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How to access Copilot Chat on your government workstation

Microsoft’s Copilot Chat is available to all BC Public Service employees as part of a larger effort to provide digital tools that enhance the work experience. Our version of Copilot Chat is compliant with B.C. security and privacy standards, provided you sign in securely. Ensure you follow the approved login steps to protect your data.

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Get to know Copilot Chat

Copilot is a generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) tool designed to help users with a wide range of tasks like answering questions, providing information and generating insights or content, all in a conversational format. Microsoft offers many versions of Copilot.

Copilot Chat, the standalone version of the tool, is available to BC Public Service employees through the Microsoft 365 suite of applications.

  • It is not integrated with specific apps like Word or Excel
  • It lets you work smarter by helping you perform routine tasks

Using Copilot Chat on your government workstation

There are multiple ways to access Copilot Chat. The easiest way is through the Microsoft Edge internet browser, but other web browsers are also supported.

Copilot Chat uses enterprise data protection. Encryption and strict security measures protect your information from unauthorized access.

To keep your data safe, always ensure you’re logged in using your IDIR and check for the solid green shield icon. This confirms your session is secure and protected.

Hovering over the green shield shows enterprise data protection is enabled.

Microsoft Edge

  1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser on your device
  2. Ensure your browser is up to date. You can check for updates by clicking the … menu in the top right corner and selecting Settings > About Microsoft Edge
  3. Click the multi-coloured Copilot Chat icon in the top right corner of the browser window near the address bar
  4. When prompted, sign in with your IDIR to access Copilot Chat
  5. After logging in, confirm the green shield icon is visible
The Copilot Chat icon in Microsoft Edge.

If you do not see the Copilot Chat icon:

  • Make sure the Copilot Chat extension is installed and enabled. You can manage extensions by clicking the … menu in the top right corner, selecting Extensions and checking if Copilot Chat is listed and enabled
  • Close and re-open Microsoft Edge to see if the icon appears

Chrome, Safari or Firefox (Mac users)

To use Copilot Chat on browsers like Chrome, Safari or Firefox:

  1. Go to copilot.microsoft.com
  2. When prompted, sign in with your IDIR through the “Work” section on the left
  3. Once on the Copilot Chat interface, confirm the green shield icon is visible
Copilot’s browser login screen. The “Work” option is circled on the left.

If you encounter any issues:

  • Check that you have a stable internet connection
  • Make sure your browser is up to date and compatible with the Microsoft Copilot Chat website
  • Clear your browser cache. Sometimes this can resolve access issues. You can do this by going to your browser settings and selecting Clear browsing data

Unsupported methods

For Windows users, Copilot Chat is also launchable from a shortcut in the Start menu, but this version of Copilot Chat does not support logging in with your IDIR. Do not use the Start menu to access Copilot.

For Mac users, Copilot Chat is also available in the App Store, but this version does not support enterprise data protection and will redirect you to the browser version after login. Do not use the App Store version of Copilot.

Currently, the version of Copilot Chat available to employees is unable to access the personal files in your OneDrive or SharePoint Online within the B.C. government tenancy. 

Learn about Microsoft Copilot’s Enterprise Data Protection.