You receive dozens or hundreds of emails each day, and staying on top of every thread is time-consuming. Copilot in Outlook can summarize your unread messages into a single daily digest so you see the key points without opening each email individually. This feature scans your inbox for the most recent unread items and creates a concise briefing. This article explains how to enable and customize the digest, what prerequisites are required, and how to avoid common mistakes.
Key Takeaways: Copilot Inbox Digest in Outlook
- Copilot pane > Summarize > Inbox digest: Generates a single briefing of your top unread emails from the last 24 hours.
- Outlook on the web or new Outlook for Windows: Digest is only available in these versions, not in classic Outlook or Outlook for Mac.
- Copilot for Microsoft 365 license: Required to access the inbox digest feature; Copilot Pro does not include Outlook integration.
What the Inbox Digest Does and What You Need
The Copilot inbox digest is a time-saving feature that scans your unread messages and produces a bullet-point summary of the most important items. It prioritizes emails from the last 24 hours and groups them by topic or sender when possible. The digest appears in the Copilot pane, not as a separate email in your inbox.
To use this feature, you need a Copilot for Microsoft 365 license assigned to your work or school account. Copilot Pro subscriptions do not include Outlook integration. You must also be using Outlook on the web or the new Outlook for Windows app. The classic Outlook desktop client and Outlook for Mac do not support the inbox digest.
The digest is generated on demand each time you open the Copilot pane. It does not run automatically on a schedule. You can regenerate it as often as you like, and it will reflect the latest unread messages at that moment.
Steps to Generate a Daily Inbox Digest in Outlook
- Open Outlook on the web or new Outlook for Windows
Sign in with your work or school account that has a Copilot for Microsoft 365 license. The digest is not available in classic Outlook or mobile apps. - Open the Copilot pane
Click the Copilot icon in the top-right toolbar of the Outlook window. The icon looks like a small purple diamond. The pane opens on the right side of the screen. - Select the Summarize option
In the Copilot pane, click the Summarize button. A list of available summary options appears. - Choose Inbox digest from the list
Click Inbox digest. Copilot immediately scans your unread messages from the last 24 hours and generates a bullet-point summary in the pane. - Read the digest and take action
The digest shows a numbered list of email summaries. Each summary includes the sender, subject, and key points. Click any item to open the original email in the main Outlook window. You can also reply or forward directly from the digest by clicking the corresponding action button. - Regenerate the digest later
To get a fresh digest after reading new emails, repeat steps 2 through 4. The previous digest is replaced with the new one.
Common Mistakes and Limitations to Avoid
Digest Does Not Appear When I Click Summarize
If the Inbox digest option is missing, you may be using a version of Outlook that does not support the feature. Switch to Outlook on the web or the new Outlook for Windows. Also confirm your Copilot for Microsoft 365 license is active. Go to Microsoft 365 admin center > Billing > Licenses and verify the license is assigned to your account.
Digest Shows Too Few or Too Many Emails
The digest automatically limits itself to unread emails from the last 24 hours. If you have fewer than three unread messages, the digest may be short or empty. If you mark emails as read, they are excluded from the next digest. To include older unread emails, use the Summarize > This mailbox option instead, which scans all unread messages regardless of age.
Digest Contains Irrelevant or Low-Priority Emails
Copilot currently does not allow you to filter by folder, sender, or priority before generating the digest. If you receive many automated notifications, the digest may include them. A workaround is to move such emails to a separate folder and mark them as read so they are excluded from the scan. You can also use Summarize > Selected messages to cherry-pick the exact emails you want summarized.
Digest Does Not Update Automatically
The digest is a static snapshot at the moment you generate it. New emails that arrive afterward are not added to the existing digest. You must regenerate the digest to see the latest messages. There is no automatic refresh or scheduled delivery option yet.
Copilot Inbox Digest vs Manual Email Review: Key Differences
| Item | Copilot Inbox Digest | Manual Email Review |
|---|---|---|
| Time required | 10-30 seconds to generate | 5-15 minutes depending on inbox size |
| Scope | Unread emails from the last 24 hours | All emails in the inbox or a selected folder |
| Detail level | Bullet-point summary of each email | Full email content visible |
| Action support | Click to open, reply, or forward from the digest | All Outlook actions available |
| Customization | None — no filters for sender, folder, or priority | Full control using search, filters, and folders |
| Availability | Outlook on the web and new Outlook for Windows only | All Outlook versions and platforms |
The inbox digest is best for a quick overview when you are short on time. Manual review remains necessary when you need to see full email content or apply custom filters.
You can now generate a daily inbox digest in Outlook to save time reading through every unread message. Start by opening the Copilot pane and selecting Summarize > Inbox digest. For more granular control, try the Summarize > This mailbox option or the Summarize > Selected messages feature to target specific emails. If you frequently use the digest, pin the Copilot pane so it stays open throughout the day for quick regeneration.