Microsoft 365 Copilot Rebrand: Navigating the Confusion and Fixing Your Workflow

In January 2025, Microsoft made a decision that baffled approximately 400 million users. They renamed the central "Office" app—previously rebranded as "Microsoft 365"—to the Microsoft 365 Copilot app.

Headlines quickly announced that "Office is dead." That isn't technically true, but for many daily users, the familiar environment feels like it has been demolished. The distinct orange hub used to launch Word or Excel is now a chat interface pushing AI interactions.

This shift isn't just cosmetic. It has introduced friction into workflows that were muscle memory for decades. Below, we look at the specific technical issues users are facing right now and the solutions the community has found to keep working efficiently during this Microsoft 365 Copilot rebrand.

Immediate Fixes for Post-Rebrand Usability Issues

The loudest complaints following the Microsoft 365 Copilot rebrand aren't about the name change itself, but the functionality degradation that came with recent updates. The integration of Copilot seems to have prioritized AI prompts over basic utility.

Fixing the Outlook Search and Interface under the Microsoft 365 Copilot Rebrand

The "New Outlook" that accompanies this push has been a significant pain point. Users consistently report that the search function is fundamentally broken. Searching for a specific keyword in an email body often yields zero results, forcing users to scroll manually through dates to find correspondence.

If you are stuck in this loop, the most effective fix is reverting to Classic Outlook. IT professionals indicate that the "New Outlook" lacks essential features like reliable search indexing, email templates, and "Favorite Folders."

Actionable Step:If you are forced into the new interface, check your startup settings. Microsoft often re-enables "Focused Inbox" during updates. This filters out legitimate emails. Go to the View tab immediately and turn off Focused Inbox to ensure you are seeing all incoming mail.

Bypassing the AI "Launcher" Bloat

The renamed Microsoft 365 Copilot app acts as a launcher. Previously, this hub was a quick way to get to your recent documents. Now, it is a chat window.

Users in enterprise and educational environments report a "click tax." Clicking "Mail" often routes them to the Copilot Sidebar first, requiring navigation through Applications > Outlook just to check an inbox.

The Workaround:Stop using the central hub app entirely. Pin the individual executables (Word, Excel, Outlook) directly to your taskbar or Start menu. If you are on a web interface, bookmark the direct URL for Outlook Web Access (OWA) rather than the Microsoft 365 landing page. Some users have even resorted to setting up auto-forwarding to a different email client to avoid logging into the portal altogether.

User Experiences: Migrating Away from the Ecosystem

The Microsoft 365 Copilot rebrand has served as a catalyst for users who were already on the fence about leaving the Microsoft ecosystem. The feedback from these migrations highlights what works and where the friction lies.

Excel vs. LibreOffice Calc: What Actually Breaks?

For decades, the argument against leaving Microsoft Office was Excel. It was simply too powerful to replace. However, recent user feedback suggests the gap has narrowed for 95% of users.

Those moving from Excel to LibreOffice Calc report that opening .xlsx files works seamlessly. Standard formulas translate without error. If you are doing general bookkeeping, inventory, or student grading, the transition is painless.

Where it falls short:Power users note specific deficits. LibreOffice handles "Array" processing differently, making multi-dimensional data work clunky. It also lacks an equivalent to Excel’s "Evaluate Formula" feature, which is critical for debugging complex spreadsheets. Pivot tables are present but require a steeper learning curve to configure compared to Excel’s drag-and-drop ease.

The Linux and LocalSend Route

With the AI push affecting Windows 11 heavily, the Microsoft 365 Copilot rebrand has pushed some users toward Linux.

Newcomers are finding success with distributions like Linux Mint or Bazzite (for gamers), noting that they require less technical maintenance than in previous years. Hardware support, specifically for AMD chips, is robust, though NVidia users still report occasional driver quirks.

A major hurdle in leaving the Microsoft/Apple ecosystem is file transfer (like AirDrop). The community has settled on LocalSend as the standard solution. It is an open-source, cross-platform tool that works reliably over LAN without requiring an account or cloud server, solving the connectivity gap created when ditching OneDrive.

Analyzing the Microsoft 365 Copilot Rebrand Strategy

Why confuse 400 million users? The Microsoft 365 Copilot rebrand follows a chaotic naming history. The central hub went from "Office Hub" to "Microsoft 365" in November 2022, and now to "Microsoft 365 Copilot" in January 2025.

Why Microsoft Killed the "Office" App Name

Microsoft is betting its future entirely on Generative AI. By renaming the entry point to the suite "Copilot," they are attempting to condition users to view AI as the primary interface, with Word and Excel acting as secondary plugins.

The confusion stems from the execution. We now have:

• Copilot (the assistant)

• Copilot Pro (the subscription)

• Microsoft 365 Copilot (the app formerly known as Office)

• Copilot for Windows (the OS feature)

• Copilot for GitHub (a coding tool that actually works differently)

The "Office" brand carried a legacy of productivity. The new branding carries a mandate of AI adoption.

Privacy Concerns and the "Spyware" Perception

A recurring theme in user commentary is the "creep factor" associated with the name Copilot. For many, the rebrand signals a shift from "creating content" to "being monitored."

There is a distinct rejection of having an AI button integrated into the start menu or the sidebar. This isn't just about utility; it is about control. The perception is that the Microsoft 365 Copilot rebrand is less about helping users and more about training models on user data. This sentiment is driving the demand for ways to permanently disable Copilot in the registry or via Group Policy.

The Perpetual License Defense

For those who cannot switch to Linux but refuse to participate in the Microsoft 365 Copilot rebrand, the solution is downgrading.

Why Users are Downgrading to Older Office Versions

Subscription fatigue is real. The rebrand has highlighted the volatility of the SaaS (Software as a Service) model—the interface you pay for today might change completely tomorrow.

Users are actively hunting for Office 2016 or Office 2024 perpetual licenses (LTSC). These versions are "frozen in time." They do not receive feature updates, which is now considered a feature, not a bug. They do not have Copilot buttons, they do not force the new Outlook interface, and they do not require a monthly fee.

If you are looking to stabilize your workflow, purchasing a standalone copy of Office 2024 is the only official way to stay on Windows while opting out of the rolling changes introduced by the Microsoft 365 Copilot rebrand.

FAQ

Is Microsoft Office actually dead?

No. The brand for the individual apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) remains. However, the central app that groups them together has been renamed to Microsoft 365 Copilot.

How do I get the old Outlook search back?

The search issues are tied to the "New Outlook" client. You should switch back to "Classic Outlook" via the toggle in the app header or by reinstalling the classic version from the Microsoft Store if your license allows it.

Can I remove Copilot from my Microsoft 365 apps?

It is difficult to remove entirely if you are on a standard subscription. Enterprise administrators can disable it via group policy, but home users may need to switch to a perpetual license (Office 2024) to get an experience free of AI integrations.

What is the best free alternative to Excel?

LibreOffice Calc is the most capable free alternative. It handles .xlsx files and standard formulas well, though power users may find its pivot tables and array handling less intuitive than Excel.

Why did Microsoft rename the Office app?

The Microsoft 365 Copilot rebrand is a strategic move to prioritize AI. Microsoft wants the Copilot interface to be the primary way users interact with their system and documents, rather than opening blank files manually.