Microsoft adds hidden usage limits to free Copilot Chat at work

Microsoft is putting usage limits on more features of Copilot Chat, the AI assistant included with many work Microsoft 365 plans, and it will not say what the limits are. The change affects people who do not have the paid Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

What changed

Copilot Chat comes with qualifying Microsoft 365 business and enterprise subscriptions. Without the paid add-on, it can work with web information and uploaded files. The paid license adds broader access to work data, such as emails, meetings, chats and documents.

A task already in progress will not be cut off. Once a limit is reached, a notice says when to retry the feature. Microsoft says it does not publish the limits because they are "subject to change." Administrators cannot adjust them.

The rollout began November 2 for organizations with 2,000 or fewer Microsoft 365 seats. Larger organizations start November 9. Web, desktop and mobile apps are all covered.

What to do

Most limit notices include an upgrade option. Users can ask their admin for a paid license, and the admin can approve or deny it. If the company allows self-service buying, users may see a purchase option. Admins can turn off direct purchases for each product. Teams that rely on Copilot Chat should decide now whether the paid license is worth the cost.

Still unknown are the actual limits, which features hit them first, and how soon a typical user will run into one.