AI assistants are becoming useful for everyday tasks. You can use them to ask questions, write messages, explain complicated topics, brainstorm ideas, plan things, and much more.
Microsoft Copilot is one of the AI assistants available on Apple devices. You can use it on an iPhone or iPad to chat with AI, ask questions, work with content, and use features such as voice conversations where supported. Microsoft says Copilot is available through the App Store on compatible iOS and iPadOS devices.
If you have never used Copilot before, getting started is quite simple. Here’s everything you need to know.
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How to Get Microsoft Copilot on iPhone or iPad
The first step is to install the Copilot app from the Apple App Store.
Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad and search for Microsoft Copilot. Check the app information and compatibility requirements before installing, as these can change with future updates.
Microsoft currently lists iOS 16 or later for iPhone and iPadOS 16 or later for iPad for the Copilot app. Availability can also vary by country or region.
Once installed, open the app and follow the instructions shown on the screen. Depending on the Copilot experience and features you’re using, you may need to sign in with a Microsoft account.
Some advanced capabilities can depend on your account, subscription, region, or the version of the app you’re using.
How to Start a Chat With Copilot
Once you open Copilot, you can start by typing a question or telling it what you want to do.
For example, you can ask Copilot to:
- Explain a difficult topic in simple language
- Write or rewrite an email
- Give you ideas for a project
- Summarize information
- Help plan a trip
- Suggest recipes
- Improve the wording of a message
- Create a list or outline
The key is to be specific.
Instead of simply typing:
“Write an email.”
Try something like:
“Write a short and friendly email asking my manager for one day of leave.”
A clear prompt gives Copilot more information about the result you want.
Different Ways to Ask Copilot Something
Typing isn’t the only way to interact with Copilot. Depending on the current app version and features available on your device, you may have several options.
Type Your Prompt
The simplest method is to tap the message box and type your request using the iPhone or iPad keyboard.
Send the prompt once you’re happy with it, and Copilot will generate a response.
You can then continue the same conversation with follow-up questions instead of starting a new chat every time.
Use Your Voice
Copilot also supports voice conversations on mobile. Microsoft provides a Speak option for starting a hands-free conversation with Copilot.
This can be useful when you’re walking, multitasking, or simply don’t want to type a long prompt.
Voice recognition isn’t perfect, though. Names, technical words, or unusual phrases can sometimes be misunderstood, so check the request when accuracy matters.
Add an Image
Depending on the Copilot version and available features, you may also be able to attach or capture an image and ask Copilot about it.
For example, you could use an image to ask about information visible in a picture or request help understanding something shown on screen.
Before uploading an image, especially one containing personal information, make sure you’re comfortable sharing that content with the service.
How to Get Better Answers From Copilot
You don’t need complicated prompts to get useful results. Just explain what you need and provide enough context.
For example, instead of:
“Resume.”
Try:
“Create a simple one-page resume for someone with two years of customer service experience.”
You can also tell Copilot how you want the answer formatted.
For example:
“Explain this in five simple bullet points.”
Or:
“Rewrite this message so it sounds polite and professional.”
If the first response isn’t quite right, don’t start over. Simply tell Copilot what you want changed.
You can ask it to make the answer:
- Shorter
- More detailed
- Easier to understand
- More professional
- More casual
- Better organized
What Can You Do With a Copilot Response?
After Copilot generates a response, the available options can vary depending on the version of the app and the type of content you’re working with.
You may be able to:
- Copy the response
- Share it
- Continue the conversation
- Give feedback
- Listen to a response where supported
- Ask a follow-up question
The interface can change as Microsoft updates Copilot, so don’t worry if the buttons look slightly different on your device.
How to Continue an Earlier Copilot Conversation
If conversation history is available for your account and version of the app, you can return to previous conversations rather than starting from scratch.
Open the app and look for the navigation menu or Conversations section. Microsoft documents a Conversations area in its mobile Copilot experience, where users can reopen earlier chats and continue working from where they stopped.
This can be useful for longer tasks such as planning a trip, working on an article, brainstorming a project, or refining a document over multiple sessions.
Use Copilot’s Suggested Prompts
Not sure what to ask?
Take a look at the suggestions shown inside the app. They can give you an idea of the kinds of things Copilot can help with.
You may find suggestions related to writing, learning, planning, brainstorming, or other everyday tasks.
You don’t have to copy them exactly. Use them as a starting point and change the prompt to match what you actually need.
Explore Other Copilot Features
Microsoft continues to update Copilot, so the features available in the iPhone and iPad app can change over time.
Depending on your account, region, subscription, and app version, you may find features related to areas such as:
- AI chat
- Voice conversations
- Image-related tasks
- Search
- Content creation
- Microsoft 365 integration
- Files and productivity tools
- Other specialized AI experiences
Microsoft notes that available Copilot experiences can depend on the license or account being used.
For this reason, you may not see every feature mentioned in guides or screenshots on another device.
Add Copilot to Your iPhone for Faster Access
If you use Copilot regularly, iOS also provides additional ways to access it quickly.
Microsoft supports a Copilot widget on iOS that can provide shortcuts for opening the app, starting a voice conversation, using dictation, or opening the camera. On compatible iPhones, Copilot can also be connected to the Action button through a Shortcut.
This can save a few taps when you want to quickly ask something or start a voice conversation.
Things to Remember When Using AI
Copilot can be helpful, but you shouldn’t assume that every answer is automatically correct.
AI can sometimes produce outdated, incomplete, or incorrect information. For important matters involving health, finances, legal issues, or major decisions, verify the information using reliable sources.
It’s also a good idea to avoid entering highly sensitive information such as passwords, banking details, verification codes, or identity documents into an AI chat.
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Final Thoughts
Microsoft Copilot can be a useful companion for iPhone and iPad users who want quick help with questions, writing, brainstorming, planning, and everyday tasks.
The easiest way to get comfortable with it is to start with simple prompts and gradually experiment with more specific requests. Once you understand how to give Copilot clear instructions, you can get much more useful results from the same AI assistant.
Keep in mind that Microsoft regularly updates Copilot, so its interface and available features may change over time. If an option looks different on your iPhone or iPad, checking the latest version of the app or Microsoft’s support documentation can help.