What happened to Edge Copilot and how to restore sidebar access?
“I used to have Copilot readily available in my Edge sidebar, but after a recent update, it seems to have disappeared. I rely on it heavily for my daily Microsoft 365 tasks, from summarizing web content to helping with document creation. How can I get my Copilot sidebar extension back in Edge and ensure it stays accessible for my workflow?”
Copilot sidebar extension configuration
This guide walks you through turning on and configuring the Copilot sidebar, fixing common visibility issues, and fine-tuning the integration for everyday Microsoft 365 tasks. You’ll learn how to bring back the sidebar if it goes missing, adjust customization options, and keep Copilot readily accessible across browsing sessions. To follow along, make sure you’re running a newer version of Edge, have a Microsoft account with Copilot access, and—if you’re using an organizational account—the relevant permissions from your admin. The steps cover both personal Microsoft profiles and Microsoft 365 business environments, and address the common settings that determine whether the sidebar shows up.
How to start Copilot sidebar in Edge with proper Microsoft 365 settings
Enable Copilot in Edge through browser settings
• Navigate to Microsoft Edge settings by clicking the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner and selecting “Settings” from the dropdown menu, which opens the comprehensive configuration panel where you can manage all browser features and extensions.If you’re already familiar with fixing Microsoft Copilot sign-in authentication problems, you’ll find this process similarly straightforward.
• Locate the “Sidebar” section in the left navigation panel under the “Appearance” category, then click on it to access sidebar-specific configuration options that control which tools and extensions appear in your browser’s side panel.
• Find the “Copilot” toggle switch within the sidebar settings and ensure it’s enabled by clicking the toggle to the “On” position, which activates the AI assistant integration and makes it available for immediate use.
• Verify that “Show sidebar” is also enabled in the main sidebar settings, as this master control determines whether the entire sidebar panel appears in your browser interface during regular browsing sessions.
Configure automatic Copilot sidebar activation
• Access the “Start, home, and new tabs” section in Edge settings to control when and how Copilot becomes available, allowing you to customize the user experience based on your specific workflow requirements and preferences.
• Enable “Show Copilot” option if available in your Edge version, which ensures the AI assistant remains accessible across different browsing contexts and maintains consistent availability throughout your Microsoft 365 work sessions.
• Set your preferred sidebar behavior by choosing whether Copilot should open automatically when starting Edge or remain hidden until manually activated, providing flexibility based on your daily usage patterns and screen space preferences.
• Configure the sidebar width and position preferences to optimize your workspace layout, ensuring Copilot integration doesn’t interfere with your primary browsing activities while maintaining easy access to AI assistance features.
Expert Tip: If you don’t see Copilot options in your Edge settings, ensure you’re signed in with a Microsoft account that has Copilot access and check that your browser is updated to the latest version.
Restore missing Edge sidebar Copilot functionality
• Check your Microsoft Edge version by navigating to “Help and feedback” > “About Microsoft Edge” to confirm you’re running a compatible version that supports Copilot sidebar integration, as older versions may lack this functionality entirely.
• Sign out and sign back into your Microsoft account within Edge by accessing “Profiles” settings, then clicking “Sign out” followed by “Sign in” to refresh your account permissions and restore access to Copilot features that may have been temporarily unavailable.
• Clear your browser cache and cookies specifically for Microsoft services by going to “Privacy, search, and services” > “Clear browsing data” and selecting “Cookies and other site data” along with “Cached images and files” for the past 24 hours.
• Reset Edge sidebar settings to default by accessing “Reset and cleanup” in settings, then selecting “Restore settings to default values” which can resolve configuration conflicts that prevent Copilot from appearing in the sidebar panel.
Edge settings sidebar Copilot troubleshooting
Edge sidebar not showing Copilot despite proper configuration
• Verify your organizational policies if using a work or school account, as administrators may have disabled Copilot features through group policy settings that override individual user preferences and prevent sidebar activation regardless of local configuration.
• Check Windows regional settings and ensure your location supports Copilot availability, as Microsoft has geographic restrictions that may prevent the feature from appearing in certain regions even with proper account credentials and browser versions.
• Disable conflicting browser extensions that might interfere with sidebar functionality by accessing “Extensions” in Edge settings and temporarily disabling third-party add-ons that could block or override Microsoft’s native Copilot integration features.
• Restart Microsoft Edge completely and clear any running background processes through Task Manager, as persistent browser sessions sometimes maintain outdated configurations that prevent newly enabled features from appearing properly in the interface.
Edge automatically opens Copilot when you prefer manual control
• Modify startup behavior in Edge settings under “Start, home, and new tabs” by unchecking automatic Copilot activation options, which prevents the AI assistant from launching immediately when you open the browser or start new browsing sessions.
• Adjust sidebar auto-hide settings to keep Copilot available but not prominently displayed by configuring the sidebar to collapse automatically when not in active use, maintaining access while preserving screen real estate for primary browsing activities.
• Configure keyboard shortcuts for Copilot activation by accessing “System and performance” settings, then customizing hotkey combinations that allow you to summon the AI assistant only when needed rather than having it constantly visible in your workspace.
• Set specific website triggers for Copilot activation by using Edge’s site-specific settings, allowing the sidebar to appear automatically only on Microsoft 365 domains or other productivity-focused websites where AI assistance provides the most value.
Important Tip: If Copilot keeps disappearing from your sidebar, check if your organization has recently updated their Microsoft 365 policies, as changes in admin settings can affect individual user access to AI features.
Copilot sidebar extension compatibility with Microsoft 365 workflows
• Ensure seamless integration with Microsoft 365 applications by signing into Copilot with the same account you use for Office applications, creating a unified experience that allows the AI assistant to access relevant context and provide more personalized assistance.
• Configure data sharing preferences in both Edge and Microsoft 365 settings to enable Copilot to access relevant information from your documents, emails, and calendar events, enhancing the AI’s ability to provide contextually appropriate suggestions and responses.
• Test Copilot functionality across different Microsoft 365 web applications by opening Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint in Edge tabs while keeping the sidebar active, verifying that the AI assistant can interact appropriately with each service and maintain consistent performance.
• Optimize performance by adjusting Edge’s resource allocation settings under “System and performance” to ensure adequate memory and processing power for both Copilot operations and Microsoft 365 web applications running simultaneously in your browser environment.