The Copilot image generator is the Microsoft Copilot feature that creates an image from a written description. Open Copilot in your browser, sign in with your Microsoft account if prompted, go to the Create section, describe the subject, style and format you want, and review the result before you use it. Specific prompts give better AI images than short ones.
What you’ll take from this
You will leave able to create, refine and check an image in Copilot for a real work task.
- Follow four steps from prompt to final file
- Reuse one prompt template with variables
- Tell Copilot, Copilot Chat and ChatGPT apart
- Check every image before you publish it
How do you use the Copilot AI image creator for AI image creation?
Open Copilot in your browser, go to the Create section, and type a text prompt describing the image. If prompted, sign in with your Microsoft account; image generation can depend on your account type and plan. Copilot returns options, and you refine them by asking for one change at a time.
- Open Copilot and sign in with your Microsoft account.
- Write a prompt with subject, style, lighting and format.
- Compare the options and request one change at a time.
- Download the final version and save the prompt.
This template fits a PowerPoint presentation slide, with variables in brackets.
Create a flat illustration of [scene], [color palette] colors, light background, horizontal format, and empty space at the top for the slide title.
For a quarterly review, you would set the scene to a team reading a sales dashboard and the palette to blue and white. If the first options look crowded, follow up with “same style, three people instead of six.” Prompting is the skill behind this, and Module 2 of the Microsoft Copilot Training at Founderz, The Art of Talking to AI, teaches prompting techniques and how to keep your own judgment.
Can you generate AI images for free with Copilot?
You can generate AI images with Copilot partly for free. Image creation comes with daily usage limits, and those limits and the included features vary by account type and plan. Check Microsoft support for the current terms before building a routine around it.
Why is the Copilot image generator not working?
Usually one of four things is the cause. You are not signed in, your prompt breaks the content rules, you reached the usage limit, or your plan does not include the feature.
How do you write a descriptive prompt for Copilot images?
Name the format, style and empty space you need, and change one thing per request. Any user, designer or not, gets more usable visuals and high-quality AI-generated images this way than with a one-line description.
| Use | What to specify | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Slide | Horizontal format, palette, space for the title | No unreadable text |
| Website image | Your brand style, format, plain background | No resemblance to another brand |
| Training handout | Simple style, neutral background | No real person or logo |
For more patterns, see our guide to AI image prompts.
Is Copilot a good image generator, and what are the downsides?
It is good for fast business visuals such as slides, mockups and blog illustrations, as long as you review each result. The downsides and limitations are practical: Copilot can invent text or distort details inside an image, and limits and features depend on your plan.
For design work with templates, Microsoft Designer is a separate app, so check on Microsoft support which tool your plan includes. For other options, see our explainers on what Midjourney is and what Adobe Firefly is.
What is the difference between Microsoft 365 Copilot and ChatGPT for image creation?
Copilot creates images inside Microsoft’s ecosystem, while ChatGPT is OpenAI’s standalone chatbot. ChatGPT, from OpenAI, was released on November 30, 2022. Generative AI, the technology behind both, creates new text or images from a prompt.
Copilot Chat is the secure chat for work, used to research, summarize and draft. Microsoft 365 Copilot is an add-on that works inside apps such as Word and PowerPoint with your work data. They are distinct products.
How many professionals use AI at work?
Adoption is already high in knowledge-heavy sectors. According to Eurostat (2025), 62.52% of enterprises in information and communication and 40.43% in professional, scientific and technical activities used AI. The Work Trend Index 2024 from Microsoft and LinkedIn found that 75% of knowledge workers use AI at work.
What should you check before using an AI image?
Check the text, the details and the likeness before anything goes public, because Copilot can invent words or distort objects.
- Confirm any text inside the image is spelled correctly.
- Look for distorted hands, objects or logos.
- Make sure it does not resemble a real brand or person.
Further reading
These sources cover the figures above and Microsoft’s official product guidance.
- Eurostat, use of artificial intelligence in enterprises
- Microsoft, Work Trend Index on AI at work
- Microsoft support
To apply Copilot to your daily work, see the syllabus or request information for the Microsoft Copilot Training from Founderz, in collaboration with Microsoft. According to the programme page, it runs 24 hours, 100% online, with 12 months of access, and includes the Founderz + Microsoft certification and official Microsoft badges.
Frequently asked questions
These are the quick answers readers ask most about Copilot images.
How do I edit or improve an image in Copilot?
Editing options depend on your version and plan, so confirm them on Microsoft support. If you cannot edit the image directly, write a new prompt describing the single change you want, such as a bright office background, and review the result before you save it.
Can Copilot generate images like ChatGPT?
Both create images from text prompts. The main difference is context: Copilot sits inside Microsoft tools such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, while ChatGPT is OpenAI’s standalone chatbot. Features change often, so test the same prompt in both before you choose.
Can I turn a photo into an AI image?
Check whether your Copilot version lets you upload a reference image, because features depend on version and plan. If it does not, describe the photo’s subject, style and lighting in a new prompt and ask for a stylized version. Review the output for distorted faces or details.
How do I save or download images created with Copilot?
Download the final version from the image result, then save the prompt next to the file so you can reproduce it later. The exact download button depends on your version and plan, so confirm it on Microsoft support. Check the image for errors before you share the file.
Can ChatGPT edit an image?
It depends on your ChatGPT version and plan, so confirm current features in the OpenAI help center.
