Ready-to-use prompts for Microsoft Copilot, by category. Copy a template, fill in the parts in [brackets] and get started right away.
Use it when you want a quick update on where a client or project stands.
I'm working on [client or project name] and want a quick catch-up before I continue. I want to know the current status, what has been agreed and what is still open. Search my emails, Teams chats, meetings and files from the past [period, for example 4 weeks] about [client or project name]. Start with a short status update of no more than 100 words. Below that, add a table with the columns date, source, topic and what was decided or agreed. End with a list of open actions, with owner and deadline if they are mentioned. Don't make anything up or fill in gaps. If information is missing or unclear, say so. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
Use it when you've lost an email, file or message and only roughly remember what it was about.
I'm looking for a [email, file or chat message] about [topic] that I received from or shared with [colleague or organization name] around [period, for example early March]. I remember it was about [what you remember, for example a quote or a new schedule]. I want to find it quickly. Search only my own emails, chats and files. Give at most 5 possible matches in a table with the columns title or subject, sender, date, where it is and one sentence on why it could match. Put the most likely match at the top. Don't make anything up. If nothing fits well, say so and tell me what extra search details would help. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
Use it to quickly digitize notes from a whiteboard, flip chart or paper.
I'm sending you a photo of [a whiteboard, flip chart or paper notes] from [type of session, for example a brainstorm about the new schedule]. I want the notes in a clear digital format so I can share them. Use only what is on this photo. Turn the text into a clear list, grouped by theme, and put any action items separately at the bottom. Keep the original wording as much as possible. Don't make anything up or fill in gaps. If a word or piece of text is hard to read, mark it as [illegible]. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
Use it on Friday to wrap up your work week and prepare for the next one.
Help me wrap up my work week and prepare for next week. Sources: Use my Outlook emails, Teams conversations, meetings, notes, transcripts and OneDrive and SharePoint files from this work week, plus my calendar for next week. Ignore newsletters, automated notifications and cc emails that require no action from me. 1. Loose ends Find unanswered questions, promised actions, pending decisions and people who are waiting for my reply. * Make a table with: action, person involved, source, date, deadline and urgency (high/medium/low). * Sort by urgency. * For urgent actions, write a draft reply of no more than 5 sentences in a friendly, direct and professional tone. 2. Wins this week Summarize completed tasks, solved problems, positive feedback, measurable results and project contributions. * Describe the concrete result of each point in one sentence. * For feedback, mention who it came from. * Use businesslike wording, suitable for performance reviews. 3. Preparing for next week Review my calendar and select the important meetings. Skip routine meetings and empty calendar blocks. For each meeting, give: * Date, time, attendees and purpose. * Relevant background, earlier agreements and open questions. * What I need to know or prepare. * Three relevant talking points. End with the three meetings that need the most preparation and briefly explain why. Ground rules * Write in clear, concise English with tables and bullet points. * Use only verifiable information. Don't make up facts, feedback, figures or deadlines. * Give a traceable source for every point. If information is missing, say so explicitly. For missing deadlines, write: "no deadline found". * Start with one sentence about the period and sources you reviewed. End with: ✅ Loose ends: [number] open actions, of which [number] urgent ✅ Wins: [number] points recorded ✅ Next week: [number] meetings prepared
Use it when your inbox is full, for example after a day off.
My inbox is full after [reason, for example a few days off] and I want to know where to start. I want an overview of what needs action today and what can wait. Look only at my unread emails since [period, for example Friday]. Make a table with three groups: action needed today, handle this week and for information only. For each email, give the sender, the subject, one sentence on why it is in that group and a suggested next step. Show at most 15 emails. Don't make anything up or fill in gaps. If the urgency of an email is unclear, note that. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
Use it for a long email thread you want to respond to quickly and well.
I've been added to this email thread about [topic] and need to respond on behalf of [yourself or your team]. I want to understand what is going on and have a good draft reply. Use only the messages in this open email thread. First give a summary of no more than 120 words with the decisions and the open questions. Then write a draft reply of no more than 150 words in a [formal or informal] tone that addresses the open questions. Use [ ] where I need to add something myself. Don't make up agreements, dates or amounts. If information is missing to answer a question, say so. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
Use it when you want to turn an existing document into a presentation.
