Microsoft fixes classic Outlook bug that hid Copilot buttons

A known issue in the classic Outlook desktop client for Windows caused the Copilot Chat and Copilot buttons to disappear for users with Copilot Chat (Basic) or Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) licenses. The root cause was a bug preventing Outlook from retrieving some required account information from the user's Outlook profile, which led to the Copilot entry points being missing from the navigation pane and ribbon. Microsoft initially fixed the issue via a service change but had to revisit it after the problem reappeared following updates. The final resolution involved fixing the retrieval of account information. Workarounds include enabling the "Show Apps in Outlook" option, using the new Outlook client or Outlook Web Access, or creating a new Outlook profile. The issue did not affect Copilot access through other platforms.

Users of the classic Outlook desktop client on Windows with valid Copilot licenses experienced missing Copilot buttons, which prevented direct access to Copilot features within that client. However, Copilot functionality remained available through Outlook on the web and the standalone Copilot app. This issue impacted user productivity by limiting feature access but did not expose security vulnerabilities or enable unauthorized access.

Microsoft has released a fix resolving the issue in the classic Outlook client. Users still experiencing the problem can enable the "Show Apps in Outlook" option via File > Options > Advanced in Outlook settings as a temporary workaround. Alternatively, affected users can switch to the new Outlook client, use Outlook Web Access, or create a new Outlook profile. Following Microsoft's updated support guidance and Copilot troubleshooters is recommended to resolve any remaining issues.