Major User Interface Overhaul for Microsoft 365 and Copilot Scheduled for 2025
In a strategic move aimed at enhancing user experience, Microsoft has announced an extensive user interface (UI) redesign for Microsoft 365 (M365) and its AI companion, Copilot, set to roll out in January 2025. This information was shared on the Microsoft 365 Message Center portal, emphasizing the company’s commitment to facilitating future AI-first experiences.
Updates to Microsoft 365 App Interface
The upcoming changes to the Microsoft 365 app include a series of noteworthy modifications designed to streamline navigation and usability. Below is a summary of the anticipated changes:
- The absence of a top header will redefine the app’s structure. Key features such as user profile settings and feedback will now be conveniently located in the bottom left toolbar, specifically under ‘Settings and more’.
- A search box will make its debut on the Homepage, allowing users to access all their content across diverse file types and storage options, although the search functionality will remain unchanged—only its placement is different.
- All applications in the left toolbar will be aligned at the top, with AI-driven features like Copilot Chat and Copilot Pages grouped together to foster a cohesive experience.
- The organization logo, which was previously showcased in the top header, will no longer be displayed in this app, although it will still appear in other Microsoft 365 applications.
- Users will find the ‘Back’ button absent from the Windows Microsoft 365 Copilot app, but navigation can still be achieved through the left AppBar.
- The ‘My Day’ feature will be eliminated from the app, resulting in the removal of the launch button for calendar and to-do lists within the Microsoft 365 Copilot application. However, this feature will continue to exist in other Microsoft 365 applications.
- The ‘Help me create’ functionality, introduced in February 2024 to assist users in transitioning from intent to document creation, will also be retired. Instead, an AI-powered document creation feature will be integrated directly into the Copilot tab, allowing users to brainstorm ideas and draft various types of content.
Transformations for Copilot
In addition to the changes in the M365 app, Microsoft has provided insight into the upcoming transformations for Copilot. The application will see its name change from “Microsoft 365″to “Microsoft 365 Copilot”, alongside a new icon introduced at Ignite 2024:
Updates | Currently | Effective Mid-January 2025 |
---|---|---|
Product Name |
Microsoft Copilot |
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat |
Product URL |
Microsoft.com/copilot |
M365Copilot.com |
App Name |
Microsoft 365 |
Microsoft 365 Copilot |
App Icon |
Microsoft 365 |
Microsoft 365 Copilot |
Microsoft anticipates that these significant changes will become available to users by mid-January 2025. These updates have been documented under the M365 Message Center with message IDs MC958905 and MC958903. Note that while a Microsoft 365 Copilot already exists to enhance productivity within Office applications, these updates will redefine its functionality.
New Features in the Copilot Page
Microsoft has also unveiled enhancements to the Copilot page within the M365 Admin Center, which will soon include four new sections: Overview, Health, Discover, and Settings. Each of these sections aims to assist users in managing and optimizing their use of Copilot:
The Copilot page in the Microsoft 365 admin center will soon feature four sections: Overview, Health, Discover, and Settings.
Overview will deliver essential metrics, including active user rates, AI assistance scores, total Copilot-assisted hours, and user satisfaction levels.
Health will focus on Copilot’s operational status, consolidating insights such as device update health for Microsoft 365 apps, the distribution of devices transmitting diagnostic data, and active issues identified through the message center.
Discover will serve as a gateway to explore Copilot’s capabilities, detailing user eligibility and providing access to valuable resources, including compliance guidelines and adoption strategies.
Settings will empower organizations with crucial controls to customize Microsoft 365 Copilot according to their needs, alongside navigation to other key management functions, including agent management and data compliance settings.
The new Copilot page updates were highlighted under the M365 Message Center ID 472918.
Leave a Reply