Microsoft has retired the Computer Use feature in the Researcher agent. Computer Use in Researcher was introduced in October 2025 as a Frontier feature and was part of the Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
Researcher with Computer Use in Microsoft 365 Copilot is designed for in-depth research and analysis. It lets you interact with websites, apps, and tools in a secure virtual environment so Copilot can handle steps like browsing, signing in, and gathering data.
Microsoft has integrated Computer Use into Copilot Cowork. Copilot Cowork now uses a usage-based billing model. Compared to the previous Researcher setup, tasks executed by Computer Use are no longer included in your Copilot Premium license.
Copilot Cowork can use the local browser to complete web tasks in Microsoft Edge on the user’s device, using the sites they are already signed in to. The agent works in a hidden Edge tab so users can stay in the conversation while it acts on their behalf.
According to Microsoft, instead of using Researcher for this kind of task, users will now find the same web-browsing assistance built directly into Copilot Cowork, where Copilot can visit websites and carry out steps online to help complete a task. What Microsoft forgot to mention is the billing part. An organization now has to pay for each execution.
Cowork uses a usage-based billing model: your organization is charged based on how much your users do with Cowork. Activities such as model responses, tool and skill calls, image generation, and browser tasks count toward consumption.
Although Computer Use in Researcher was officially retired on 1 July 2026, you may still find the feature in your tenant.
More information
- Get started using Researcher with Computer Use in Microsoft 365 Copilot (Frontier) | Microsoft Support
- Introducing Researcher with Computer Use in Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft Community Hub
- Researcher with Computer Use admin configuration | Microsoft Learn
- Use the local browser with Copilot Cowork | Microsoft Learn