On [date or occasion] I'm giving a presentation to [audience] about [topic]. I want a clear presentation that shows the key points from my document. Base the presentation only on the file [document name]. Create about [number, for example 8] slides: a title slide, one message per slide with at most 4 short bullet points, and a closing slide with the next steps. Add short speaker notes to each slide. Don't make up figures, examples or conclusions that are not in the document. If information for a slide is missing, say so. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
Use it when your presentation is almost done and you want to know if it comes across well.
I'm giving this presentation on [date] to [audience] and want to make sure the message comes across well. I want to know what I can still improve and which questions to prepare for. Use only the content of this open presentation. First summarize the key message in 3 sentences. Then give one short improvement tip per slide, for example too much text or an unclear title. End with 5 questions the audience is likely to ask. Don't make anything up about the content. If a slide is unclear or something is missing, say so. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
Use it when you want to quickly see what stands out in a table of numbers.
The table [table name] contains [type of data, for example monthly revenue per product group for 2025]. I want to quickly see what stands out so I can discuss it in [meeting or report]. Use only the data in this table. Name the 3 most important trends and at most 3 notable outliers, each in one or two sentences with the related number. Then create one chart that shows the most important trend. Don't make up causes or explanations that don't follow from the data. If there are empty cells or values that look wrong, say so. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
Use it when you need a calculation but don't know the formula.
In the table [table name], column [column name] contains [what it holds, for example the order date] and column [column name] contains [what it holds, for example the delivery date]. I want a new column that calculates [desired calculation, for example the number of working days between order and delivery]. Use only the columns in this table. Add the column with a clear name and then explain in plain language, in no more than 5 sentences, how the formula works. Don't make up any data. If it's unclear which column I mean or a value looks wrong, say so. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
Use it right after a meeting or a recorded conversation.
On [date] I had a meeting about [topic] with [team or type of meeting]. I want clear minutes with decisions and action items that I can share with the attendees. Use only the transcript of this meeting or recording. Give a summary of no more than 150 words. Below that, list the decisions made and add a table of action items with the columns action, owner and deadline. Fill in owner and deadline only if they were actually mentioned. End with the points that are still open. Don't make anything up or fill in gaps. If something is unclear or hard to hear, say so. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
Use it when you joined late or had to skip a meeting.
I [joined late / missed] the meeting [meeting name] on [date]. I want to know quickly what was discussed and what is expected of me or [team name]. Use only the transcript and the chat of this meeting. List the topics discussed and the decisions in at most 8 bullet points. Then state separately whether my name or [team name] was mentioned and what was said about it. Don't make anything up. If nothing was said about me or my team, say so clearly. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
Use it when lots of new messages have piled up in a chat or channel.
Lots of messages have been added to this [chat or channel] about [topic] since [period, for example Monday]. I want to know quickly what matters without reading everything. Use only the messages in this [chat or channel] from that period. Give at most 10 bullet points with the main topics and decisions. Below that, list separately the questions asked to me or [team name] that haven't been answered yet. Don't make anything up or fill in gaps. If something is unclear or a discussion is still ongoing, say so. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
Use it when you want to announce something to, or ask something of, a team or department.
I want to post a message in the Teams channel [channel name] for [audience, for example everyone in the department] about [topic]. The goal is that everyone knows [what they need to know or do] before [date]. Use only this information: [key points]. Write a message of no more than 120 words in a friendly and clear tone, with a short opening line and a clear question or action at the end. Don't add extra details, dates or agreements. If something readers need is missing, say so. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
Use it when you've recorded your thoughts on the go with the Copilot Record feature.
I just recorded a voice memo with the Record feature about [topic, for example the agreements after a site visit]. I want to turn it into something useful quickly. Use only this recording. First make a task list with at most 10 short tasks, grouped by [grouping, for example today and later]. Then write a short draft email of no more than 120 words to [recipient, for example my team] with the key points. Don't make anything up or fill in gaps. If part of the recording is hard to hear or unclear, say so. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
Use it after a meeting you recorded with the Copilot Record feature, for example a preparation meeting.
This chat contains a recording of [type of meeting, for example the preparation of a Copilot workshop]. Turn it into practical meeting notes for [people involved, for example the colleagues involved]. The goal is to give quick insight into the agreements made, open actions, owners and topics that still need to be aligned. Use only the recording and transcript in this chat and don't add information that isn't explicitly mentioned. Structure the notes in these parts: 1. Short summary, 2. Action list with action, owner and deadline, 3. Decisions made, 4. Still to be aligned. Clearly distinguish between decisions, actions and proposals. Mark missing information as 'not agreed' or 'not mentioned'. First restate my question in one sentence, then give your answer.
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