Copilot adds AI skills to SharePoint admin center

Microsoft has launched Copilot skills in the SharePoint admin center, available from March 24 2026. The new features use generative AI to let administrators ask questions in plain English, get step-by-step guidance on tasks, and receive proactive alerts on issues such as over-permissioned sites. Admins can run complex searches across SharePoint and OneDrive sites using multiple criteria, like age, sharing settings, or storage use. The tool respects existing permission controls and only suggests actions, it makes no changes itself. Access requires a Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 license plus a Copilot add-on, and organisations can disable it through a custom security group.

With hundreds of abandoned collaboration spaces scattered around and users unable to find basic resources, this spots over-permissioned sites in seconds, letting you tighten access before chat tools expose private files to everyone. Run searches like all sites untouched for six months with guest access enabled, and get plain-English explanations of risks. For a small team buried in sprawl, it saves hours weekly on manual audits, freeing time to build an intranet people actually navigate and enforce governance that sticks without constant fights.