New update, and Copilot is off.

rhonda jimenez 0 Reputation points
2026-09-09T02:52:35.2666667+00:00

I rely on long-term continuity. The value wasn't answers to individual questions. The value was that Copilot understood years of context about my life and family. When that context disappeared, I lost something important.

This isn't about losing a detail. It's about losing a relationship built through many conversations. Copilot knew my history, my family situation, my concerns, and the context behind my questions. Having to start over repeatedly defeats much of the value of using it as an ongoing support and planning tool.

I would like clarity on how memory, chat history, and continuity are supposed to work, and whether users can expect long-term context to be preserved.

Microsoft Copilot | Other
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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-09T02:52:56.9933333+00:00

    For Microsoft Copilot with a personal Microsoft account, conversation history is saved by default and retained for 18 months unless it is deleted sooner. Individual conversations or the entire history can be deleted at any time.

    Long-term continuity is limited by product boundaries and account type:

    • Past conversations are available through conversation history, so earlier chats can be reviewed and referenced.
    • Microsoft 365 Copilot conversations can appear in Copilot when the same personal Microsoft account is used, but those conversations are read-only in Copilot. To continue them, the original Microsoft 365 app must be used.
    • Work and personal accounts remain separate by design. Data from a work account signed in with Microsoft Entra does not flow into the personal Microsoft account experience, and personal data does not flow into the work experience.

    For memory and personalization controls in personal Microsoft account experiences:

    • Personalization and memory can be disabled at any time.
    • What Copilot remembers can be controlled.
    • Use of conversation activity for model training can be opted out of at any time.

    What can be expected for long-term context preservation:

    • Conversation history is intended to preserve past chats for up to 18 months by default.
    • Continuity across Copilot experiences is supported in some cases, such as Microsoft 365 Copilot conversations appearing in Copilot as read-only when the same personal account is used.
    • Permanent, unlimited preservation of years of context is not stated. The documented retention period is 18 months by default.
    • After the updated Copilot app rollout, most chats, images, and other created content are moved to the updated app automatically for personal accounts.

    If continuity is critical, the documented controls and limits mean the practical expectation should be:

    1. Keep conversation history enabled.
    2. Avoid deleting chats that contain important context.
    3. Use the same personal Microsoft account consistently.
    4. Do not expect work-account context and personal-account context to merge.
    5. Expect retention based on the documented 18-month history period, not indefinite memory.
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Thomas4-N 21,535 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-10T07:16:07.8566667+00:00

    Hello rhonda jimenez,

    I understand why this is upsetting. When you’ve spent years building context with Copilot, simply being able to see the old conversations isn’t the same as having Copilot actually remember and use that context.

    Microsoft currently treats chat history, saved memories, and personalization from previous chats as separate things. Copilot can use important details from earlier conversations, but Microsoft also states that it doesn’t remember every detail from previous chats.

    There was also a major Copilot update that began rolling out on August 18, 2026. Microsoft says most chats and other eligible content should move to the updated experience, while some functionality gaps may occur during the transition.

    Could you check Settings > Personalization and tell me whether Saved memories and Chat history are still enabled, and whether your older conversations are still visible?

    That should help distinguish between missing chat history and Copilot no longer applying the context it previously remembered.

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