How to cite Microsoft Copilot
Need to cite a conversation with Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft)? Choose your style, add the date and (optionally) your prompt, and copy a correctly formatted citation — free, no sign-up.
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Fill in the details and your formatted citation will appear here.
How do you cite an AI chatbot?
Because an AI chatbot's output isn't publicly retrievable, most style guides treat it like software or an algorithm. The core pieces are the company that made it (Microsoft), the tool and version (Microsoft Copilot), the date you used it, and the URL. In APA you list Microsoft as the author; in MLA you start with your prompt; Chicago usually puts the whole thing in a note.
One rule holds across every style: describe how you used it in your text or methods, and keep your own record of the prompt and reply, because Microsoft Copilot conversations can't be retrieved by your reader.
Microsoft Copilot citation examples by style
APA 7th edition
Microsoft. (2026). Microsoft Copilot [Large language model]. https://copilot.microsoft.com
In-text: (Microsoft, 2026)
MLA 9th edition
“Draft an outline for a lab report” prompt. Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft, 12 March 2026, https://copilot.microsoft.com.
In-text: (“Draft an outline for…”)
Chicago (notes–bibliography)
Microsoft, Microsoft Copilot, 12 March 2026, https://copilot.microsoft.com.
In-text: (Microsoft, 2026)
Examples use a sample date (12 March 2026) and prompt; the generator above uses your own details.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to cite Microsoft Copilot at all?
Yes — if you quote, paraphrase, or build on Microsoft Copilot's output, cite it, and check your instructor's policy on AI use. Passing AI text off as your own is plagiarism.
Who is the author — me or Microsoft?
In APA and Chicago, the author is Microsoft (the company that made Microsoft Copilot). MLA starts the entry with the prompt you used instead.
What if I don't know the version?
Leave it blank — it's optional. If you can find it (often shown in the app), adding the version makes your citation more precise.