilot is not part of the offering. Instead, it’s a standalone product you can only access after purchasing the “Copilot Pro” subscription, which costs $20 per month per user. So, if the AI assistant is missing from Word, you first have to make sure that you have the Microsoft 365 and Copilot Pro subscriptions associated with the Microsoft account that you’re using to sign into the apps on Windows 11, 10, or macOS. (That’s the only way it works.)

In my case, I have both subscriptions, but Microsoft Word was still missing the “Copilot” feature. If this is also your case, you have to make sure to update the license of the applications. If the option isn’t available, then you may need to reinstall the Microsoft 365 apps to make it all work.

In this guide, I will outline the two methods you can use to enable Copilot Pro on Microsoft Word on Windows 11. Once you turn on the feature, you can use these instructions to start with Copilot in Word. (You may also need to follow the steps to update the license on Excel and OneNote.)

Enable Copilot Pro in Word (with license option)
Enable Copilot Pro in Word (missing license option)

Enable Copilot Pro in Word (with license option)

To enable Copilot Pro in Word, use these steps:

Open Word on Windows 11.
Click on File and choose the Account option.
Click the Update License button.

Quick tip: You may need to click the button twice to get it to work.
Click the Sign in button.
Confirm the Microsoft account associated with the Microsoft 365 and Copilot Pro subscription.
Click the Close button.
Close all the instances of the Microsoft 365 apps.
Reopen Word to access Copilot Pro.

Once you complete the steps, the product license will update, and Copilot Pro will be enabled on Microsoft Word. The AI assistant should now be available from the “Home” tab, next to the Microsoft Editor button. You will also see a “Copilot” icon on the canvas of the document.

Enable Copilot Pro in Word (missing license option)

If the “Update License” option is missing, you’re likely not using the correct version of the suite of apps that allows you to access Copilot in Word. In this case, you will need to completely uninstall the Microsoft 365 (Office) apps and install a fresh copy by downloading the installer from your Microsoft account.

1. Uninstall Microsoft 365

To completely uninstall the Microsoft 365 (Office) apps on Windows 11, use these steps:

Download Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant tool.
Double-click the executable to launch the setup.
Click the Install button.
Click the Agree button to confirm the terms.
Select the version of the product – for example, Office 2021, 2019, or 365.
Click the Next button.
Confirm the Office uninstall by checking the option that you have saved your work.
Click the Next button.
Click the Restart button.

After you complete the steps, the apps will be uninstalled from the computer, and you can proceed with the installation of the latest version of the Office apps.

2. Reinstall Microsoft 365 apps

To download and install the Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Microsoft account.
Sign in with your Microsoft 365 account.
Click on the Account tab.
Click the Manage option for the “Microsoft 365” subscription.
Click the Install button in the “Microsoft 365 apps for your devices” setting.
Choose the installation language.
Select the “Microsoft 365 64-bit” option.

Quick note: You should be able to choose any option, but this is the option that worked for me.
Click the Install button to download the installer on your computer.
Double-click the OfficeSetup.exe to install the apps.
Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, the correct version of the apps will install on Windows 11. You check if Copilot Pro is now available. However, if it’s not, you should now be able to update the license with the following steps.

3. Enable Copilot in Word

To enable Copilot Pro in Word, use these steps:

Open Word.
Click on File and choose the Account option.
Click the Update License button.

Quick tip: You may need to click the button twice to get it to work.
Click the Sign in button.
Confirm the Microsoft account associated with the Microsoft 365 and Copilot Pro subscription.
Click the Close button.
Close all the instances of the Microsoft 365 apps.
Reopen Word to access Copilot Pro.

After you complete the steps, Copilot Pro will be available in Word and from any of the other apps from the “Home” tab.

Here’s the process of getting Copilot Pro, an overview of the product, and how to cancel the service:

Update January 19, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process to enable the AI feature.