🆕 One-Click Email Summaries in Outlook — Even Without a Copilot License!
Alan Cox [MVP]
Microsoft MVP | Microsoft 365 Evangelist | Dynamic Public Speaker | Expert Microsoft Adoption Advisor
A new productivity boost is landing in Outlook, and it’s as easy as clicking a button. Starting August 2025, Microsoft is rolling out Copilot-powered email thread summaries directly in Outlook’s reading pane — and the best part? You don’t need a Microsoft 365 Copilot license to use it. (Message Center: MC1124564)
✨ What’s New?
Outlook users can now generate instant summaries of email threads using the Copilot chat pane, accessible right from the reading pane. It’s perfect for catching up on long or complex conversations without reading every message. This feature is available in both Classic and New Outlook for Windows.
✅ Who Gets It?
Any user who has Copilot chat pinned to the navigation bar will see a new “Summarize” button in their reading pane. As long as Copilot chat is enabled in your tenant, the summarize feature works — no Microsoft 365 Copilot license required.
Tip for Admins: Pin Copilot chat for your users using policy settings and Entra ID group membership to unlock this feature.
📆 Rollout Timeline
Targeted Release: Begins early August 2025, wraps mid-August
General Availability: Begins mid-August 2025, completes by mid-October
🔐 Compliance, Security & Management
On by default for eligible users
Data processed in Microsoft’s cloud; temporarily cached, not permanently stored unless saved
No changes to original email data
Audit logs may capture saved/shared summaries
Fully compatible with Microsoft Purview (DLP, eDiscovery, retention) — but admins should review settings for AI-generated content
Usage is visible in Microsoft 365 admin center reports
🛠️ Admin Actions
Use policy controls and Entra ID groups to manage access
Pin Copilot chat to Outlook for users to enable the summarization feature
Monitor usage and logs via admin center and Purview
🔗 Helpful Resources
How to Pin Copilot Chat
Copilot Usage Reporting
Copilot Privacy and Protections
This enhancement represents another step in bringing Copilot capabilities to more users, even those without a license — offering AI-powered productivity tools in the apps people already use every day.
👉 No license? No problem. Just pin Copilot chat and start summarizing.