Seeing a “Copilot Shows Blank Screen” issue? This complete guide explains the causes and provides reliable steps to fix blank Copilot panels in Microsoft 365 or Windows.
What Is the Copilot Shows Blank Screen Issue?
You’re using Word, Excel, Windows 11, or Microsoft Edge, and you open Copilot — but nothing appears. The panel opens, but it’s completely white or grey, with no text, no input box, and no sign of life. This is the Copilot shows blank screen problem, and it leaves many users confused about what to do next.
It often happens after a Windows or Office update, a new login session, or when switching between personal and work accounts. In some cases, Copilot worked just fine earlier — then suddenly started showing a blank interface with no explanation.
Unlike errors with clear messages, the blank screen issue provides no feedback. That makes it harder to understand, but not impossible to fix.
Here’s why this issue matters:
- 🧭 Loss of functionality: You can’t ask Copilot anything or get suggestions if the screen is blank.
- 🔄 Workflow interruption: This breaks your productivity when you’re relying on AI help.
- 🔧 Silent failures: Blank panels often mean a failure in background services, rendering, or permissions.
- 🧩 Hidden misconfigurations: Add-ins, user sessions, or cache issues may be the real problem.
- ⚙️ Fixable in minutes: Once you know where to look, the solution is usually quick.
Let’s break down the main causes — and how to solve them.
📚 Table of Contents
• 🔍 Most Common Causes of Copilot Shows Blank Screen
• 🛠️ How to Fix Copilot Shows Blank Screen
• 🧪 Advanced Troubleshooting Tips
• 💬 User Experiences
• ❓ FAQ – Copilot Shows Blank Screen
• 📚 Related Guides
🔍 Most Common Causes of Copilot Shows Blank Screen
Here’s a breakdown of the most common reasons why Copilot shows a blank screen across Microsoft tools.
| ⚠️ Problem Title | 💬 Explanation |
|---|---|
| 🌐 Poor Internet Connection | Copilot requires an active, stable internet connection to load its UI. |
| 🔐 Expired or Invalid Sign-In Session | If your Microsoft account token is expired, the interface may not load. |
| 🧩 Conflicting Office Add-ins | Some add-ins may block Copilot from rendering properly. |
| 🧱 Security Software Blocking Scripts | Antivirus or firewalls might block Copilot’s web-based scripts. |
| 🔄 Incomplete Windows or Office Update | Outdated components can fail to support Copilot’s user interface. |
| 📁 Cached Data or Session Errors | Copilot may try to load from corrupt or outdated files. |
| ⚙️ Copilot Feature Not Fully Enabled | System settings may show Copilot as active, but back-end features remain off. |
| 🧰 Account Conflict or Permissions Issue | Being signed into multiple accounts can confuse UI access. |
| 🔧 Rendering or Display Scaling Issues | High DPI or display scaling settings might cause Copilot’s panel to appear blank. |
| 🕒 Copilot Still Loading in Background | Slow connections may cause blank panels for several seconds before text loads. |
🛠️ How to Fix Copilot Shows Blank Screen
The good news is that this problem is usually caused by something you can fix in a few clicks. Below are reliable, step-by-step solutions. Try them one at a time and see if the issue resolves.
1. 🔄 Refresh or Restart the App
🧠 Why it works:
The panel may be stuck during rendering and needs a restart to reset.
📌 How to do it:
• Close the app fully (Word, Excel, or Edge)
• Reopen it and launch Copilot again
• In Windows: Close the panel and click the Copilot icon once more
2. 🔐 Sign Out and Back Into Microsoft 365
🧠 Why it works:
Blank Copilot panels can result from expired or invalid tokens.
📌 How to do it:
• Go to File > Account in any Microsoft 365 app
• Click “Sign Out”
• Restart the app and sign in again
3. 🧩 Disable All Add-ins
🧠 Why it works:
Some add-ins block Copilot from loading scripts or visual elements.
📌 How to do it:
• Word or Excel: File > Options > Add-ins
• At the bottom, select “COM Add-ins” and click “Go”
• Uncheck all non-Microsoft add-ins
• Restart the app
4. 🌐 Test Internet and Disable VPN/Proxy
🧠 Why it works:
Blank panels can appear when Copilot scripts fail to load due to blocked requests.
📌 How to do it:
• Switch to a different network or hotspot
• Turn off VPN or proxy tools temporarily
• Try launching Copilot again
5. 🧹 Clear Cache and Temp Files
🧠 Why it works:
Stale or corrupted files can stop Copilot’s UI from loading correctly.
