Microsoft Scout is Microsoft’s first “Autopilot” agent, a desktop AI app that can read and write files, run shell commands, control a browser, and work directly with your Microsoft 365 data in the background. It’s currently rolling out as part of the Frontier preview program, so setup involves a few more steps than a typical app install. Here’s everything you need to get it running.
What is Microsoft Scout?
Scout sits on your desktop (Windows 11 or macOS) and acts on tasks you describe in plain language, whether that’s drafting emails, organizing files, prepping meeting briefs, or running scripts, all inside a workspace folder you control. Sensitive actions like sending an email or sharing a file still require your approval before Scout goes ahead.
Because it’s a Frontier preview feature, availability and functionality can still change before general release.
What Can Microsoft Scout Do?
Scout works across your documents, your machine, and your Microsoft 365 account. Once it’s set up, you can use it to:
- Create, edit, and search files in your workspace, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and code files
- Run shell commands and execute scripts on your machine
- Navigate websites, fill out forms, and interact with web apps
- Manage your Microsoft 365 email, calendar, Teams chats, and OneDrive files
- Run tasks in the background on a schedule, without you having to prompt it every time
- Break a complex task into smaller pieces and hand parts of it off to sub-agents for research or review
Anything that could affect your organization’s data, such as sending an email or sharing a file, still pauses for your approval before Scout goes ahead.
Prerequisites
Before installing, make sure you have:
- Windows 11 or macOS 12 (Monterey) or later
- A Microsoft 365 work or school account (personal Microsoft accounts won’t work)
- An active Microsoft 365 Copilot license on your account
- The latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (Windows only)
- Local administrator permissions to install apps on your machine
- A GitHub Copilot Business or Enterprise license
- Frontier enrollment for your organization, plus sign-off from your IT admin. Your Microsoft 365 admin needs to complete the Scout access setup on their end (via Intune) before you’re able to sign in on your device
If any of these are missing, talk to your IT admin first. Scout won’t let you sign in without the admin-side setup in place.
Step 1: Download and Install Scout
- Download the Microsoft Scout installer for your platform (Windows or macOS) from Microsoft’s official download page.
- Run the installer and follow the on-screen setup prompts.
- Once installation finishes, you’ll find Microsoft Scout in your applications menu.
On Windows, you can also install it via winget:
winget install --id Microsoft.ScoutStep 2: Sign In
- Open Microsoft Scout.
- Select Sign in to Microsoft 365 and authenticate with your organizational account.
- Grant the permissions it requests.
- Select Sign in to GitHub and log in with a GitHub account that carries a Business or Enterprise Copilot license.
Scout uses Microsoft’s standard authentication library (MSAL with Web Account Manager on Windows), so your credentials stay managed through your organization’s identity provider. Scout doesn’t store them separately.
Step 3: Set Up Your Workspace
After signing in, Scout will ask you to choose a workspace directory. This is the folder where it reads and writes files, so pick a location you actually use for active projects. You can change it later in Settings if needed.
You’ll also get a chance to review the initial permissions configuration at this stage.
Step 4: Choose a Personality (Optional)
Scout offers a few conversational style presets. The default, helpful and professional, works fine for most people, but you can switch it anytime from the icon next to the chat input.
Step 5: Connect Microsoft 365 Data
To let Scout work with your email, calendar, Teams chats, and OneDrive files:
- Open Settings.
- Select Sign in to Microsoft 365 and complete the authentication flow.
Once connected, Scout can read, draft, and manage this content, but anything that sends, shares, or updates information visible to others still needs your confirmation before it runs.
Step 6: Start Your First Conversation
Type a task into the chat box at the bottom of the window. A few examples to try:
- “Create a Word document summarizing my emails from this week.”
- “Find an open time tomorrow for a 30-minute meeting with Alex.”
- “Prepare a brief for my meetings tomorrow.”
Scout will show its progress live, including tool calls, permission prompts, files it creates, and the final result, right in the conversation.
Tip: the more specific your prompt, the better the output. Instead of “help me with email,” try something like “draft a reply to Sarah’s email about the budget review, thanking her and confirming I’ll attend Thursday’s meeting.”
Default Settings to Know
Out of the box, Scout ships with:
- WorkIQ connectivity: ON, enables search across your Microsoft 365 data
- Shell access: ON, Scout can request to run terminal commands (still subject to approval)
- Auto-approve: OFF, every action needs your confirmation unless you turn auto-approve on for a specific capability
How Microsoft Scout’s Permission Levels Work
Scout’s permission system has three levels:
| Level | What it means |
|---|---|
| Auto-approve | Runs automatically if you’ve explicitly allowed it |
| Prompt | Scout pauses and asks before acting |
| Deny | Blocked by default, used for risky actions |
When a prompt appears, you can approve or deny the action, or select “Always allow” to auto-approve similar actions going forward. All of this is adjustable later under Settings > Permissions.
Where to Find Files Scout Creates
Anything Scout generates, including documents, spreadsheets, and images, gets saved to your workspace directory. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files it creates can be opened directly in their native apps from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install Microsoft Scout with a personal Microsoft account?
No. Scout only works with a Microsoft 365 work or school account tied to an organization. Personal Microsoft accounts aren’t supported.
Do I need a GitHub Copilot license to use Scout?
Yes. You need a GitHub Copilot Business or Enterprise license in addition to your Microsoft 365 Copilot license — both are required for sign-in.
Why can’t I sign in to Scout after installing it?
This almost always means your organization’s admin-side setup isn’t finished yet. Your IT admin has to enable Frontier access and configure Scout through Intune before individual users can sign in, so check with them if sign-in fails.
Is Microsoft Scout available on macOS?
Yes, Scout supports macOS 12 (Monterey) or later, alongside Windows 11.
Does Scout need my approval before it takes action?
By default, yes. Auto-approve is turned off out of the box, so most actions — especially anything that sends, shares, or updates content visible to others — pause for your confirmation unless you explicitly allow a capability to run automatically.
