Using the Foreward Slash Commands in Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft 365 Copilot has a powerful shortcut that many people don’t know about: the slash “/” command. This feature, powered by Context IQ, makes it simple to add the right context into your prompts without searching through files or inboxes.

How it works

When you’re in Copilot Chat with a work license, just type “/” in the chat box. You’ll see smart suggestions appear, allowing you to pull in:

• People from your organization
• Files you’ve recently worked on
• Meetings from your calendar
• Emails from Outlook

Examples

• “When is my next meeting with /” → Start typing a name, and Copilot adds the person from your contacts or calendar.
• “Summarize this document /” → Browse to a file and insert it directly into the prompt.

Why it matters

This shortcut removes the friction of hunting down information. Instead of copying links or digging through emails, you can pull context into Copilot instantly. It’s a small feature with a big impact on productivity.

Tip: Make sure you’re in the Work tab of Copilot Chat, since the full set of slash commands only appears there.