When you use Microsoft Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, or Teams, your conversation history is saved automatically. Many business users worry about where this data lives and whether it is private. The storage location depends on the Copilot license you have and the app you are using. This article explains exactly where Copilot conversations are stored, how long they are kept, and how to manage or delete them.
Key Takeaways: Copilot Conversation Storage Locations and Management
- Microsoft 365 admin center > Copilot > Data sources > Conversation history: Controls where Copilot chat data is stored for enterprise users with Copilot for Microsoft 365.
- Copilot pane > Settings > Privacy > Delete conversation: Removes the current chat from your history in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Microsoft Search in Bing and Copilot for Web: Stores conversations in your Microsoft account profile under Bing Chat history, accessible at account.microsoft.com.
Why Copilot Conversation Storage Varies by License and App
Copilot conversations are not stored in one central location. The storage mechanism depends on two main factors: the Copilot license type and the Microsoft 365 app you are using. For Copilot for Microsoft 365 enterprise users, conversations are stored in Microsoft Graph and tied to your tenant. For Copilot Pro or free Copilot users, conversations are stored in your personal Microsoft account. The data retention period also differs. Enterprise conversations are kept for 30 days by default. Personal account conversations are kept indefinitely until you manually delete them.
Microsoft uses the same underlying service, Microsoft Graph, to store Copilot chat data for enterprise tenants. Each conversation is saved as a chat object in the user’s mailbox, but it is not visible in Outlook. Instead, it is stored in a hidden folder called CopilotConversations. This design ensures that conversations are subject to the same data retention policies your organization sets for mailboxes.
Copilot for Microsoft 365 Enterprise Storage
If you have a Copilot for Microsoft 365 license assigned by your IT admin, your conversations are stored in your Exchange Online mailbox. The data lives in a hidden system folder named CopilotConversations. This folder is not accessible through Outlook or OWA. It is only accessible through the Copilot interface. Your IT admin can manage these conversations using Microsoft Purview compliance tools. The retention period is controlled by your organization’s mailbox retention policy. If no custom policy is set, conversations are kept for 30 days after the last interaction.
Copilot Pro and Free Copilot Storage
Copilot Pro and free Copilot users have their conversations stored in their Microsoft account. This is the same account you use for Outlook.com, Xbox, or Bing. You can view and delete this history at account.microsoft.com under Privacy > Chat history. Conversations are stored indefinitely unless you delete them manually. Microsoft does not automatically purge these conversations. If you use Copilot in Edge with the sidebar, those conversations are also stored in your Microsoft account profile.
Steps to Find and Manage Copilot Conversations
Depending on your license type, you can view or delete your Copilot conversation history using the steps below.
For Enterprise Users with Copilot for Microsoft 365
- Open any Microsoft 365 app with Copilot
Launch Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. Click the Copilot icon on the ribbon to open the Copilot pane. - Access the conversation history
In the Copilot pane, click the clock icon or the history button. This shows your recent conversations. Each conversation is listed with a timestamp. - Delete a specific conversation
Hover over the conversation you want to remove. Click the three dots menu and select Delete. The conversation is removed from your history and from the hidden CopilotConversations folder. - Delete all conversations using admin tools
Contact your IT admin. They can use Microsoft Purview to search and delete all CopilotConversations folders across your tenant. The admin must have the eDiscovery Manager role.
For Copilot Pro and Free Copilot Users
- Go to your Microsoft account privacy page
Open a browser and go to account.microsoft.com. Sign in with your Microsoft account. - Open the Privacy tab
Click Privacy on the top navigation bar. Then click Chat history under the Activity section. - View your Copilot conversations
You will see a list of all your Copilot conversations. Each entry shows the date and a snippet of the conversation. - Delete individual conversations
Click the Delete button next to any conversation to remove it permanently. - Clear all Copilot history
Click Clear all chat history at the top of the page. Confirm the action. This removes all stored Copilot conversations from your account.
If You Cannot Find or Delete Copilot Conversations
Copilot history button is missing in the pane
If you do not see the clock icon in the Copilot pane, you may be using a version of Copilot that does not support history. This happens with the free Copilot in Edge sidebar. Open Edge, click the Copilot icon in the top-right toolbar, then click the three dots menu in the Copilot pane. Select Show history. If the option is missing, your version may not support it. Use the account.microsoft.com method instead.
Conversations reappear after deletion
If you delete a conversation and it returns, the data may be syncing from another device. Wait 15 minutes and check again. For enterprise users, the hidden folder may be restored by mailbox sync policies. Contact your IT admin to check if a retention policy is reapplying the data.
Cannot access Copilot history at account.microsoft.com
If you use a work or school account, the privacy page at account.microsoft.com will not show your Copilot conversations. You must use the Copilot pane in a Microsoft 365 app or ask your IT admin to use Purview. Work accounts are managed by your organization, not by your personal Microsoft account.
Copilot for Microsoft 365 vs Copilot Pro vs Free Copilot: Storage Differences
| Item | Copilot for Microsoft 365 | Copilot Pro | Free Copilot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage location | Exchange Online mailbox hidden folder CopilotConversations | Microsoft account profile at account.microsoft.com | Microsoft account profile at account.microsoft.com |
| Retention period | 30 days by default, configurable by IT admin | Indefinite until manually deleted | Indefinite until manually deleted |
| User access to history | Copilot pane history button | account.microsoft.com Privacy > Chat history | account.microsoft.com Privacy > Chat history |
| Admin management | Microsoft Purview eDiscovery and retention policies | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Cross-device sync | Synced across all Microsoft 365 apps signed in with same tenant account | Synced across devices signed in with same Microsoft account | Synced across devices signed in with same Microsoft account |
Now you know exactly where Microsoft Copilot conversations are stored and how to manage them. For enterprise users, check with your IT admin about your organization’s retention policy. For personal accounts, visit account.microsoft.com to review and delete your chat history. You can also set a monthly reminder to clear your Copilot conversations if you want to keep your history short.