What happens to my Copilot Group Chats and podcasts after August 18?

Microsoft says Group Chat threads, messages and content will not be carried forward after August 18, 2026, and Podcasts will no longer be available after that date. Chat history and created content from the rest of the Copilot app do migrate to the merged app, but Microsoft notes that retired-feature content may be handled differently.

Can I still run deep research in Copilot, and which plan do I need?

Deep Research is retired in the consumer Copilot app starting August 18, 2026. Microsoft points paid users to Researcher instead, a similar report-generation tool available to Microsoft 365 Premium subscribers. That is a higher tier than the Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans, so consumers on those plans lose the capability rather than keep it.

When does the merged Copilot app reach Windows and Mac?

The worldwide rollout of the merged Microsoft Copilot app starts with mobile and web in mid-August 2026, and the Windows and Mac desktop apps follow in mid-September 2026. Microsoft describes the change as automatic, with users guided through the transition, and warns that some other features may temporarily disappear during the move.

Is this the Copilot Super App that Microsoft has been describing?

No. Microsoft frames this merge as a step toward the Super App rather than its launch. The Super App is meant to bring Copilot chat, AI coding, Cowork and the new AutoPilot agents together in one place. This release only combines the consumer Copilot app and the Microsoft 365 Copilot app.

Where do my old Copilot files go?

Files generated by the standalone Copilot app are moved to OneDrive as part of the merge. Microsoft says people can then access and manage those files through the OneDrive apps or by signing in with their Microsoft account, so the content is not deleted, just relocated out of the Copilot app itself.

Microsoft · 2026-08-13 · major

Microsoft merges its two Copilot apps — three features retire on August 18

Microsoft is folding the consumer Copilot app and the Microsoft 365 Copilot app into one app called Microsoft Copilot. Group Chat, Podcasts and Deep Research stop working on August 18, and Deep Research returns only as a paid tool.

Mico, the animated Copilot voice character that Microsoft is retiring — TechCrunch

Microsoft is cutting Group Chat, Podcasts and Deep Research as it folds two Copilot apps into one.

Quick facts

Maker	Microsoft
What's new	Consumer Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot become one app
New name	Microsoft Copilot, with a new icon and web address
Features retiring	Group Chat, Podcasts, Deep Research
Retirement date	August 18, 2026
Rollout	Mobile and web mid-August, Windows and Mac mid-September
Deep Research replacement	Researcher, on Microsoft 365 Premium

What is it?

Three Copilot features stop working on August 18, 2026: Group Chat, Podcasts and Deep Research. Microsoft is retiring them as part of merging its consumer Copilot app with the Microsoft 365 Copilot app into a single product called Microsoft Copilot, which gets a new icon and a new web address. Mico, the animated character added to the consumer voice mode, is also going away.

How does it work?

The merged Copilot app handles a personal account and a work account side by side, and keeps their chats, content and data separate inside the same app. Existing chat history and created content move across automatically, and files the old standalone app produced are moved to OneDrive, where people can reach them through the OneDrive apps or by signing in with a Microsoft account.

Why does it matter?

Anyone who relies on the retired Copilot features has five days to act. Group Chat threads and messages are not carried forward, podcasts stop being available, and the closest replacement for Deep Research is Researcher, which sits behind a Microsoft 365 Premium subscription rather than the cheaper Personal and Family plans. Microsoft says this merge is a step toward its planned Super App, not the Super App itself.

Who is it for?

Copilot users, Microsoft 365 admins, IT teams

Frequently asked questions

What happens to my Copilot Group Chats and podcasts after August 18?: Microsoft says Group Chat threads, messages and content will not be carried forward after August 18, 2026, and Podcasts will no longer be available after that date. Chat history and created content from the rest of the Copilot app do migrate to the merged app, but Microsoft notes that retired-feature content may be handled differently.
Can I still run deep research in Copilot, and which plan do I need?: Deep Research is retired in the consumer Copilot app starting August 18, 2026. Microsoft points paid users to Researcher instead, a similar report-generation tool available to Microsoft 365 Premium subscribers. That is a higher tier than the Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans, so consumers on those plans lose the capability rather than keep it.
When does the merged Copilot app reach Windows and Mac?: The worldwide rollout of the merged Microsoft Copilot app starts with mobile and web in mid-August 2026, and the Windows and Mac desktop apps follow in mid-September 2026. Microsoft describes the change as automatic, with users guided through the transition, and warns that some other features may temporarily disappear during the move.
Is this the Copilot Super App that Microsoft has been describing?: No. Microsoft frames this merge as a step toward the Super App rather than its launch. The Super App is meant to bring Copilot chat, AI coding, Cowork and the new AutoPilot agents together in one place. This release only combines the consumer Copilot app and the Microsoft 365 Copilot app.
Where do my old Copilot files go?: Files generated by the standalone Copilot app are moved to OneDrive as part of the merge. Microsoft says people can then access and manage those files through the OneDrive apps or by signing in with their Microsoft account, so the content is not deleted, just relocated out of the Copilot app itself.

Try it

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/learning/changes-microsoft-copilot-app