Many business users open the Microsoft 365 App Launcher daily to switch between Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook. If you use Copilot frequently, scrolling through the app list to find it wastes time. The App Launcher supports pinning apps to the top row for instant access. This article shows you exactly how to pin Copilot to the App Launcher so it appears in the pinned apps section every time you sign in.
Key Takeaways: Pinning Copilot to the Microsoft 365 App Launcher
- Microsoft 365 App Launcher (waffle icon): Open the launcher from any Microsoft 365 web app, then right-click the Copilot icon and select Pin to launcher.
- My Apps > Copilot > Pinned list: You can also use the My Apps page to manage all pinned apps, including Copilot.
- Browser cache and sign-in state: If the Pin option does not appear, clear your browser cache or sign out and sign back in to refresh the launcher.
What the App Launcher Pin Feature Does and What You Need
The Microsoft 365 App Launcher, often called the waffle icon, is the grid of squares in the top-left corner of any Microsoft 365 web app. It lists all apps assigned to your account. The Pin to launcher feature lets you force an app to appear in the Pinned apps row at the top of the launcher. This row stays visible regardless of the app list length.
Before you start, confirm these three prerequisites:
- Microsoft 365 license with Copilot: You need a Copilot for Microsoft 365 license or a Copilot Pro subscription assigned to your account. Without the license, Copilot does not appear in the App Launcher at all.
- Sign in to a Microsoft 365 web app: Open Outlook, Word, Excel, or any other Microsoft 365 app in your browser. The App Launcher is not available in the standalone desktop apps.
- Supported browser: Use Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox. The pin feature works identically in all three.
Steps to Pin Copilot to the Microsoft 365 App Launcher
- Open any Microsoft 365 web app
Go to office.com and sign in with your work or school account. Alternatively, open Outlook, Word, or Teams in your browser. The App Launcher is available from any Microsoft 365 web app. - Click the App Launcher icon
In the top-left corner of the page, click the grid icon that looks like nine small squares. This opens the App Launcher panel. - Find Copilot in the app list
Scroll down the list of apps until you see Copilot. The icon shows a purple circle with the Copilot sparkle symbol. If you have many apps, type Copilot in the Search all apps box at the top of the launcher. - Right-click the Copilot icon
Right-click the Copilot icon. A context menu appears with options including Pin to launcher and Remove from launcher. - Select Pin to launcher
Click Pin to launcher. The Copilot icon moves to the Pinned apps row at the top of the App Launcher. You see a small pin icon on the top-right corner of the Copilot tile. - Verify the pinned position
Close the App Launcher by clicking the grid icon again. Reopen it to confirm Copilot appears in the Pinned apps row. The pinned apps row stays fixed even when you scroll down the full app list.
Alternative Method: Pin Copilot from the My Apps Page
If you prefer managing all your apps from one page, use the My Apps page instead. This method is useful when you want to pin or unpin multiple apps at once.
- Open the My Apps page
Go to myapps.microsoft.com and sign in with the same work or school account. You see a grid of all apps assigned to you. - Locate Copilot
Use the search bar at the top of the page or scroll to find Copilot. The icon looks the same as in the App Launcher. - Click the three-dot menu on the Copilot tile
Hover over the Copilot tile. Three dots appear in the top-right corner of the tile. Click them to open the context menu. - Select Pin to launcher
From the menu, choose Pin to launcher. A confirmation message appears briefly at the bottom of the page. - Check the App Launcher
Return to any Microsoft 365 web app and open the App Launcher. Copilot now appears in the Pinned apps row.
Common Issues When Pinning Copilot
Pin to launcher option is grayed out or missing
If the Pin to launcher option is not clickable or does not appear, the most common cause is a cached session that has not synced your app list. Close your browser completely, reopen it, and sign in again. If the issue persists, clear your browser cache for the last hour and reload the page.
Copilot does not appear in the App Launcher at all
This means your account does not have a Copilot license assigned. Contact your Microsoft 365 administrator and request a Copilot for Microsoft 365 license. If you have a personal Copilot Pro subscription, you must sign in to Copilot from copilot.microsoft.com instead of the App Launcher.
Pinned app disappears after a few hours
The App Launcher stores pinned apps per user session. If you use a shared or public computer, the pin may not persist after you sign out. On a personal or managed device, the pin should stay. If it does not, check that your browser allows cookies and local storage for the Microsoft 365 domain.
Copilot in App Launcher vs Copilot in Microsoft Teams: Key Differences
| Item | App Launcher Copilot | Teams Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Access method | Web browser via waffle icon | Teams desktop or web client left rail |
| Core function | Opens Copilot chat in a browser tab | Opens Copilot chat inside Teams with meeting context |
| File grounding | Uses Microsoft Graph search for all tenant files | Can reference meeting transcript, chat, and shared files |
| Pinning behavior | Pins to the App Launcher grid | Pins to the Teams left sidebar as a tab |
| Best for | Quick general Copilot queries outside Teams | Meeting summaries and team-specific questions |
Pinning Copilot in the App Launcher gives you one-click access to the full Copilot chat experience from any Microsoft 365 web app. This is faster than navigating through the home page or typing a URL each time.
If you work primarily in Teams, pin Copilot there as well by clicking the three dots on the Teams left sidebar and selecting Copilot. You now have two pinned entry points depending on your workflow.
After pinning, try opening Copilot from the App Launcher and using the Compose tab to draft an email. The pinned app loads instantly because the session is already cached. This reduces load time by about two seconds compared to searching for the app each time.