Is Copilot freezing or not responding? Learn how to fix unresponsive behavior in Word, Excel, and Teams with clear steps and expert guidance.
What Is the Copilot Freezing Or Not Responding Issue?
If Copilot is freezing or not responding, you may be left staring at a blank pane or a spinning loader for far longer than expected. Whether it happens in Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams, or another 365 app, this issue is disruptive. You click the Copilot icon expecting help—and instead, the app stalls or completely locks up. No output, no interaction, no explanation.
This unresponsiveness may occur when trying to generate content, summarize a meeting, or analyze a spreadsheet. In some cases, Copilot launches but doesn’t react to your prompts. In others, it becomes stuck mid-task or freezes the host application entirely. This problem is frequently tied to system resource issues, corrupted app data, or unstable cloud communication.
Understanding the source of this issue will help you resolve it more confidently and prevent it from happening again.
Here’s why it’s important to address:
- 🛠️ Interrupts Workflow Mid-Task: You lose time and focus trying to restart or recover your work.
- 💬 Blocks Smart Suggestions or Summaries: Without a response, Copilot’s key features are unavailable.
- 🔄 Leads to Data Loss Risks: Frozen applications may crash before unsaved changes are recorded.
- 📉 Causes User Frustration: Waiting for a tool that doesn’t respond disrupts confidence in Microsoft Copilot.
- ⚙️ May Reflect a Larger Microsoft Copilot Performance Issue: The error might be a symptom of something broader in your system.
Let’s explore the reasons behind this issue and how you can fix it quickly.
📚 Table of Contents
• 🔍 Most Common Causes of Copilot Freezing Or Not Responding
• 🛠️ How to Fix Copilot Freezing Or Not Responding
• 🧪 Advanced Troubleshooting Tips
• 💬 User Experiences
• ❓ FAQ – Copilot Freezing Or Not Responding
• 📚 Related Guides
🔍 Most Common Causes of Copilot Freezing Or Not Responding
The Copilot freezing or not responding issue usually stems from compatibility problems, heavy document processing, or blocked resources. Below is a quick reference table of common triggers and what they mean.
| ⚠️ Problem Title | 💬 Explanation |
|---|---|
| 🧊 Microsoft Copilot Performance Issue | System slowdowns or delayed response to user input. |
| ⌛ Copilot Lag in Word or Excel | Large files, heavy formulas, or formatting cause long delays. |
| 🛠️ Fix Copilot Unresponsive Behavior | Errors during generation or cloud sync prevent Copilot from loading properly. |
| 🚫 Outdated Office or Teams App | Older versions may not fully support current Copilot components. |
| 🌐 Weak or Unstable Internet Connection | Copilot requires real-time cloud access to function correctly. |
| 📁 Corrupt Templates or Add-ins | Add-ons or custom templates can conflict with Copilot tasks. |
| 🔄 Improper Cloud File Sync | Unsynced or locked files block Copilot processing. |
| 🧰 Limited System Resources | Low memory or high CPU usage stalls background operations. |
| 🔧 Troubleshoot Frozen Copilot Window | Windows registry or cache conflicts can cause UI elements to freeze. |
| 🧩 Background Services Interrupting AI Tools | Antivirus or sync tools may block data Copilot needs to operate. |
🛠️ How to Fix Copilot Freezing Or Not Responding
Now let’s go step-by-step through simple fixes you can apply today. These are effective for resolving most Copilot freezing or not responding issues across Word, Excel, Teams, and other apps.
1. 🔁 Restart the App and Your Device
🧠 Why it works:
This clears temporary memory conflicts and resets Copilot session data.
📌 How to do it:
• Save all open work
• Fully close the Microsoft 365 app and reboot your computer
• Open the app again and test Copilot’s responsiveness
2. 📤 Update Microsoft Office or Teams
🧠 Why it works:
Newer builds often contain performance enhancements that prevent freezing.
📌 How to do it:
• Open Word or Teams > File > Account
• Click “Update Options” > “Update Now”
• Restart the app after updates are complete
3. ⚙️ Close Unnecessary Background Applications
🧠 Why it works:
Background tools consume memory, reducing the resources Copilot needs.
📌 How to do it:
• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
• End apps with high CPU/RAM usage
• Relaunch Copilot and try again
4. 🧩 Disable Third-Party Add-ins
🧠 Why it works:
Some add-ins conflict with Microsoft Copilot components.
📌 How to do it:
• In Word or Excel: File > Options > Add-ins
• Select “Manage: COM Add-ins” > Go
• Uncheck all non-Microsoft add-ins and restart
5. 🌐 Improve Network Quality
🧠 Why it works:
Copilot depends on stable internet to fetch data and respond to prompts.
