Copilot within Word (desktop and web version) suddenly cannot read uploaded documents

Question

Copilot within Word (desktop and web version) suddenly cannot read uploaded documents

Clay 15

I have been using Copilot in Word and uploading documents successfully for weeks, both PDF and DOCX. Just yesterday Copilot started telling me that there was no readable content in the uploaded PDF, or it was corrupt. I spent time OCR'ing the document, only to be given the same error.

I have tried using Word on the web and I have the same issue. I have tried a PDF document I used two weeks ago that Copilot could read, and now it cannot read it. I have updated licences, checked updates, uninstalled, reinstalled MS365, Copilot and Edge, tried multiple suggestions online and via AI, and nothing seems to be working. Please help!

Iuri Mitika 25 Reputation points

2026-07-17T12:38:14.3133333+00:00

Same problem happening for me and a lot of other users in this forum. Microsoft has yet to acknowledge this.

For me it does work in the M365 Copilot app, but not inside Word itself.
Clay 15 Reputation points

2026-07-17T20:10:13.87+00:00

After trying everything to fix this, I think I have found a slight work around that adds an extra step or two, but gets the job done.

If I have Word desktop open, I also open OneDrive on the web. I delete the contents of my Copilot Chat folder on OneDrive and then drag and drop the file I want Copilot to read into the OneDrive web folder.

Once uploaded to the folder, I open Copilot in Word amd type "/" which should then show the most recent uploaded file. It is still a bit temperamental and doesn't always work though.

1 answer

Your answer

Iuri Mitika 25 Reputation points

2026-07-17T12:38:14.3133333+00:00

Same problem happening for me and a lot of other users in this forum. Microsoft has yet to acknowledge this.

For me it does work in the M365 Copilot app, but not inside Word itself.
Clay 15 Reputation points

2026-07-17T20:10:13.87+00:00

After trying everything to fix this, I think I have found a slight work around that adds an extra step or two, but gets the job done.

If I have Word desktop open, I also open OneDrive on the web. I delete the contents of my Copilot Chat folder on OneDrive and then drag and drop the file I want Copilot to read into the OneDrive web folder.

Once uploaded to the folder, I open Copilot in Word amd type "/" which should then show the most recent uploaded file. It is still a bit temperamental and doesn't always work though.

Answer 1

For this symptom, the supported checks are:

Confirm the files are in a supported format for Copilot in Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, and Premium.
- Word: .docx, .doc, .pdf, .txt, .rtf, .html, .htm
- Outlook attachments: .docx, .pdf, .pptx
Check file permissions.
- If access to a file is restricted, Copilot can block the upload.
Check file location.
- Local paths are unsupported. Use uploaded or cloud-hosted files only.
Try a smaller or simpler file.
- Very long documents, large PDFs, or complex files can fail. Split the content into smaller documents and try them separately.
If the issue also occurs in Word on the web, refresh the page and verify third-party cookies are enabled in the browser.
- In Edge: Settings and More > Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Manage and delete cookies and site data > ensure Block third-party cookies is Off.
- In Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > ensure Allow third-party cookies is selected.
- In Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > under Enhanced Tracking Protection, select Custom and ensure Cookies is unchecked.
- In Safari: Settings > Privacy and ensure cross-site tracking and cookie blocking settings are not blocking third-party cookies.
Refresh the Microsoft 365 license again in the app, since Copilot availability depends on license validation.
- Windows: in any Microsoft 365 app, go to File > Account > Update License, then close and restart all Microsoft 365 apps.
- Mac: open any Microsoft 365 app, select the app name menu > About <app name> > More Info... > Refresh License, then restart the apps.
If Copilot is still missing or not functioning after the above, verify the signed-in account is the licensed account.
- For new, unsaved files or files on the local hard drive, the primary account shown at the top of the Microsoft 365 window must be licensed for Copilot.

If the problem continues after these checks, the documented next step is:

Home users: contact Support.
Business users: have the Microsoft 365 admin verify that Microsoft 365 Copilot is assigned, and the admin can contact Microsoft support.