Microsoft 365 Copilot for Android and iOS Automatically Uploads Files to AI and OneDrive Without Your Notice

Recent modifications to the Microsoft 365 Copilot app have stirred discontent among users, particularly affecting those who utilize it as their primary application for viewing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. The latest changes mean that when a user attempts to open a file, Microsoft 365 Copilot automatically uploads the document to OneDrive, making a complete shift in its functionality.

Previously known as the “Office Hub, ”the Microsoft 365 Copilot app has evolved significantly over the past ten years. It transitioned through two significant rebrands—initially to “Microsoft 365, ”and ultimately rebranded as “Microsoft 365 Copilot”in early 2025. Microsoft confirmed that the app would prioritize Copilot features, thus encouraging users to leverage AI for generating documents and images, alongside basic file operations.

There’s a New Way to Access Files

As of October 2025, the document viewing capability has been relegated, requiring more taps to access, as the interface now directs users towards a chat screen with a prompt. Users are reporting a drastic change where files no longer open in the traditional manner; instead they are dispatched to OneDrive for Copilot’s analysis.

Yes, an app, which was designed to open your document, now attempts to summarize it using Copilot in a chat interface.

The Issues with the Latest Update

On testing the update, I encountered issues while attempting to view a.docx file received via WhatsApp. With the Microsoft 365 Copilot set as my default viewer, I expected a seamless transition to the document viewer as had previously been the case. However, recent updates have changed this process, leading to a direct diversion to the Copilot interface when attempting to access any document.

Microsoft 365 Copilot pushes OneDrive Copilot

The new prompt by Microsoft indicates that opening documents will now commence with a Copilot chat interface. According to the company, this change offers two primary advantages: users can achieve quicker summaries of critical information and access their files directly through the chat interface.

Despite attempting to upload my local document for “Copilot-powered”insights, the process proved futile. Copilot failed to understand the document, instead referencing an unrelated file from an earlier upload.

This left me unable to read the summary of my document or access the original file, defying the very purpose of using the Microsoft 365 app.

Can You Still Access Files with Microsoft 365 Copilot?

It appears that while direct access to local documents has become problematic, users can still open files uploaded to OneDrive. By utilizing the OneDrive app for file synchronization, users are able to navigate to the “Search” page within Microsoft 365 Copilot and retrieve their synced files.

For documents that reside outside of OneDrive, the Copilot app must upload these files first. If the upload fails or if Copilot cannot comprehend the file, users will not find these documents listed under new uploads in the “Search” functionality.

Given the current situation, for those needing to open.docx, .xlsx, or.ppt files on mobile, the recommendation is to revert to the standalone Office apps for a more reliable experience.

It’s regrettable that Microsoft 365 Copilot has devolved into a less effective tool. This latest update dishearteningly shifts it into what feels more like an AI-driven echo chamber than a productive document viewer. How are you finding the changes? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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