Copilot in SharePoint and OneDrive: manage your files with a single sentence

You are looking for an old version of a quote, but you can’t remember what changed. Or you need to send one chapter from an 80-page PDF to a colleague. With Copilot in SharePoint and OneDrive, you can now ask the AI to do that in plain language. In this article, you can read what Microsoft announced in late September and early October 2026, whether you can use it in the Netherlands and Belgium, and how to get started.

What is new in Copilot in SharePoint?

Copilot in SharePoint can now work on your files itself: cutting up PDFs, comparing versions and restoring old versions. This is described in the monthly overview What’s new in Copilot in SharePoint: October 2026, which Microsoft published in early October 2026.

First, the basics. SharePoint is where many companies keep their shared documents. OneDrive is your personal storage in Microsoft 365. Copilot is Microsoft’s AI assistant, which you give instructions to in everyday sentences. Until now, most people mainly used Copilot to ask questions about their documents. Now it can also actually do something with those documents.

The main new features at a glance:

• Editing PDFs page by page. Copilot pulls a section out of a PDF, inserts an attachment at a specific place, puts pages in a different order or splits one document into separate files.
• Explaining version history. You ask Copilot what has changed in a file. Copilot reads the earlier versions and explains the differences, so you don’t have to open every version yourself.
• Restoring old versions. Has someone deleted or changed something by accident? Then you ask Copilot to restore an earlier version.

Microsoft gives its own example of a large quote file. A reviewer only needs the pricing section. You ask Copilot to pull that part out as a separate PDF. If an attachment comes in at the last minute, you have Copilot insert it in the right place. And if the same file has to go to different readers, you split it into separate versions. Work that used to take half an hour of cutting and pasting is now done with one sentence.

Microsoft also describes a familiar situation for version control. After an unwanted change, the owner of a document looks at what has changed. Then they restore the last approved version. You now do that through a conversation, instead of laying versions side by side yourself.

Why is this news right now?

Copilot in SharePoint and Copilot in OneDrive are out of testing and are now generally available. The rollout began on 30 September 2026, and organisations get it in phases.

Microsoft announced this on 25 September 2026 in the blog SharePoint AI innovations hit GA. That was the same day the company presented a revamped Copilot app. According to Microsoft, Copilot in OneDrive has been rebuilt on the same foundation as Copilot in SharePoint. As a result, it works the same way in both services.

The direction is clear. Copilot is meant to be less of a chat window and more of a colleague who carries out tasks in your files and apps. For you, that means fewer clicks, but also more reason to check carefully what the AI is actually doing.

Is Copilot in SharePoint available in the Netherlands and Belgium?

Yes, Microsoft is rolling out Copilot in SharePoint to organisations worldwide, so that includes the Netherlands and Belgium. Whether you can see it yet depends on your licence and on when your organisation’s turn comes.

Important to know:

• According to Microsoft, the new features are included in the Microsoft 365 Copilot licence. With an ordinary Microsoft 365 subscription without Copilot, you won’t get them. The same licence rules apply to Copilot in OneDrive.
• If you work for an organisation, the IT administrator often decides which features are switched on. Can’t see anything? Ask your administrator.
• Some tasks use Copilot Credits. According to Microsoft, everyday AI features are covered by the licence. For large-scale and advanced AI tasks, you pay with credits.

There is another cost for business owners to watch. On 1 October 2026, Microsoft announced that pay-as-you-go will be switched on by default from 1 December 2026 for new Microsoft 365 Copilot Business licences that you buy through a Microsoft partner (CSP). The default limit is then 4,000 Copilot Credits per user per month. An administrator can change that limit.

Note: in the same announcement, the Netherlands and Belgium are on the list of countries where this change is initially not yet available. Microsoft says it will share more later. If you buy Copilot through a partner, ask how pay-as-you-go is set up for you and what cap applies. Always check the current price of licences and credits with Microsoft or your supplier.

How do you use Copilot in SharePoint and OneDrive?

You open a document or library in SharePoint or OneDrive, click the Copilot icon and type in plain language what you want. Exactly where the button is can differ from screen to screen.

1. Open SharePoint or OneDrive in your browser and go to the folder or file you want to work with.
2. Click the Copilot icon. A window opens where you can type.
3. Describe as precisely as possible what you want. Name the file, the section and what should happen with the result.
4. Check the result. Open the new PDF or look at which version Copilot wants to restore before you approve it.
5. Only then share the file with colleagues or clients.

A few examples of instructions you can give:

Situation	What you type
A colleague only needs the prices	Pull the section with the prices out of this quote and turn it into a separate PDF.
You don’t know what has changed	Compare the latest version of this file with the previous one and explain what has been changed.
Text was deleted by accident	Restore the previous version of this file.
A client wants the attachments in a fixed order	Put the pages of this PDF in the order given in the request.

Do you want to understand first how an AI assistant actually works? Then read our explanation what is AI in plain language.

What should you watch out for?

Copilot works with the permissions you already have, but it makes mistakes and can cost money. So always check what the AI has done.

• Mistakes. An AI can pick the wrong chapter or summarise a difference between versions incorrectly. Check the result, especially for contracts and quotes.
• Messy permissions. Copilot can find anything you have access to. If sensitive files are in a folder that is open to everyone, they will surface more easily. Ask your administrator to review the permissions in SharePoint.
• Privacy. If you work with personal data of customers or staff, the GDPR (the EU’s data protection law, known as the AVG in the Netherlands) still applies. Agree internally which files you do and don’t edit with Copilot.
• Costs. Tasks that run on Copilot Credits cost money per use. Have a limit set and keep an eye on usage.

Would you rather have an AI helper that does exactly what you want, with fixed instructions? Then see how to make your own AI assistant without programming.

Frequently asked questions

Do I get Copilot in SharePoint for free with Microsoft 365?

No. According to Microsoft, the new features are included in the Microsoft 365 Copilot licence, which you need on top of your normal subscription. For large-scale and advanced AI tasks, you pay on top of that with Copilot Credits.

Does Copilot in OneDrive also work for my own files?

Yes. Copilot in OneDrive became generally available at the same time as Copilot in SharePoint, and the same licence rules apply. You do need a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence, and your organisation must already have had its turn in the rollout.

Why can’t I see the new features yet?

Microsoft has been rolling out the features in phases since 30 September 2026, so not everyone gets them at the same time. Your IT administrator can also switch features off. If in doubt, ask your administrator whether the feature is already available for your account.

Can Copilot accidentally ruin my files?

Copilot can make mistakes, but SharePoint and OneDrive keep earlier versions of your files. So you can restore an old version, including with Copilot’s help. Always check the result, though.

Is Copilot in SharePoint safe for customer data?

Copilot only sees files you already have access to. The GDPR still applies, though. So make agreements about sensitive data and make sure the permissions in SharePoint are set correctly.

Your next step: ask your IT administrator whether Copilot in SharePoint is already switched on. Then try the instruction above on a file with no sensitive data. Do you also use a lot of email alongside Microsoft 365 and get many questions from customers? Then read on about AI customer service for freelancers and small businesses and find out how to save time there too.