In the new Outlook, open Settings, scroll to Copilot at the bottom and choose draft instructions. They are not in classic Outlook, so open Outlook in the browser if you cannot find them. If you only see Preferences, Outlook still uses your Copilot custom instructions, and draft instructions are an extra layer on top.
- Personalisation and saved memories apply everywhere, Outlook and Word included.
- Make sure Preferences itself is switched on.
More in Microsoft Copilot
Can Copilot auto-accept meeting invitations?
Yes, for invitations from a specific sender. The rule has to name an individual email address, not a team or group. Create it in the Copilot side panel in Outlook rather than on the settings page, then check it was saved under view instructions in the Copilot settings.
Can Copilot create calendar events?
Yes, any Copilot chat can create calendar events, not only the one inside Outlook, because the feature is tied to your profile rather than the window you are in. At the time of writing it reliably creates only one event at a time, so ask for several events separately.
Can Copilot make a priority list from my Emails and Teams messages?
Yes. With Work IQ, one prompt reaches Outlook and Teams together, so Copilot can build a single priority list from both. Commitments made only in a Teams message still surface as open items, so anything you agreed to in a chat will come back to find you.