Is Copilot encrypted?
No. Microsoft can read your Copilot chats, files and voice chats. Microsoft says the new Copilot app doesn't use them to train its foundation models, but they can shape the ads you see.
Checked on 25 October 2026 against 6 sources.
Made by Secria. We grade every app by the same rules. How we check
- Your chatsMicrosoft can read itMicrosoft uses your chats to answer, fix problems, prevent abuse, improve Copilot and pick ads.4
- Files you uploadMicrosoft can read itFiles you share are handled like chats; Microsoft says the new app doesn't train its foundation models on their contents.2, 4
- Voice chatsMicrosoft can read itVoice chats are prompts like typed ones and go to Microsoft to be answered.6
- Who holds the keys
- Microsoft holds the keys.
- What Microsoft can still see
- Everything in your chats and files, plus your location, language and settings, and it can also draw on your activity in Edge and other Microsoft services to personalize Copilot.
On business plans, signing in with a work or school account puts Copilot under separate data protection terms that Microsoft documents for organizations.
Limit how Copilot uses your chats
- Open Copilot, sign in with your Microsoft account, then open Settings › Personalization.
- Turn off Allow ads personalization.
- Turn off One shared experience, and Saved memories if you don't want Copilot to remember details.
This doesn't seal anything. Microsoft still keeps your chats and can read them, and ads may still match what you're asking right now. Delete chats you don't want kept from the Chats list.
Email is worth checking next: Gmail, Outlook and iCloud Mail can all read your mailbox. See which email services can.
Does Copilot train on my chats?
Not in the new Copilot app, released on 18 August 2026. Microsoft says your prompts, responses and file contents there aren't used to train its foundation models2.
The older app worked differently. It used chats, voice and uploads for training unless you opted out, except in a few countries5. If you haven't updated, Microsoft says those older rules still apply to you1, 5.
Can Microsoft read my Copilot chats?
Yes. Microsoft says it uses your conversation data to monitor performance, fix bugs, prevent abuse and improve Copilot4. Its pages for the new app don't describe end-to-end encryption, and apart from feedback you send, they don't say whether people review chats, as of 25 October 20266.
For the older app, Microsoft said some chats get human review for product and safety reasons, and that you can't opt out of it5.
Does Copilot use my chats for ads?
It can. Microsoft's privacy statement says ads may relate to your current Copilot conversation, including files you share4. If you don't have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you may see ads in Copilot3.
Turning off Allow ads personalization stops ads drawing on your chat history and saved memories, but ads can still match your current chat3.
How Copilot compares
Sorted by how many parts are sealed by default, then by how many can be. Ties go A to Z.
Sources
- Microsoft Copilot for individuals: your data, privacy, and responsible AI, Microsoft. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
- Microsoft Copilot for individuals: your activity history, Microsoft. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
- Microsoft Copilot for individuals: your privacy controls and choices, Microsoft. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
- Microsoft Privacy Statement, Microsoft. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
- Privacy FAQ for Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
- Transparency Note for Microsoft Copilot (for individuals), Microsoft. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
Changes to this answer
- First published.