MC1474455: Microsoft Copilot App Adds In-App Browsing for Windows and Mac

MWPRO IMPACT SCORE
OPERATIONAL IMPACT
48
0 25 50 75 100
MODERATE IMPACT • ASSESS BUSINESS IMPACT
Recommended Action:
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Primary Audience

Tenant AdminsMicrosoft 365 AdminsIT ManagersService Owners
Why this score?
AI Confidence
HIGH
Enough detail is available to trust this assessment.
Assessment Reasoning
This is an opt-in feature already available for testing that enables in-app browsing within the Copilot desktop app on Windows and Mac. Admins need to manage testing through policies, validate behaviour, and inform support teams, influencing configuration and governance. User impact is noticeable with a new in-app browsing experience but not disruptive. Urgency is moderate as this is optional and no mandatory deadline exists, though early adoption preparation is recommended.
55
🛡️ Admin Impact
45
👥 User Impact
40
Urgency
50
🔧 Effort
ℹ️ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
📌

AT A GLANCE

Copilot app now supports in-app browsing on Windows and Mac. Admins can opt-in devices to test before wider rollout.
👥

END USERS

Users may see links open in a side pane within the Copilot app instead of an external browser.
🛡️

IT ADMINS

Opt-in via the ‘BrowsingEnabled’ policy and review related settings if you plan to test this feature.
📅

ROLLOUT TIMELINE

Available:
Now

📢 Official Microsoft Message Center Announcement


In-app browsing in Copilot app
Message ID: MC1474455 (Updated)

[What and why:]

We are adding support to the Microsoft Copilot app, in Windows and Mac, to allow websites that Copilot shares in chat to open inside of the desktop app side by side with the Copilot chat conversation. This is available now but not available by default; administrators can opt-in selected Windows and Mac devices to test this.

[Rollout schedule:]

  • Opt-in availability: Available now.

[Impact on your organization:]

Administrators can manage early access by opting-in selected devices and deploying the updates via instructions linked below. This early access allows you to:

  • Test in-app browsing at your organization before the broader rollout. This allows users to open links within the Copilot desktop app.
  • Validate deployed and in-app browsing behavior in your organization’s managed environment.
  • Prepare support teams and users for the updated experience that applies to Copilot Windows and Mac endpoints.

What users will see

When a user clicks a link within the Copilot desktop app, the website opens in a side pane to the right of the Copilot chat. Users can open multiple links, each appearing as a separate tab within the side pane and can switch between tabs as needed. Once the websites are no longer needed, users can close the side pane.

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Users can adjust the in-app browser side pane to be smaller or larger. They can also enter full-screen mode to view the website in a full-screen experience and can toggle in and out of this mode using the button in the side pane header.

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Users can still open a link in an external browser, by:

  • Selecting the “External browser” option from the three-dot menu on the link within Copilot Chat
  • OR Selecting “Copy the URL” and pasting it into an external browser
  • OR Right clicking a tab in the side pane within the Copilot app and selecting “External browser” (coming 9/21)

[Action required / Recommendations:]

[Compliance Considerations:]

  • Does the change store new customer data? Yes. Browsing history, cookies, autofill information are stored on the local device. This follows the same storage mechanisms as Microsoft Edge storing data in the user Data profile directory at “%localappdata%\Microsoft\Copilot\User Data”.
  • Does the change provide end users with a new way of interacting with generative AI? This feature does not add any new way to create or steer generative AI, it only lets you view websites, whether those are website on the internet or html files created generatively with copilot via other features.

Source: Microsoft Message Center • Analysed by MWPro

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