Microsoft to Automatically Install Copilot on 365 Clients in October

Microsoft has announced that starting October 2025, the Microsoft 365 Copilot app will be automatically installed on Windows devices with Microsoft 365 desktop client apps. However, due to recent EU rulings, devices in the EEA will not receive this automatic installation.

The Copilot app is positioned as a central hub for AI experiences across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more, but many users are expressing dissatisfaction with this update. Users have voiced concerns online about Microsoft's aggressive approach to integrating its AI tools, as the app appears in the Windows Start Menu by default, which could be a tipping point for some.

Administrators can opt out through the Microsoft 365 Apps Admin Center, though the default opt-in approach may be unwelcome. Earlier in 2025, a separate setting was introduced allowing admins to pin the Copilot app to the Windows taskbar.

While Microsoft's AI initiative is clear, the app is not entirely new. The company clarified on a support page that the Microsoft 365 (Office) app has been rebranded as Microsoft 365 Copilot. The app remains a starting point for accessing productivity applications.

This update introduces additional ways to work with Copilot for tasks such as asking questions, creating content, drafting documents, and building agents with a work account. This development comes as Microsoft continues to contend with Windows 11 adoption. The latest OS reached near parity with Windows 10 in June 2025, surpassing it in July, but the two have since converged again, potentially indicating some downgrades.