- Status: Confirmed
- Affected Versions: Classic Outlook for Windows, build 20026.20182 and higher
- Affected Users: Those with Copilot Chat (Basic) or M365 Copilot (Premium) licenses
- KB/Reference: Microsoft Support Known Issues: Copilot buttons gone in classic Outlook
A bug in classic Outlook for Windows is preventing users from accessing Copilot Chat and removing key entry points for the AI assistant within the app. According to a Microsoft support document, the issue triggers after the application updates to build 20026.20182 or higher. This glitch is particularly frustrating for professionals who rely on Copilot for drafting emails, summarizing threads, and managing their inbox directly from the desktop client.
The problem affects users holding either a Copilot Chat (Basic) license or a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) account. Microsoft explicitly states in its known issues list that after updating to the affected build, users will no longer have access to Copilot Chat or the associated entry points within Outlook. While some might jokingly call the disappearance of Copilot an “addition by subtraction,” the reality is a significant workflow disruption for subscribers paying for these features.
What You Will See
If your system is affected by this glitch, the changes to the interface are immediate and noticeable. The Copilot button, which normally sits in the top-right area above the ribbon, will vanish completely. Similarly, the Copilot icon may disappear from the left app bar and the More Apps area.
In some cases, you might still see the Copilot icon listed in the Add Apps section. However, selecting “Open” may do absolutely nothing. Even if you have previously customized the ribbon to include Copilot, the option may appear grayed out or marked as unavailable, rendering it useless for daily tasks.
Microsoft has clarified that this issue is isolated to classic Outlook. The Copilot experience remains fully functional in the web version of Outlook and other supported versions. Additionally, the Microsoft 365 Copilot app and its web experience continue to operate normally, though this bug comes at an inconvenient time as Microsoft pushes forward with a new unified Copilot experience across platforms.
Workarounds and Fixes
If you need to use Copilot immediately and cannot wait for a patch, Microsoft suggests switching to Outlook on the web or the new Outlook app as a temporary measure. These alternatives do not appear to be affected by the build-specific issue.
Standard troubleshooting steps have been attempted by the community, including creating a new Outlook profile, clearing local cache data, re-signing into Office, and restarting Windows. Unfortunately, Microsoft notes that these methods do not consistently restore the missing buttons. This suggests the issue is likely tied to a deeper integration fault within the specific build rather than a simple local configuration error.
What This Means for You
For users who have invested in Copilot licenses to enhance their productivity, this bug effectively disables a core value proposition of the subscription within the desktop app. If you rely on the desktop client for its offline capabilities or specific integrations, you are currently stuck without your AI assistant until a fix is deployed.
The timing of this bug is notable given Microsoft’s broader strategy to unify Copilot across all its platforms. Disabling the feature in one of its most popular desktop applications contradicts the push for widespread adoption and could lead to user frustration, especially among enterprise customers who manage fleets of classic Outlook instances.
How to Get It
Microsoft is aware of the issue and has logged it in its support documentation. Users should monitor the Outlook update channel for a subsequent fix. In the meantime, switching to the web version is the most reliable path to regain access to Copilot features without losing productivity.
Source: Latest from Windows Central
Over to you: Are you sticking with classic Outlook for this build, or switching to the new Outlook to avoid the Copilot glitch?
