Microsoft Copilot Pages Mentions and References: Linking Behavior

When you use Copilot Pages in Microsoft 365, you can connect related content by mentioning other pages or adding references. This linking behavior helps you build a web of interconnected information within your organization. However, the way links are created, displayed, and updated can vary based on the source and context. This article explains how mentions and references work in Copilot Pages, including the rules for link creation, preview behavior, and how references update when source content changes. Understanding these mechanics helps you manage shared knowledge more effectively.

How Mentions and References Work in Copilot Pages

Copilot Pages is a collaborative workspace in Microsoft 365 where you can create, edit, and share structured content. A mention is an inline link to another Copilot Page, created by typing the @ symbol followed by the page name. A reference is a link to an external file or document, such as a Word file stored in SharePoint or OneDrive. Both types of links rely on Microsoft Graph to resolve the target. When you type @ and begin typing a page name, Copilot searches your tenant for matching pages. The resulting link is a deep hyperlink that opens the target page in the same Copilot Pages interface. References to files work similarly but link to the file in its original location. The behavior differs in how each link type handles updates, permissions, and previews.

Mention Behavior and Live Preview

When you mention a Copilot Page, the link appears as blue underlined text. Hovering over the link displays a preview card that shows the page title, the last modified date, and the first few lines of content. This preview is generated from the current version of the target page. If the target page is deleted or you lose permission to view it, the preview card shows an error message and the link becomes inactive. The mention itself remains in your page as text until you remove it. You can edit the display text of a mention without breaking the underlying link, but changing the URL manually causes the link to become a plain text string.

Reference Behavior and File Links

References to files behave differently because the target is a document outside the Copilot Pages environment. When you paste a direct link to a SharePoint or OneDrive file, Copilot Pages converts it into a reference with a file icon and the file name. Hovering shows a preview of the file content if the file is a supported format like Word, Excel, or PDF. If the file is moved to a different folder within the same site collection, the reference automatically updates to the new path. If the file is moved to a different site or deleted, the reference breaks and shows a red warning icon. Users must have at least read permission on the file to see the preview. If permission is removed, the reference displays the file name but no content preview.

Steps to Create and Manage Mentions and References

Follow these steps to add mentions and references in Copilot Pages and to manage their behavior after creation.

1. Open a Copilot Page for editing
   Navigate to the Copilot Pages app in Microsoft 365. Open an existing page or create a new one by clicking the New Page button. The page opens in edit mode automatically.
2. Type @ to start a mention
   Place your cursor where you want the link to appear. Type the @ symbol. A dropdown list appears showing recently accessed pages and a search box. Continue typing the page name to filter the list.
3. Select the target page from the dropdown
   Click the correct page name from the list. Copilot inserts the page title as a hyperlink. The link is blue and underlined. The display text matches the current page title. You can edit this text later without breaking the link.
4. Paste a file link to create a reference
   Copy a direct link to a file from SharePoint or OneDrive. Paste the link into the page body. Copilot Pages automatically converts it into a reference with a file icon and the file name. The link is now a reference that updates if the file moves within the same site collection.
5. Verify the link works
   Click the mention or reference link. The target page or file opens in a new browser tab. If the link does not open, check that you have permission to view the target. If the target was deleted, remove the mention or reference from your page.

If Mentions or References Behave Unexpectedly

Several conditions can cause mentions and references to stop working as expected. Here are the most common issues and how to resolve them.

Mention Shows Error Instead of Preview

If a mention displays an error message when you hover over it, the target page may have been deleted or your access may have been revoked. To fix this, ask the page owner to restore the page or grant you access. If the page is permanently gone, remove the mention from your page by selecting the link and pressing Delete. Copilot will not automatically remove broken mentions.

Reference Shows Red Warning Icon

A red warning icon on a file reference indicates the file could not be found. This happens when the file is moved to a different site collection or deleted. To fix this, locate the file in its new location and copy the new link. Paste the new link over the broken reference. Copilot Pages does not automatically update references for cross-site moves.

Preview Card Shows No Content

If a preview card appears but shows no content, the file format may not be supported for preview. Supported formats include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, and plain text files. For other formats, the preview card shows only the file name and type. To see content, open the file directly by clicking the link.

Mention vs Reference: Key Differences in Linking Behavior

Item	Mention	Reference
Target type	Another Copilot Page	File in SharePoint or OneDrive
Trigger	Type @ and select page name	Paste a direct file link
Preview content	Page title, date, first lines	File content if supported format
Auto-update on move	No, only if page restored	Yes, within same site collection
Broken link indication	Error in preview card	Red warning icon
Permission required	Read on target page	Read on target file

You can now create mentions and references in Copilot Pages with a clear understanding of how each link type behaves. Use mentions to connect related pages within your workspace and references to link to supporting documents. To maintain link reliability, avoid moving files across site collections and verify permissions regularly. For advanced linking, consider using the Copilot Pages API to programmatically manage references across large document sets.