On 15 January 2025, Microsoft started rolling out a change that many people noticed before they understood it: the Microsoft 365 app became the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, with a new icon, and the web address moved to m365.cloud.microsoft.
Since then I have had the same question in almost every customer meeting: “Did we just buy something new?” The short answer is no. Let me explain what changed and what did not.
1️⃣ What actually changed
- The app formerly known as Microsoft 365 (and before that, Office) is now called the Microsoft 365 Copilot app.
- It has a new icon, so users may not recognise it on their taskbar or phone at first.
- The web experience now lives at m365.cloud.microsoft. The old addresses redirect there.
2️⃣ What did not change
- Your licences. Nobody gets Microsoft 365 Copilot features they have not paid for just because the app has a new name.
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams work exactly as before.
- Your data, permissions and security settings.
The rename is a signal. Microsoft wants the app to be the front door to Copilot for every user, whether they use the free Copilot Chat experience or a full Microsoft 365 Copilot licence.
3️⃣ What I recommend doing now
- Tell your users before they ask. A short message with the new icon and name saves a lot of helpdesk tickets.
- Update your training materials and screenshots, especially onboarding guides.
- Check your network and security allowlists for the new m365.cloud.microsoft address.
- Update bookmarks and intranet links that point to the old start page.
My take
Names matter. By putting Copilot in the name of the app people open every morning, Microsoft is making AI the default starting point for work, not an extra button. For IT teams this is the moment to prepare users, not to panic.
Have your users already noticed the new icon? I would love to hear how you communicated the change. 👇
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