Copilot may be using more of your data than you realize
Microsoft Copilot is designed to feel more personal over time. It remembers past conversations, preferences, and details you choose to share. But there’s a newer setting that goes a step further, and not everyone may be aware of it.
Called “Microsoft usage data,” this option allows Copilot to draw information from other Microsoft services you use, including Bing, MSN, and Edge. The feature sits under the “Memory” section in Copilot’s settings, both on the web and in the mobile app. When enabled, it lets the AI combine your chat history with certain activity from across Microsoft’s ecosystem to tailor responses more closely to you.
On paper, that sounds helpful. If Copilot understands your habits, interests, or previous searches, it can provide more relevant answers. You won’t need to repeat context from earlier conversations, and advice may feel more aligned with your needs. But the trade-off is obvious: more personalization means more data in play.
Microsoft says this information is used to improve performance, fix issues, prevent abuse, and refine the product, not to train AI models. The company also notes that this setting is separate from personalized ads, which can be managed independently through your Microsoft account.
Still, privacy-conscious users may want to double-check their settings. In some cases, personalization and usage data options appear to be enabled by default. If you’d rather keep Copilot on a tighter leash, you can turn off “Microsoft usage data” and disable memory entirely in the app’s settings. You can also delete stored memories and remove specific shared details.