📌 How to do it:
• Close all Office apps
• Navigate to %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office
• Delete cache folders (or move them elsewhere for backup)
• Relaunch the app
6. 🔄 Update Microsoft 365 and Windows
🧠 Why it works:
Older versions may lack components needed for Copilot’s interface.
📌 How to do it:
• For Office: File > Account > Update Options > Update Now
• For Windows: Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates
7. 🔱 Restart Copilot Background Services (Windows Only)
🧠 Why it works:
Copilot in Windows runs on background processes that may have crashed.
📌 How to do it:
• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
• Find “Copilot” or “Windows AI” processes > End task
• Click the Copilot icon to reload it
8. 🛡️ Check Firewall or Antivirus
🧠 Why it works:
Security software might silently block content used by Copilot.
📌 How to do it:
• Open your antivirus settings
• Disable temporarily and test Copilot
• If it works, whitelist Microsoft 365 URLs and services
9. ⚙️ Reset Display Settings (High DPI Screens)
🧠 Why it works:
Scaling issues can sometimes hide interface elements.
📌 How to do it:
• Right-click desktop > Display settings
• Set “Scale” to 100% temporarily
• Reopen your Microsoft 365 app or Copilot panel
10. 👥 Use Only One Signed-In Account
🧠 Why it works:
Multiple signed-in accounts confuse the session and block UI load.
📌 How to do it:
• Sign out of all accounts in your app
• Sign in again using only the Microsoft 365 account with Copilot access
🧪 Advanced Troubleshooting Tips
If you still see a blank screen in Copilot, these advanced solutions can help isolate and resolve deeper technical issues.
1. 🧾 Check License Assignment in Admin Center
🧠 Why it works:
A license mismatch can silently block the UI from loading Copilot components.
📌 How to do it:
• Go to admin.microsoft.com (admin access required)
• Navigate to Users > Active Users
• Select your account > Confirm “Copilot” add-on is assigned
2. 🛠️ Re-register App Components via PowerShell
🧠 Why it works:
Copilot’s UI elements might be disconnected from app containers.
📌 How to do it:
• Open PowerShell as Administrator
• Run: Get-AppxPackage *copilot* | Reset-AppxPackage
• Restart the system
3. 📊 Use Developer Tools in Edge (Copilot Web Only)
🧠 Why it works:
You can see if scripts or network requests are failing behind the blank screen.
📌 How to do it:
• Press F12 in Microsoft Edge
• Go to Console and Network tabs
• Look for errors or blocked requests related to Copilot
4. 📁 Create a New User Profile on Windows
🧠 Why it works:
Corrupted profiles can block components from loading properly.
📌 How to do it:
• Settings > Accounts > Other users > Add new local user
• Log in and test Copilot on that profile
💬 User Experiences
I saw a blank screen in Word’s Copilot panel. After signing out and back into my Microsoft 365 account, it worked perfectly again.
— Jana, Legal Assistant
Copilot in Excel wouldn’t load anything — just a white box. I disabled an add-in and restarted, and the full interface came back.
— Omar, Data Analyst
On my Windows 11 laptop, Copilot was blank until I updated Windows and restarted. Now it works every time.
— Lila, Product Manager
❓ FAQ – Copilot Shows Blank Screen
🌐 Does Copilot need internet to load its UI?
• Yes. It connects to Microsoft servers to retrieve interface content and features.
🔐 Why does signing out help with blank screens?
• It refreshes your session and forces Microsoft 365 to reload UI components.
🧩 Can Office add-ins block Copilot’s panel?
• Yes. Some add-ins disrupt scripts or prevent elements from rendering correctly.
🛠️ What if only Word shows the blank screen but Excel works?
• Try disabling Word-specific add-ins or resetting its cache.
⚙️ Will reinstalling Office fix the issue?
• Often yes — especially if the installation is incomplete or damaged.
📁 Can display scaling cause Copilot to appear blank?
• On high-DPI screens, improper scaling may hide Copilot content.
👥 Can using more than one account affect the interface?
• Yes. Conflicting sessions can block the panel from displaying properly.
🧾 Where can I check if I have Copilot access?
• Go to your Microsoft 365 account settings or ask your admin via the Admin Center.
🗣️ What Do You Think?
If Copilot is showing a blank screen, you’re not alone. Many users experience this — especially after updates or license changes. If one of these solutions helped you, or you found a different fix, share it in the comments to help others.
📚 Related Guides
• Copilot Data Error
• Copilot Network Connection Error
• Copilot Keeps Crashing
• Copilot Something Went Wrong Error
📢 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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