Microsoft 365 is undergoing a significant redesign, set to debut in mid-January 2025. Alongside a revamped user interface, the app will receive a new icon and a slightly updated name, transitioning to “Microsoft 365 Copilot.”
The announcement, shared via the Microsoft 365 Message Center, outlines key updates to the app’s functionality and layout:
- Header Removal: The app will no longer feature a top header. Instead, user profile, settings, and feedback options will move to a bottom-left toolbar. The feedback button will now reside under the “Settings and more” section in this toolbar.
- Search Placement: The search box will be prominently displayed on the Homepage, making it easier to locate content across various file types and storage locations. However, the search functionality itself remains unchanged.
- Toolbar Alignment: All apps on the left toolbar will be aligned to the top, with AI-enhanced tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat and Copilot Pages grouped together for better coherence.
- Logo Visibility: Organization logos will no longer appear in the app’s header, although they will remain visible in other Microsoft 365 applications.
- Navigation Changes: The “Back” button will be removed from the Windows version of the app. Users can navigate between pages using the left AppBar.
- Feature Removal:
- The “My Day” feature, which offered quick access to calendar and to-do items, will be discontinued in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app. This change does not affect other Microsoft 365 apps where “My Day” remains available.
- The “Help me create” feature, launched in February 2024, will also be retired. AI-powered content creation will now be integrated into the Copilot tab, enabling users to draft documents and brainstorm ideas directly within Copilot Chat.
Summary of Changes
- Header: Removed, with profile, settings, and feedback relocated to the bottom-left toolbar.
- Search: Relocated to the Homepage for easier access.
- AI Tools: Grouped into a dedicated Copilot tab.
- Logo: Organization logos will no longer appear in the app.
- Removed Features: “My Day” and “Help me create.”
Microsoft will begin rolling out these updates to the Microsoft 365 app starting in mid-January 2025, aligning with its continued push to integrate AI-driven features into its productivity suite.
