Eleanor has attended:
Microsoft Copilot Engage course
Microsoft Copilot Champions course
Copilot New Agent Query
I have created a new agent on Copilot for a task I complete.
I recently tried this task using the general agent on my browser and the agent could see the webpage I was on, enabling it to extract figures. With this new agent, it cannot see my webpage.
On the settings of my new agent, there is no option to turn "Copilot response includes: Web Search" on, like the general agent does. Is there a way to enable the new agent to see my web page?
RE: Copilot New Agent Query
Hi Eleanor,
The general Copilot in your browser can access the webpage you’re viewing because it’s integrated with Edge’s sidebar and uses the "fetch_edge_content" capability. This is what allows it to extract figures or summarise content from the active tab.
Your custom agent does not automatically inherit this capability unless it’s explicitly configured to run in the same context (Edge sidebar with page access). The absence of the “Copilot response includes: Web Search” toggle suggests that your new agent is running in a different mode, likely as a standalone conversational agent without Edge page context.
Why the difference?
General Copilot = full integration with Edge, can see your active tab.
Custom agent = isolated environment, no direct access to browser content unless you enable it via the platform settings.
To Enable Edge Tab Context
Go to Settings → Capabilities
In the agent settings, look for Capabilities or Data Access options
Toggle "Allow access" to active webpage content (sometimes labelled as Edge integration or Page context).
If it's not there it could also be disabled by your organisation
Kind regards
Richard
STL - https://www.stl-training.co.uk
98%+ recommend us
London's leader with UK wide delivery in Microsoft Office training and management training to global brands, FTSE 100, SME's and the public sector
RE: Copilot New Agent Query
Hi Richard.
Thank you for that information.
I have checked with my organisation's IT department and they have confirmed that is has not been disabled. However, they have asked for an example or a screenshot of such agent and its configuration to understand which settings you are referring to.
My IT department explained that the edge custom Copilot agents do not have this option available and that I will have to use Copilot Studio to build an agent with an API to read the active tab data in edge using the tools section.
Please can you clarify if these settings are available of the general Copilot app or would I have to build in an API on Copilot studio?
Many thanks,
Eleanor
RE: Copilot New Agent Query
Hi Eleanor,
Your IT department is correct, custom Copilot agents in Edge do not have the built-in option to read the active tab. To achieve this, you’ll need to use Copilot Studio, which is a separate licence (usually managed by IT).
For custom agents in Copilot Studio (High level as we don't currently offer a course on this, that will be launching soon)
You’ll need to build an API connection using the Tools section in Copilot Studio.
Create a Custom Action
In Copilot Studio, go to Tools and select Add a Custom Action.
Define the action to call an API that retrieves the active tab content.
Set Up the API
Use an Edge context API or a secure endpoint that can return the page content.
Configure authentication (OAuth or token-based) as required by your organisation.
Bind the Action to Your Agent
Add the custom action to your agent’s workflow so it can invoke the API when needed.
Test the integration to ensure the agent can process and summarise the returned data.
It's also possible Microsoft will solve this request and make it an option but we'll have to keep watching to see if they do.
Kind regards
Richard
STL - https://www.stl-training.co.uk
98%+ recommend us
London's leader with UK wide delivery in Microsoft Office training and management training to global brands, FTSE 100, SME's and the public sector
