You want to use Copilot directly inside Outlook Mobile on your Android phone to draft emails, summarize long threads, or prepare replies without switching apps. Copilot in Outlook Mobile connects to your Microsoft 365 account and uses your mailbox data to generate responses based on your writing style and the conversation context. This article explains how to enable Copilot in Outlook for Android, then walks through drafting an email, summarizing a thread, and coaching your writing tone. You will also learn which features are available on mobile versus desktop and what to do if Copilot does not appear.
Key Takeaways: Using Copilot in Outlook Mobile on Android
- Outlook Mobile app version 4.2420 or later: Required to see the Copilot icon in the compose toolbar and on message cards.
- Copilot for Microsoft 365 license: Your work or school account must have an active Copilot subscription assigned by your IT admin.
- Draft with Copilot button in compose view: Tap the Copilot icon, choose a tone and length, then insert or regenerate the draft.
- Summarize thread from message card: Tap the Copilot icon at the top of an email thread to get a bullet-point summary.
- Coach reply after selecting text: Highlight part of your reply, tap the Copilot icon, and select Coach to get tone and clarity suggestions.
What Copilot in Outlook Mobile Can Do and What You Need First
Copilot in Outlook Mobile is an AI assistant that works inside the Outlook app on Android. It reads the email thread you are viewing or the draft you are composing and generates text based on that context. The feature does not require a separate Copilot app. Everything happens inside Outlook.
Available Features on Android
On Android, Copilot offers three main actions:
- Draft with Copilot – Write a new email or reply from scratch by describing what you want to say.
- Summarize – Get a short summary of a long email thread without scrolling through every message.
- Coach – Review your own draft for tone, clarity, and sentiment before sending.
Copilot does not support inline rewriting or translation on Android. Those features remain on the desktop version of Outlook.
Prerequisites
Before you can use Copilot, confirm these three requirements:
- Outlook Mobile app version 4.2420 or higher
Open the Google Play Store, search for Microsoft Outlook, and check the version number. Update the app if needed. - Copilot for Microsoft 365 license assigned to your account
Your work or school account must have the license. Contact your IT admin if you are unsure. Personal Microsoft accounts do not have Copilot in Outlook Mobile. - Active internet connection
Copilot processes requests on Microsoft servers. A stable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection is required.
Steps to Draft an Email with Copilot in Outlook Mobile
The Draft with Copilot feature lets you generate a full email from a short prompt. You can choose the tone and length before generating.
- Open Outlook and start a new message
Tap the compose button at the bottom right of the inbox. It looks like a pencil inside a square. - Enter the recipient and subject
Type the email address of the person you are writing to and a subject line. Copilot uses the subject to generate relevant content. - Tap the Copilot icon in the toolbar
Above the keyboard, look for a small purple or blue Copilot icon. It resembles a sparkle or a diamond shape. Tap it. - Write your prompt
A text box appears. Type what you want the email to say. For example, “Confirm the team meeting for next Tuesday at 10 AM and ask attendees to bring their project updates.” - Select tone and length
Below the prompt box, tap the dropdown menus. Choose a tone such as Professional, Casual, or Thankful. Choose a length: Short, Medium, or Long. - Tap Generate
Copilot creates a draft and inserts it into the message body. Review the text and make any edits. - Regenerate or adjust
If the draft is not what you wanted, tap the Copilot icon again and select Regenerate. You can also change the tone or length and generate a new version. - Send the email
Once satisfied, tap the send arrow at the top right of the screen.
Steps to Summarize an Email Thread
Summarizing is useful when you have a long chain of replies and need the key points quickly.
- Open the email thread you want to summarize
Tap any message in the inbox to open it. The thread must contain at least two messages for the summarize option to appear. - Tap the Copilot icon at the top of the message card
Above the email header, you will see a small Copilot icon. Tap it. - Select Summarize
A dropdown menu appears. Tap Summarize. Copilot processes the thread and displays a short bullet-point list of the main topics and decisions. - Copy or dismiss the summary
You can copy the summary text by tapping the copy icon, or close the panel by tapping the X.
Steps to Coach Your Reply
The Coach feature reviews your draft for tone and clarity. It is available only after you have typed at least one sentence in the reply.
- Start composing a reply
Open an email and tap Reply or Reply All. Type a few sentences of your response. - Select the text you want to coach
Highlight a portion of your draft. The Copilot icon becomes active. - Tap the Copilot icon and choose Coach
Tap the Copilot icon above the keyboard. From the menu, tap Coach. Copilot analyzes your selected text for tone, sentiment, and clarity. - Review the feedback
A panel shows suggestions. For example, it might say “This sentence sounds too direct. Consider adding a polite opening.” You can apply the suggestions manually or close the panel.
Common Issues and Limitations on Android
Copilot Icon Does Not Appear in Outlook Mobile
The Copilot icon is missing from the compose toolbar or the message card. This usually means your app version is outdated or your account does not have the correct license. Update Outlook through the Google Play Store. Then check your Microsoft 365 account settings. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and look under Services & subscriptions. If Copilot for Microsoft 365 is listed, the license is active. If not, contact your IT admin. Restart the Outlook app after any update or license change.
Copilot Drafts Are Too Generic or Off-Topic
The prompt you type determines the quality of the draft. Be specific. Instead of “Write an email about the project,” write “Request a status update from the marketing team on the Q3 campaign and ask for the budget report by Friday.” Also verify that the recipient and subject line are filled in before generating. Copilot uses that metadata to improve relevance.
Summarize Option Is Grayed Out
The summarize feature requires a thread with at least two messages. If you are viewing a single email with no replies, the option is unavailable. Open a thread that contains multiple replies. If the icon is still grayed out, close the email, reopen it, and wait a few seconds for Copilot to load the thread context.
Coach Feedback Does Not Appear
The Coach feature works only on text you have typed yourself. It does not analyze quoted text from previous messages. Highlight only the sentences you wrote in the current reply. If the Coach option still does not appear, update the Outlook app to the latest version. The Coach feature was added in version 4.2420.
| Item | Outlook Mobile Android | Outlook Desktop Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Draft with Copilot | Yes, with tone and length options | Yes, with more prompt templates |
| Summarize thread | Yes, from message card icon | Yes, from ribbon or right-click menu |
| Coach reply | Yes, on selected text | Yes, with inline rewrite suggestions |
| Inline rewrite | No | Yes, rewrite selected sentences |
| Translate email | No | Yes, with language selection |
| Chat with Copilot | No, only contextual actions | Yes, Copilot pane in Outlook |
You now know how to draft, summarize, and coach replies using Copilot in Outlook Mobile on Android. Make sure your app is updated to version 4.2420 or later and that your account has an active Copilot for Microsoft 365 license. For faster drafts, keep your prompts short but specific. To get the most out of the Coach feature, write at least two sentences before running the analysis.