Microsoft is set to restrict Copilot AI features in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote to licensed users from April 2026, while updating hardware prerequisites for seamless performance.
Microsoft 365 remains one of the most widely used productivity suites for documents, spreadsheets, slides and email, and the Atmos page presents it as a tool suited to work, education and everyday tasks. It highlights PowerPoint and Outlook as core applications, underlining how the suite continues to position itself as an all-in-one package for presentation design and email management.
That broad appeal still sits alongside practical system limits. Microsoft’s support documentation says Microsoft 365 for home use requires a processor of at least 1.6 GHz with two cores, 4 GB of RAM and 4 GB of available storage. The company also says the software runs on Windows 11, Windows 10 and the three most recent versions of macOS, with support for modern versions of Edge, Safari, Chrome and Firefox.
The technical floor is modest, but it is still firm. Microsoft’s requirements pages make clear that Microsoft 365 is not a one-size-fits-all download and that users need compatible hardware and an up-to-date operating system to avoid performance and installation issues. That matters for anyone comparing preinstalled office suites, subscription plans or third-party claims about easy access.
The product is also changing in another important way: artificial intelligence features are being tightened. Windows Central reported that, from April 15, 2026, Copilot access inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote is being restricted to users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence, although Outlook’s Copilot functions remain available for inbox and calendar work. The same report said Microsoft has introduced Microsoft 365 Premium, a $19.99-a-month plan that bundles Office with Copilot Pro and higher usage limits, signalling a clearer split between standard productivity tools and paid AI capabilities.
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