In September 2026, Microsoft expanded app creation capabilities in Copilot Cowork and Copilot Studio. Users can now build apps using a new /app capability in Copilot Cowork and also create apps directly within Copilot Studio.
Microsoft announced something similar in October 2025. At that time, Microsoft introduced the agent App Builder, which allowed users to create lightweight business applications through natural-language conversations inside Microsoft 365 Copilot.
What has changed is that Microsoft is bringing app creation into Copilot Cowork and Copilot Studio, making it more accessible within the broader Copilot ecosystem for organizations using Microsoft 365 Copilot.
At the time of writing, Microsoft says the Copilot Cowork app-building experience is available through the Frontier program for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and access to Copilot Cowork. Availability may vary based on licensing, tenant settings, user eligibility, and Frontier enrollment. Organizations opt into Frontier via an administration setting, so talk to your IT team if you want to join.
If you want to make sure your organization is using your M365 subscriptions to their full ability, book an IT Consultation with us. Free, virtual, and no commitment.
What's Different with Current Abilities to Build Apps
Microsoft announced that app creation is expanding beyond the original App Builder experience and into two major Copilot products:
- Copilot Cowork, through a new
/appcapability - Copilot Studio, through a new app-building experience
The goal is to allow users to create business applications from natural-language conversations instead of requiring traditional development tools. Building apps through natural-language conversation already existed with App Builder, but Microsoft is now making app creation part of the broader Copilot experience.
Copilot generates a first version, so you start with something tangible instead of a blank screen. From there you can iterate. You can tweak from there, like asking for another field, a different layout, or a new workflow. You can review it, use it, and refine again later if you need to.
Building Apps in Copilot Cowork
Instead of switching into a separate development environment, users can remain inside a Copilot Cowork conversation, describe the problem they're trying to solve, and generate an application around it. They can then continue refining the app through conversation.
This functionality can also be access by calling the /app skill.
Building Apps in Copilot Studio
In Copilot Studio, Microsoft is introducing a dedicated App (Preview) experience. Users can describe what they want it to do, the desired outcome, the people who will use the app, the data involved, and the actions the app should perform. With that information, Copilot Studio generates an initial application that can be previewed, refined, and then eventually published. Microsoft also says users can review the underlying app structure and code if they need more control over the generated application.
Copilot Studio is most appropriate for more complex tasks, such as when someone wants deeper customization and closer integration with workflows, agents, and internal processes.
What Kind of Apps Can You Build?
Microsoft is targeting apps designed to help everyday business as opposed to a large application system. It still has its limits. You could use it for:
Client intake and request tracking
Forms that collect information, assign ownership, and track progress without relying on countless email threads.
Dashboards and reporting tools
Spreadsheets that are turned into interactive dashboards that give a clearer view of sales, projects, budgets, or operations.
Team productivity applications
Imagine a fully customized team productivity app with employee onboarding tools, asset tracking, meeting preparation, resource scheduling, and internal project trackers.
How This Fits into the Larger Microsoft Ecosystem
This expansion of app building capabilities with Copilot closes gaps in the automation cycle. Microsoft is stacking AI capabilities: apps provide the user interface, workflows automate the process, and agents answer questions and perform tasks. Together, those pieces work together to make a more complete business solution.
Should Small Businesses Care?
The short answer is yes, but not to replace major enterprise software or applications on which business operations are dependent. But there is real potential solving the dozens of small operational problems that never seem important enough to justify buying another application. It can help with time sucks during the workday that aren't obtrusive enough to justify another paid tool or taking the hours to change the process.
Businesses evaluating broader AI adoption strategies may also want to explore:
- What's Microsoft Copilot? The Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Copilot
- SpireTech's Recommended AI Tools: Claude, Copilot, & Hatz AI
Security and Governance Still Matter
Just because anyone can build an app doesn't mean every app should be built without oversight.
Businesses should still think through questions such as:
- Who owns the application?
- Who can access the data?
- What data needs to be protected?
- What happens if the creator leaves?
- How is the app maintained?
- What information is stored inside it?
Microsoft says apps created through these experiences continue to follow existing organizational security, compliance, sharing, and Microsoft Entra authentication policies. Administrators can also manage visibility and access through Microsoft 365 administration controls. That doesn't mean there's no need for internal governance. Make sure ownership, lifecycle management, and security expectations are clear before deploying anything business critical. Consult your friendly neighborhood Managed IT Services team if this is something you need help managing.
For organizations reviewing Microsoft security controls more broadly, our guide to Microsoft 365 security assessments covers many of the same governance conversations these tools introduce.
Should You Start Experimenting Now?
Yeah, try it out. Start small, build a simple tool that solves a real problem, and see whether people actually use it and if it's useful in the way that you want.
The businesses most likely to benefit are organizations that:
- Already use Microsoft 365 heavily
- Have repetitive manual processes
- Need lightweight custom tools
Closing Thoughts
If you're evaluating Microsoft Copilot, Copilot Studio, or other AI-powered productivity tools, the opportunities and the governance implications both matter. Finding AI tools isn't the hard part anymore-figuring out which ones create real business value is.
Book a free IT consultation to see whether you're using your Microsoft subscription to its full potential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this the same App Builder Microsoft announced in 2025?
A: Not exactly, Microsoft introduced App Builder in 2025 as a conversational app-building experience inside Microsoft 365 Copilot. The September 2026 announcement expands app creation into Copilot Cowork and Copilot Studio with new app-building experiences, making app creation more closely connected to workflows, agents, and organizational data.
Q: Do I need coding experience?
A: No, Microsoft designed these experiences around natural-language interaction, so you describe what you want and refine it through conversation rather than writing code.
Q: Can these apps connect to business data?
A: Microsoft says applications can connect to organizational data and business systems through supported connectors and Microsoft context services, depending on the environment and permissions being used.
Q: Is company data used to train Microsoft's AI models?
A: Microsoft 365 Copilot operates under Microsoft's enterprise data protection commitments. Organizations should still understand how connected systems, external services, and third-party data sources are governed.