Microsoft Copilot To Leave WhatsApp In January 2026

Microsoft has announced that its Copilot chatbot will stop working on WhatsApp on 15 January 2026 after WhatsApp introduces its new restrictions on third party AI assistants.

Why Copilot Was On WhatsApp In The First Place

Copilot was launched on WhatsApp in late 2024 as part of Microsoft’s wider effort to meet users inside the apps they already use each day. It allows people to talk to Copilot through a normal WhatsApp chat thread, asking questions, requesting explanations, drafting messages, or generating ideas. Microsoft says “millions of people” have used the WhatsApp integration since launch, showing how messaging apps have become a common first step into generative AI for mainstream users.

Operated Through The WhatsApp Business API

The chatbot operated through the WhatsApp Business API, which is the system that lets companies automate conversations with customers. Copilot’s version was “unauthenticated”, meaning users did not sign in with a Microsoft account. This made the experience fast and simple, although it meant the service was separated from users’ main Copilot profiles on Microsoft platforms.

Why It’s Being Removed

The removal of Copilot from WhatsApp appears to be due entirely to changes in WhatsApp’s platform rules. For example, in October 2025, WhatsApp updated its Business API terms to prohibit general purpose AI chatbots from running on the platform. These rules apply to assistants capable of broad, open ended conversation rather than bots created to support specific customer service tasks.

WhatsApp said the Business API should remain focused on helping organisations serve customers, i.e., providing shipping updates, booking information, or answers to common questions. The company made clear that it no longer intends WhatsApp to act as a distribution channel for large AI assistants created by external providers.

Several Factors, Say Industry Analysts

Industry analysts have linked the decision to several factors. For example, these include the cost of handling high volume AI traffic on WhatsApp’s infrastructure, Meta’s growing focus on consolidating data inside its own ecosystem, and the introduction of Meta AI, the company’s consumer facing assistant that is being deployed across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger. Meta AI is expected to remain the only general purpose assistant users can access directly inside WhatsApp once the policy takes effect.

How The Change Will Happen

Microsoft has confirmed that Copilot will remain accessible on WhatsApp until 15 January. After that date, the chatbot will stop responding and users will not be able to send new prompts through the app.

Microsoft has also warned that chat history will not transfer to any other Copilot platform. The WhatsApp integration not using Microsoft’s account authentication means that there is no technical link between a user’s WhatsApp conversation and their profile on the Copilot app or website. Microsoft therefore recommends exporting chats manually using WhatsApp’s built in export tool before the deadline if users want to keep a record of past conversations.

OpenAI has taken a similar approach with ChatGPT on WhatsApp, although it has said that some users may be able to link previous chats to their ChatGPT history if they used a version tied to their account. This is not an option for Copilot due to the design of the original integration.

Where Users Can Access Copilot Instead

Microsoft is directing users to three main platforms where Copilot will continue to be available, which are:

1. The Copilot mobile app on iOS and Android.

2. Copilot on the web at copilot.microsoft.com.

3. Copilot on Windows, built into the operating system.

These platforms support all of the core features users are already familiar with and introduce additional tools that were not available in WhatsApp. These include Copilot Voice for spoken queries, Copilot Vision for image understanding, and Mico, a companion style presence that supports daily tasks. Microsoft says these will form the central experience for Copilot going forward.

The Wider Effect On AI Chatbots

WhatsApp is now reported to be used by more than three billion people globally and has become an important distribution route for companies deploying AI driven tools. The updated rules now mean that all general purpose AI assistants will be removed from the platform, including ChatGPT and Perplexity, which were introduced earlier in 2025. Each provider has begun notifying users and guiding them towards their own mobile apps and websites.

OpenAI previously said more than 50 million people had used ChatGPT through WhatsApp, showing how significant the channel had become for AI adoption. Microsoft has not released its own usage figures beyond confirming “millions” of Copilot interactions on WhatsApp since launch.

Commentary from industry analysts notes that the update will reshape how external AI companies can reach users inside Meta’s ecosystem. It also creates a clearer distinction between approved business automation, which can continue, and broad AI assistants, which cannot operate inside WhatsApp under the new rules.

What The Policy Change Means For AI Developers

Developers that relied on the WhatsApp Business API to distribute general purpose assistants will no longer be able to use that channel. Companies that built workflows around WhatsApp based assistants now need to redesign their approach to comply with the updated rules. Many WhatsApp integration providers have already issued technical advice to help organisations check whether their existing use cases fall under the new restrictions or remain permitted under the “customer support” classification.

Microsoft’s public response has been measured. For example, its official statement states that it is “proud of the impact” Copilot has had on WhatsApp and that it is now focused on ensuring a smooth transition for users. The company has avoided any direct criticism of WhatsApp and has instead highlighted the added functionality available in its own apps, particularly multimodal features that did not fit within WhatsApp’s interface.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

This development shows how quickly access to mainstream AI tools can change when platform rules are updated, and it reinforces how much control large messaging platforms now have over which assistants users can reach. For UK businesses, the change means that any informal use of Copilot or ChatGPT through WhatsApp will now need to move to authenticated apps or web based tools, which may offer clearer security controls even if the transition disrupts established habits. Organisations that had started exploring AI driven workflows inside WhatsApp must check whether their implementations fall within the permitted customer support category or whether they now count as general purpose assistants that need reworking or relocating.

AI developers face tighter boundaries on where and how their models can operate, particularly when relying on platforms that sit between them and their users. This will encourage providers to invest more heavily in their own apps and operating system integrations, where they retain full control over authentication, data handling, and feature development. Users who previously relied on WhatsApp as a simple way to test or adopt generative AI will now need to shift their expectations to standalone tools that offer richer functionality but require more deliberate use.

This change also highlights how Meta is positioning its own assistant as the primary option inside WhatsApp, creating a more contained environment for general purpose AI. This will influence how consumers discover and evaluate different AI products, and it will shape how competing providers reach audiences on messaging platforms that have become central to everyday communication.