MC1420902: Microsoft 365 Copilot Retires Researcher with Computer Use in Frontier and Moves Capability to Copilot Cowork

3 minutes
MWPRO IMPACT SCORE
OPERATIONAL IMPACT
37
0 25 50 75 100
MODERATE IMPACT • ASSESS BUSINESS IMPACT
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Primary Audience

Microsoft 365 AdminsIT ManagersService Owners
Why this score?
AI Confidence
HIGH
Enough detail is available to trust this assessment.
Assessment Reasoning
Researcher with Computer Use in Frontier retired on July 1, 2026, and the feature is now part of Copilot Cowork since June 16, 2026. Admins do not need to reconfigure settings, but they should notify impacted users and update internal documentation and training resources. User experience changes affect those who previously interacted with Computer Use via Researcher, but Copilot workflows remain available in a different interface.
40
🛡️ Admin Impact
MEDIUM
35
👥 User Impact
MEDIUM
35
⚡ Urgency
MEDIUM
30
🔧 Effort
MEDIUM
ℹ️ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
📌

AT A GLANCE

Computer Use has moved from Frontier Researcher to Copilot Cowork. Researcher with Computer Use in Frontier is retired.
👥

END USERS

Users who used Researcher with Computer Use in Frontier will now find it in Copilot Cowork.
🛡️

IT ADMINS

Inform affected users, update any documentation, and review support readiness for this change.
📅

ROLLOUT TIMELINE

Available:
Now

📢 Official Microsoft Message Center Announcement

(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Computer Use moves from Researcher in Frontier to Copilot Cowork
Message ID: MC1420902

Updated July 27, 2026: This message is only relevant for Frontier customers who have “computer use agents” enabled in their admin settings. If you do not have this setting enabled, you can safely disregard this message. Thank you for your patience.

[What and Why]

Microsoft has transitioned Computer Use capabilities from Researcher in Frontier to the Microsoft Copilot experience. Computer Use enables Copilot to interact with websites and online services as part of completing tasks on a user’s behalf.

This change brings Computer Use capabilities into everyday Copilot workflows and retires the Researcher with Computer Use experience in Frontier.

Existing tenant-level Copilot controls and policies remain unchanged.

[Rollout Schedule]

  • Computer Use capabilities became available in Copilot Cowork on June 16, 2026.
  • Researcher with Computer Use in Frontier was retired on July 1, 2026.

[Impact on Your Organization]

Who is affected

  • Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license
  • Users enabled for Frontier who currently use Researcher with Computer Use

Platforms/Services

  • Microsoft Copilot
  • Copilot Cowork
  • Frontier

What will happen

  • Researcher with Computer Use is no longer available in Frontier as of July 1, 2026.
  • Organizations currently using Researcher with Computer Use in Frontier should be aware of this transition.
  • Existing tenant-level Copilot controls and policies remain unchanged.
  • No additional tenant configuration is required.

[Action Required/Recommendations]

No immediate action is required.

We recommend that you:

  • Inform users who currently use Researcher with Computer Use in Frontier that the experience is no longer available as of July 1, 2026.
  • Update internal documentation and training materials that reference Researcher with Computer Use in Frontier.
  • Review support readiness and adoption guidance for users who may be affected by this change.

Learn more: Use the local browser with Copilot Cowork | Copilot Cowork | Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Learn

[Compliance considerations]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.

Source: Microsoft Message Center • Analysed by MWPro

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