Microsoft is adding a new Copilot feature to Outlook that can automatically fix meeting conflicts for you. Instead of manually moving appointments around, Copilot can reschedule certain meetings when something more important lands in the same time slot. It’s built for flexible events, like recurring one-on-ones or weekly check-ins that don’t have to happen at the same time every week.
Here’s how it works:
When creating a new meeting (or editing an existing one) in the new Outlook for Windows or Outlook on the web, you’ll see a toggle that lets Copilot reschedule the event if conflicts arise. Turn it on, and Copilot will keep an eye on your calendar. If you later accept or schedule a higher-priority meeting at the same time, Copilot will automatically move the original event to another suitable slot.
You can also set “acceptable times”, specific days and hours when the meeting can be moved. This step isn’t required, but it helps the AI find better alternatives.
There are a few rules:
It only works for meetings marked Busy or Out of Office. If a conflicting event is marked Tentative, Copilot won’t reschedule anything. When a meeting gets moved, you’ll see a notification in Outlook. Microsoft says email alerts for these changes are coming soon. The feature is rolling out to Microsoft 365 Copilot Enterprise users in the new Outlook, Outlook on the web, and Teams.