Microsoft Copilot File Uploading: Supported File Types, Maximum Size Limits, Upload Rules, And Document Reading Features

Microsoft Copilot offers file uploading features across multiple product surfaces, each with its own set of supported formats, size restrictions, and operational rules. Understanding these differences is essential for effective document analysis and workflow automation in consumer, enterprise, and agent-based Copilot experiences.

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Microsoft Copilot Consumer Uploads Support Core Document, Image, And Text Formats.

In the consumer-facing Microsoft Copilot experience, users can upload files for in-chat analysis, question answering, and document extraction. Supported file types include PDFs, Microsoft Office documents (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX), plain text formats (TXT, CSV, MD, JSON), and images (PNG, JPEG, PJP, JFIF).

Each uploaded file is limited to a maximum size of 50 MB, and up to 20 files can be uploaded within a single conversation. Files are retained securely for up to 18 months and are not used to train underlying models.

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Supported File Types And Limits In Microsoft Copilot (Consumer)

File Type	Extensions	Maximum Size	Notes
Document	PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX	50 MB	Office and PDF analysis
Image	PNG, JPEG, PJP, JFIF	50 MB	Standard image analysis
Text/markup	TXT, TEXT, JSON, CSV, MD	50 MB	Data, notes, code

Multiple files can be analyzed within the same session for integrated workflows.

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Copilot Studio Agents Offer Extended Uploads And Rich Knowledge Source Integration.

Microsoft Copilot Studio enables users to upload files as agent knowledge sources, supporting broader document types and higher upload allowances for advanced scenarios. Each file can be up to 512 MB, and up to 500 files may be uploaded per Copilot agent.

Supported formats include standard office files, PDFs, plain text, HTML, CSV, XML, EPUB, RTF, Apple iWork, OpenDocument, JSON, YAML, LaTeX, and more. Files protected by passwords, encryption, or sensitivity labels are not supported. Image, audio, video, and executable files are generally excluded except for images embedded in PDF files with descriptive alt-text.

Files uploaded to Copilot Studio agents are made available to all users interacting with the agent, regardless of original file permissions, and are processed for generative answers after an ingestion period.

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Copilot Studio File Upload Rules And Supported Types

File Type	Maximum Size	Upload Cap	Notes
Document (wide support)	512 MB	500 per agent	Broad format compatibility
Knowledge base files	512 MB	500 per agent	Usable in generative nodes
Images (embedded in PDF)	512 MB	500 per agent	Only with alt-text
Not supported	N/A	N/A	Audio, video, executables, protected files

Uploaded content is processed for conversational retrieval and generative answering.

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Microsoft 365 Copilot File Uploading Depends On Tenant Configuration And Product Rollout.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat has evolved its upload limits over time and may vary by tenant configuration, licensing, and rollout phase. File uploads are typically capped at 512 MB per prompt, reflecting parity with Copilot Studio’s document handling.

Because Microsoft 365 Copilot features are managed at the tenant and admin level, real-world limits can differ across organizations and change with new service updates. This variability means users may experience different file size caps, supported formats, and retention rules depending on their organization’s settings and region.

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Microsoft 365 Copilot File Upload Parameters

Parameter	Typical Limit	Notes
Maximum upload size	512 MB	Per prompt, per file
Supported file types	Similar to Copilot Studio	Organization managed
Retention and access	Tenant policy	Admin-controlled

Administrative policies govern the exact configuration for business and enterprise environments.

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Document Reading Features Vary By Copilot Surface And Use Case.

Across all Microsoft Copilot experiences, file uploading is primarily designed to enable document analysis, content extraction, and conversational question answering. In the consumer interface, users can interact with file content in real time, follow up with related questions, and extract structured data.

In Copilot Studio, uploaded files serve as an agent’s knowledge base, supporting generative answers to user queries based on ingested documents. Processing time may be required before files are ready for retrieval and answering.

Document reading features are most effective with standard office formats, well-structured text files, and non-protected PDFs. Analytical capabilities may be limited for highly structured data, encrypted files, or formats outside the supported list.

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Microsoft Copilot Document Reading Capabilities

Feature	Consumer Copilot	Copilot Studio	Microsoft 365 Copilot
In-chat analysis	Yes	Via agent	Yes
Structured data extraction	Yes	Yes	Yes
Conversational retrieval	Yes	Yes	Yes
Real-time follow-up	Yes	After processing	Yes
Admin and retention control	N/A	Yes	Yes

Effectiveness depends on file type, structure, and Copilot configuration.

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Microsoft Copilot File Uploading Is Highly Versatile But Subject To Surface-Specific Constraints.

File uploading in Microsoft Copilot enables powerful document-driven workflows for both individual users and enterprise deployments, but success depends on respecting each surface’s supported formats, file size caps, and access model.

Users can maximize value by choosing compatible files, monitoring organizational limits, and leveraging document reading features for knowledge extraction and analysis across consumer, business, and agent scenarios.

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