Microsoft 365 Copilot: Session persistence enhancement for Copilot chat

Updated April 3, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience. 

Introduction

We’re improving the reliability of Copilot chat by ensuring that conversations are preserved even when users navigate away from a chat. With this update, a session entry is created in the navigation pane as soon as a prompt is submitted. This allows users to return to the conversation later without losing context or progress.

This capability will be available to Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot users.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500638.

When this will happen:

• Worldwide (General Availability): Rolling out from December 12, 2025 (previously December 3), to end of April 2026 (previously March)
• GCC: Rolling out from January 19, 2026 (previously January 3), to end of April 2026 (previously March)
• GCC High: Rolling out from January 19, 2026 (previously January 3), to end of April 2026 (previously March)
• DoD: Rolling out from January 19, 2026 (previously January 3), to end of April 2026 (previously March)

How this affects your organization:

Who is affected: All Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot users in commercial, GCC, GCC High, and DoD environments.

What will happen:

• A session entry will now appear in the navigation pane immediately after a prompt is submitted.
• Users can navigate away from a chat and return later without losing the conversation.
• This update improves continuity and reduces the risk of session loss.
• No changes to admin settings or policies are required.

What you can do to prepare:

No admin action is required at this time. You may wish to:

• Inform helpdesk staff of this behavior change.
• Update internal documentation if you describe Copilot chat behavior.

Compliance considerations:

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