How to save serious time with Copilot in Outlook

What Copilot in Outlook can do for you

1. Quickly catch up on long threads.

Open any conversation and ask Copilot in Outlook to summarize.¹ You’ll get the key decisions, requested actions, and the next steps with pointers to the exact message where each item appears; great when you’re jumping into partner updates, client conversations, or cross‑team planning.

Prompt: “Summarize this thread and list decisions, owners, and due dates.”

2. Draft or rewrite emails, fast

Give Copilot in Outlook a quick brief and it will produce a polished message in your tone: professional, friendly, or concise.¹ You’re still in control: accept, tweak, or ask it to shorten or expand.

Prompt: “Draft a friendly follow‑up that thanks and confirms we’ll deliver the assets by Friday. Keep it under two paragraphs.”

3. Prioritize your inbox

Ask Copilot to surface the time‑sensitive or high‑impact items so you don’t miss the critical message buried under newsletters and FYIs.¹

Prompt: “Prioritize my unread emails from today. Show urgent items first and explain why.”

4. Turn emails into action

Copilot can extract tasks and reminders right from a thread, so you leave with a clear to‑do list rather than vague intentions.¹

Prompt: “Pull out action items from this conversation, with owners and deadlines I can copy into my task list.”

5. Make scheduling easy

Need to propose times or reschedule? Copilot drafts a calendar‑friendly reply in one go.¹ No juggling tabs or typing out date gymnastics.

Prompt: “Write a reply proposing three 30‑minute meeting times next week and ask if Thursday PM is better.”

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Quick start: Try Copilot in Outlook

Getting started is simple. Here’s how to unlock Copilot in Outlook¹:

Step 1: Sign in with your Microsoft account in Outlook—your work account, your personal account, or both if your organization allows it. Copilot features are available with Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, and Premium subscriptions.² It works on PC, Mac, iOS, and Android.

Step 2: Find Copilot in Outlook. Look for Copilot in the ribbon or message pane and start right from where you’re working.¹

Step 3: Try your first prompt.

• “Summarize this email thread.”
• “Draft a reply that confirms availability and proposes three meeting times.”
• “Prioritize my unread emails today.”
• “Rewrite this email to be more concise and professional.”

Real‑world scenarios for using Copilot in Outlook

Here’s how Copilot in Outlook helps in everyday situations.¹

After a busy week
You return from travel to 30+ unread messages. Copilot summarizes leadership threads into a digest with open decisions and deadlines, so you can plan the day in minutes.

Prompt: “Create a one‑page digest of this leadership thread with decisions, risks, and my next steps.”

Managing multiple clients
You’re juggling booking requests and project updates. Copilot drafts a warm, professional reply, suggests times, and pulls tasks into a checklist you can paste into your planner.

Prompt: “Draft a client update confirming scope, timeline, and two milestone dates; end with a clear call‑to‑action to confirm.”

Team project coordination
You’re working on a shared deliverable with several stakeholders. Copilot can summarize the entire thread, highlight blockers, and draft a status update for the group.

Prompt: “Summarize this project thread and draft a status email with next steps for all stakeholders.”

Tips to get better results with Copilot in Outlook

Want Copilot in Outlook¹ to feel like your personal productivity assistant? These quick tips make a big difference:

• Be specific. Give Copilot the goal, audience, and constraints. The stronger the prompt, the stronger the result. “Reply to a director, 3 bullets, neutral tone.”
• Ask for tone adjustments. Try “make warmer,” “make crisper,” or “make executive‑ready.”
• Clarify before you respond. Use “Explain this thread in two sentences” to cut through noise.
• Save your best prompts. Reuse patterns for weekly status, follow‑ups, or scheduling asks.

Ready to work smarter with AI tools in Outlook?

Copilot in Outlook¹ helps you cut through inbox chaos, stay organized, and save time, so you can focus on what truly matters. Try it today with Microsoft 365.

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