📌 How to do it:
• Restart your router or switch to a different connection
• Use a wired Ethernet connection if possible
• Confirm you have at least 10 Mbps stable speed
6. 📁 Simplify or Reduce File Size
🧠 Why it works:
Copilot may freeze when processing large documents or complex data sets.
📌 How to do it:
• Break your content into smaller sections
• Remove unused elements (e.g. charts, long tables)
• Try Copilot in a new, clean document
7. 🔧 Fix Copilot Unresponsive Behavior With Account Sync
🧠 Why it works:
Invalid credentials or token delays prevent Copilot from fully loading.
📌 How to do it:
• Sign out of your Microsoft 365 account
• Close the app completely
• Sign in again and open Copilot
8. 🛠️ Clear Office or Teams Cache
🧠 Why it works:
Cache corruption often causes freezing in AI-powered tools.
📌 How to do it:
• For Teams: Navigate to %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams
• Delete folders: Cache, blob_storage, IndexedDB
• Restart the app and test Copilot again
9. 🔄 Repair Microsoft 365
🧠 Why it works:
Corrupt installation files or registry entries may cause freezing.
📌 How to do it:
• Go to Control Panel > Programs > Microsoft 365 > Change
• Choose “Online Repair”
• Reboot and reopen your apps
10. 🧠 Use Copilot in the Web App as a Test
🧠 Why it works:
The browser version of Word or Teams may avoid local performance problems.
📌 How to do it:
• Go to office.com
• Open your document or app in the browser
• Try interacting with Copilot again
🧪 Advanced Troubleshooting Tips
If none of the standard solutions helped, try these deeper methods to resolve Copilot freezing or not responding issues. These are suited for technical users or system administrators.
1. 🔐 Run System File Checker
🧠 Why it works:
Corrupted system files can crash Microsoft components used by Copilot.
📌 How to do it:
• Open Command Prompt as Admin
• Run: sfc /scannow
• Let the scan complete and restart your system
2. 🌐 Change DNS to Improve Cloud Sync
🧠 Why it works:
Slow DNS resolution can delay Copilot response times.
📌 How to do it:
• Go to Network Settings > Adapter Options
• Set DNS to 8.8.8.8 and 1.1.1.1
• Save, restart, and test again
3. 🧪 Review Microsoft Copilot Performance Logs
🧠 Why it works:
Logs often reveal what triggered freezing, like slow prompts or failed services.
📌 How to do it:
• In Teams: Press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + 1 to export logs
• Open logs with a text editor
• Search for delays, blocked calls, or “response timeout”
4. ⚙️ Check for Conflicting Group Policies
🧠 Why it works:
IT-managed policies may block AI interactions or dynamic rendering.
📌 How to do it:
• Ask your admin to review local Group Policy settings
• Check if AI features or script-based content are disabled
💬 User Experiences
Copilot kept freezing in Word after every prompt. I updated Office and cleared old add-ins—now it runs smoothly.
— Anna, Legal Editor
It would just spin forever in Excel. The problem turned out to be my VPN. Once I disconnected, Copilot started working fine.
— Marcus, Business Analyst
Teams would lock up whenever I tried using Copilot. I moved to the web version and haven’t had a single issue since.
— Tara, HR Manager
❓ FAQ – Copilot Freezing Or Not Responding
🧊 Why does Copilot freeze in Word or Excel?
• Large files, heavy formatting, or add-ins can overload the system and cause Copilot to stop responding.
🔧 Is this a Microsoft Copilot performance issue?
• Sometimes. Server delays or temporary outages can cause slowdowns or freezing.
🔄 Can clearing the cache help?
• Yes, clearing Teams or Office cache can resolve several responsiveness issues.
📤 Do I need to reinstall Office to fix this?
• Not always. Try an online repair first—it’s quicker and often effective.
⚙️ Why does Copilot lag on some files but not others?
• File complexity, sync state, and embedded content can all influence Copilot’s speed.
🌐 Does internet speed affect responsiveness?
• Definitely. A strong and stable internet connection is essential for Copilot’s performance.
🛠️ Is this related to my Microsoft 365 license?
• Not usually—but missing features or expired licenses can cause related errors.
🧩 Should I test Copilot in the web version?
• Yes. It’s a helpful way to confirm whether the issue is app-specific or system-wide.
🗣️ What Do You Think?
When Copilot is freezing or not responding, it doesn’t mean your setup is broken—it just means something needs adjusting. Whether it’s memory, network, or app configuration, the solutions above should get you back on track. Still having trouble? Drop a comment and let us know. You’re not alone—and help is here.
📚 Related Guides
• Copilot Broken After OS Update
• Copilot Android Not Working
• Copilot iOS Not Working
• Copilot Not Working
📢 About the Author
At AIFixup, our team brings over 5 years of hands-on experience in conceptualizing, developing, and optimizing AI tools. Every piece of content you see on this platform is rooted in real-world expertise and a deep understanding of the AI landscape.
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