Does Microsoft Copilot (personal Microsoft account) train on your data?
Depends on app version
Training default depends on which Copilot app version you use.
Microsoft says the new Copilot app (from Aug 18 2026, and Copilot on the web) does not use prompts, responses or files to train foundation models. The older app's FAQ says signed-in adult users' conversations are used for AI training unless they opt out. Note that "foundation models" is narrower than "any model".
Why this matters: The default depends on which Copilot app you use, so check your app's Privacy settings before pasting work data. Training can't be undone later. Why training matters →
Covers: Microsoft Copilot app (web, desktop, mobile) signed in with a personal Microsoft account. Compliance fields (SOC 2, ISO, DPA, BAA) have not been checked yet for personal plans.
Personal vs business plan
The same assistant can have different data terms depending on the plan. Here is Microsoft Copilot (personal Microsoft account) next to Microsoft 365 Copilot.
| What we checked | Personal Microsoft Copilot (personal Microsoft account) | Business Microsoft 365 Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Trains on your data by default | Depends on app version | No |
| Data retention | Older app: 18 months by default. New app: unknown | Admin-configurable |
| Data location / residency | Your region, the US, and other Microsoft locations | Yes |
| SOC 2 Type II | Not checked yet | Unknown |
| DPA available | Not checked yet | Yes |
| BAA / HIPAA | Not checked yet | Yes |
See the business plan: Microsoft 365 Copilot → Full side-by-side comparison
Trains on your data by default
Microsoft says the new Copilot app (from Aug 18 2026, and Copilot on the web) does not use prompts, responses or files to train foundation models. The older app's FAQ says signed-in adult users' conversations are used for AI training unless they opt out. Note that "foundation models" is narrower than "any model".
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/microsoft-copilot/activity-history · checked Oct 17, 2026
“Prompts, responses, and your file contents when using the Microsoft Copilot app aren't used to train foundation models.”
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/microsoft-copilot/overview · checked Oct 17, 2026
“An updated version of the Microsoft Copilot app for web, desktop, and mobile devices is available as of August 18, 2026.”
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/privacy-faq-for-microsoft-copilot · checked Oct 17, 2026
“Except for certain categories of users or users who have opted out, Microsoft uses data from Bing, MSN, Copilot, and interactions with ads on Microsoft for AI training.”
Can you turn training off?
Older app: Profile > Privacy > Training on conversation activity / Training on voice conversations. The new app's privacy-controls page lists Memory, Shared experiences, Chat history, Web search, Personalized ads, and Edge import, with no training setting.
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/microsoft-copilot-privacy-controls · checked Oct 17, 2026
“On copilot.com: Select your profile icon, select your profile name, then select Privacy > Training on conversation activity and Training on voice conversations.”
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/microsoft-copilot/privacy-controls · checked Oct 17, 2026
“In Microsoft Copilot, we give you control over how your data is used. For example, for the following areas: Memory Shared experiences Chat history Web search Personalized advertising Import browser data from Microsoft Edge”
Data retention
The new-app pages checked describe how to delete chats but give no retention period.
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/privacy-faq-for-microsoft-copilot · checked Oct 17, 2026
“By default, we store conversation activity for 18 months.”
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/microsoft-copilot/privacy-controls · checked Oct 17, 2026
“Microsoft Copilot keeps your prior conversations with Copilot so you can revisit them or continue them at any time.”
Retention after you delete
No post-deletion purge window found on the Copilot pages checked (old or new app).
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/privacy-faq-for-microsoft-copilot · checked Oct 17, 2026
“You can delete individual conversations or your entire conversation history at any time.”
Human review of chats
Older-app FAQ: some conversations get automated and human review for product improvement and safety, with no opt-out. The new-app Transparency Note says submitted feedback is reviewed by Microsoft's operations teams.
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/privacy-faq-for-microsoft-copilot · checked Oct 17, 2026
“Some Copilot conversations are subject to both automated and human review for product improvement and digital safety purposes.”
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/privacy-faq-for-microsoft-copilot · checked Oct 17, 2026
“To ensure that our services are safe and secure for everyone, an opt-out of human review is not available.”
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/microsoft-copilot/transparency-note · checked Oct 17, 2026
“The Copilot experience includes tooling that allows users to submit feedback, which are reviewed by Microsoft's operations teams.”
Temporary / incognito chat
No temporary or incognito chat mode is described on the consumer Copilot pages checked.
Data location
From the general Microsoft Privacy Statement. Nothing Copilot-specific found.
- microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/privacystatement · checked Oct 17, 2026
“Personal data collected by Microsoft may be stored and processed in your region, in the United States, and in any other jurisdiction where Microsoft or its affiliates, subsidiaries, or service providers operate facilities.”
SOC 2 Type II
Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed).
ISO/IEC 27001
Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed).
ISO/IEC 42001
Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed).
DPA available
Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed).
BAA / HIPAA
Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed).
Zero-retention option
Not checked in this personal-plan research pass (consumer/business compliance docs not reviewed).
How to turn off training in Microsoft Copilot (personal Microsoft account)
New app (Aug 18 2026+): Microsoft says chats aren't used to train foundation models, so there's no toggle. Older app: turn off "Training on conversation activity".
Older Copilot app (web)
- On copilot.com, select your profile icon.
- Select your profile name.
- Select Privacy.
- Turn off Training on conversation activity and Training on voice conversations.
Older Copilot app (mobile)
- Open the menu and select your profile icon.
- Select Account > Privacy.
- Turn off Training on conversation activity and Training on voice conversations.
New Copilot app (related settings)
Settings > Personalization: turn off Saved memories, One shared experience, and Allow ads personalization if wanted.
Keep in mind
- Older app: opting out doesn't stop use for general product improvement, ads, safety, or compliance.
- Older app: human review can't be opted out of.
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/microsoft-copilot-privacy-controls · checked Oct 17, 2026
“This setting will not exclude your conversations from being used for other general product or system improvements nor from use for advertising, digital safety, security, and compliance purposes as outlined in the Microsoft Privacy Statement.”
Vendor pages we monitor for this tool
We save a fingerprint (SHA-256 of the page's visible text) on every check so we can spot when a vendor edits its terms.
| Page | Checked | Fingerprint |
|---|---|---|
| https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/microsoft-copilot/overview | Oct 17, 2026 | 31ef20ac2779… |
| https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/microsoft-copilot/activity-history | Oct 17, 2026 | 605a7a58bbb4… |
| https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/microsoft-copilot/privacy-controls | Oct 17, 2026 | d87906caf96d… |
| https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/microsoft-copilot/transparency-note | Oct 17, 2026 | 07f830f72883… |
| https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/privacy-faq-for-microsoft-copilot | Oct 17, 2026 | 980c382e4097… |
| https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/microsoft-copilot-privacy-controls | Oct 17, 2026 | 38e217b9a044… |
| https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/privacystatement | Oct 17, 2026 | e52383fd110e… |
Compare with
- ChatGPT (Free / Plus / Pro) Trains by defaultPersonal
- Claude (Free / Pro / Max) You choose at signupPersonal
- Gemini app (personal Google account) Trains by defaultPersonal
- Amazon Q Business Doesn't train
- ChatGPT Enterprise / Business Doesn't train
- Claude for Work (Team / Enterprise) Doesn't train
See all Assistant tools · Why AI training on your data matters · How we source and verify this