Microsoft has acknowledged that the floating CoPilot button introduced in Word and Excel has disrupted user workflow. The company is now rolling out an improvement that will allow users to move the CoPilot button back to the Ribbon, where AI integration previously appeared in Office apps. According to Windows Latest, this rollback is expected to take effect in the last week of May 2026.
The floating CoPilot button recently became the default in Office apps, leading to user criticism. Many users found that this obstructs the data on the screen, especially in Excel, where the button overlaps the workspace and cannot be dismissed.
What was wrong with the floating copilot button and what has changed now
The floating button was located in the lower right corner of Office applications, similar to where chatbot widgets typically appear in web interfaces. Users argued that Office is not a web app and that the Ribbon, which traditionally contains Office tools, was a more appropriate location.
One reader commented: “The placement of the CoPilot button is the worst decision I’ve ever seen. I understand the logic behind placing it in the bottom right corner, which has been a common location for chatbot and live chat buttons in web UIs for years, but Excel is not a web app.
There is no need for the button to be in the bottom corner and it can cover the usable workspace.” Users also noted that the button disrupts screenshots used for data validation and other workflows that require the full screen to be visible.
The upcoming update will allow users to move CoPilot back to the Ribbon, restoring its position to match the way Office tools are traditionally organized. Users who prefer floating buttons can continue to use it. The change is optional and not implemented in any direction.
Microsoft said the company is working to make Microsoft 365 more connected and integrated with Copilot, and is listening, learning, and improving.
Why did Microsoft push the floating copilot button in the first place?
Microsoft has acknowledged that interactions and user engagement with CoPilot increased after the floating button was set as the default option. The data indicates that the placement effectively promoted usage, but it negatively impacted the experience of users who did not want the AI assistant to occupy that space.
The overall picture shows that Microsoft is actively promoting Copilot adoption across its product lineup. CEO Satya Nadella recently announced that the company has 20 million enterprise customers paying for Copilot, a 33% increase from 15 million in January.
However, separate reports show that less than 3.3% of Microsoft 365 and Office 365 users who interact with Copilot chat are actually paying for it, despite Microsoft spending $37.5 billion on AI in the second quarter of fiscal year 2026.
How to move Copilot back to the ribbon
Microsoft has not yet provided detailed instructions for the upcoming change. Once the rollout is complete, users will be able to find the option to move Copilot back to the ribbon within Word and Excel settings.
Microsoft is also expected to introduce new options to control how prominently Copilot appears in the interface, building on existing settings to completely disable Copilot in Office applications.
The rollout is scheduled to begin in the last week of May 2026 and will be phased in gradually as is the case with Office app updates.
