Quickly Research Any Topic and Summarise Web Pages with Microsoft Copilot in Edge

Open Copilot in Edge

Open the Microsoft Edge browser on your device. Look for the Copilot icon in the top-right corner of the screen — it looks like a blue square with a white spark inside. Click it once. A sidebar will open on the right side of your screen with Copilot ready to chat. If you don’t see the spark icon, look for a blue circle with a white "C" or a menu with three lines (☰) in the top-right corner. You’ll know it worked when the Copilot sidebar appears.

Start a new chat

In the Copilot sidebar, you’ll see a text box that says "Ask Copilot anything…" Click inside it. A blinking cursor will appear. This is where you type your research question or topic. If the box is missing, look for a "New chat" button at the top of the sidebar. You’ll know it worked when you see the cursor ready for you to type.

Ask your research question

Type your question or topic into the text box. For example, if you’re researching climate change, you might type: "What are the main causes and effects of climate change in Australia?" Then press Enter or click the send arrow. Copilot will process your request and show a response in the chat. If nothing happens, check your internet connection or try refreshing the page. You’ll know it worked when you see Copilot’s answer appear below your question.

Request a page summary

If you’re on a long article or webpage and want a quick summary, highlight the URL in your browser’s address bar, copy it (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C), then paste it (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V) into the Copilot chat box. Add a note like: "Summarise this page." Press Enter. Copilot will read the page and give you a concise summary. If the summary is too long, ask: "Give me the top 3 points only." You’ll know it worked when you see a clear, shortened version of the page’s content.

Then type: "Summarise this page."

Ask follow-up questions

After Copilot gives you a summary, you can ask more questions to dig deeper. For example, if the summary mentions "renewable energy targets," you could ask: "What are Australia’s current renewable energy targets for 2030?" Copilot will use the context from your chat to give a more accurate answer. If Copilot doesn’t understand, try rephrasing your question. You’ll know it worked when you get a relevant, detailed answer based on the conversation so far.

Compare information from multiple pages

To research a topic across several sources, open each webpage in a new tab. Then, in Copilot, ask: "Compare the main points about renewable energy policies from these pages: [paste first URL], [paste second URL]." Copilot will analyse the content and give you a side-by-side summary. If you get an error, make sure the pages are public and accessible. You’ll know it worked when you see a comparison that highlights differences and similarities.