Copilot Chat: create and manage a personal skill

Key insights

• A skill packages reusable instructions for a task so you do not have to repeat them in every prompt.
• Copilot can generate a skill after you describe the task and respond to clarifying questions.
• Use Agents and skills to find, edit, activate, deactivate, download, delete, or upload skills.
• A saved skill can be tried directly or added to a chat through the slash menu.
• The demonstration does not establish licensing, rollout dates, or where skill files are stored.

Copilot Chat lets you create and reuse a personal skill: a set of task-specific instructions that can shape how Copilot responds without requiring you to repeat those instructions each time. This is useful for people who regularly ask Copilot to perform the same kind of writing or other repeatable task. Ami Diamond [MVP] demonstrates creating and managing a skill in Copilot Chat.

What it does

A skill is a reusable set of instructions for a particular task. In the demonstration, the example is a “human-personal-voice” skill intended to rewrite text in a more human-sounding voice. Diamond begins by asking Copilot to make a personal skill, then answers questions that help define what it should cover.

That exchange matters because the initial request does not have to spell out every detail. Copilot asks about the skill’s intended use, including whether it should handle LinkedIn posts and whether it should support English and Hebrew. The resulting skill includes a name, a short description, and instructions that can be reviewed and edited.

Creating a skill in chat is distinct from simply asking Copilot to rewrite a sentence. Once the skill is saved, it can be called into a conversation to apply its instructions. The demonstration compares using the skill with a basic rewrite request, although the example’s output is not dramatically different. A test prompt is still necessary to decide whether a skill is useful for a particular task.

Who it is for and what you need

This approach is relevant to Copilot Chat users who want to reuse task-specific instructions, such as a writing style or a repeatable response pattern. The example is personal rather than a centrally managed organizational workflow. The demonstration also shows controls for sharing a downloaded skill, but does not explain organizational governance or how shared skills are administered.

The available material does not state which Microsoft 365 or Copilot license is required, whether the feature is generally available or in preview, or which tenants or regions can use it. It also does not describe prerequisites or an administrator setting. Check the interface in your own environment rather than assuming the same controls are enabled for every user.

The skill is not shown as a file in OneDrive. Diamond says he could not find it there and was unsure where it was stored. Treat the management interface in Copilot Chat as the demonstrated way to locate it; the video does not verify the underlying storage location.

How it works

1. In Copilot Chat, describe the task and ask Copilot to create a personal skill. Be specific about the task and the behavior you want. In the example, the request is for a human-sounding voice.
2. Review Copilot’s clarifying questions and confirm or adjust the proposed requirements. Copilot then generates the skill package. The demonstration shows a ZIP file being generated, but the user does not need to download it to save the skill in chat.
3. Save the skill and review its name, description, and instructions. The example’s save flow asks whether Copilot Chat may use the skill automatically. Choose whether automatic use fits your needs; the presenter opts to use it when needed instead.
4. Test the skill. Use the Try option if it is available, or open the slash menu, choose “Agents and skills,” and search for the skill by name. Add a realistic request and inspect the response.
5. To manage the saved skill, open “Agents and skills” and find it in the list. The demonstration shows controls to turn it on or off and a three-dot menu with options to download, delete, or edit it. The edit view exposes the name, description, and instructions; after making changes, update or save the skill.
6. To transfer a downloaded skill, use the upload option shown in the same area. The video demonstrates the controls but does not detail what a recipient must do or whether any organizational approval is required.

The interface labels are worth noting: the presenter finds the skill under “Agents and skills,” while also observing that the section may be called “Plugins” in another view. He also sees “Agent and Skill Builder” while editing, but the demonstration does not fully explain how that relates to the separate skill management controls.

Limitations and open questions

The demonstrated workflow gives users control over whether a skill is active and whether Copilot may use it automatically. That is useful when a skill should apply only to selected prompts. For manual use, the Try button or slash-menu route provides a way to add it to a chat.

Some details remain unresolved. The demonstration does not confirm the storage location, license requirements, availability status, or whether the same interface is present for all users. It also does not establish that a skill will consistently produce a different result: in the example, the skill-assisted rewrite and ordinary rewrite are similar.

Use a representative prompt to validate the skill, then revise its instructions if the result misses the intended tone or task. The video shows that editing and updating are possible, but does not provide a formal testing method or explain how skill changes are versioned. Sharing is shown through download and upload, with no detail about permissions or organization-wide distribution.

Sources

• Ami Diamond [MVP] demonstration of personal skills in Copilot Chat

Frequently asked questions

How do I create a personal skill in Copilot Chat?

Describe the task and ask Copilot to create a skill, respond to its clarifying questions, then review and save the generated skill. You can test it with Try or find it through the slash menu’s Agents and skills option.

Where do I edit or turn off a Copilot Chat skill?

Open Agents and skills, locate the skill, and use its controls. The demonstrated interface has an on/off option and a menu for editing, downloading, or deleting.

What license do I need to create a Copilot Chat skill?

The available material does not specify a required license. Check the features available in your own Copilot Chat environment.

Can I share a personal skill with another user?

The demonstrated interface lets you download a skill and shows an upload option. The material does not explain sharing permissions or whether an administrator must approve the transfer.