How to Make Copilot Sound More like You

Want Copilot to respond the way you would? Not just more human, but actually sounding like your voice, your style, your personality? Microsoft Copilot's Custom Instructions feature lets you teach it your unique communication style, so every response feels authentically yours.

What Makes Copilot Sound Like You?

Making Copilot sound like you goes beyond just making it less robotic. It's about capturing:

• Your tone: Are you direct and concise, or do you prefer detailed explanations?
• Your phrasing: Do you use specific words or expressions you're known for?
• Your approach: How do you structure your thoughts and explanations?
• Your personality: What makes your communication style uniquely yours?

Copilot's Custom Instructions let you encode all of this into a persistent prompt that applies to every conversation.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

1. A Microsoft account (free or paid)
2. Access to Microsoft Copilot at m365.cloud.microsoft/chat/
3. A clear understanding of your own communication style

Why Copilot Doesn't Sound Like You (Yet)

Copilot is trained on vast amounts of text from countless sources, but it's not trained on your writing. It doesn't know:

• How you phrase things
• Your preferred level of detail
• Your go-to examples or analogies
• Your communication quirks and patterns

Our Copilot Sound More Like You Wizard is specifically designed to help you capture your unique voice and generate personalized prompts.

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Analyze Your Communication Style

Before setting up Custom Instructions, take a moment to reflect on how you communicate:

• Tone: Casual, professional, academic, friendly, authoritative?
• Length: Do you prefer brief answers or detailed explanations?
• Structure: Do you use lists, paragraphs, or a mix?
• Examples: What kinds of analogies or examples do you typically use?
• Formality: How formal or casual is your typical communication?

Consider looking at your own emails, messages, or writing samples to identify patterns.

Step 2: Access Custom Instructions in Copilot

To find Custom Instructions in Copilot:

1. Visit Microsoft Copilot and sign in with your Microsoft account
2. Click the three dots menu in the top right corner
3. Select Settings from the menu
4. Go to the Personalization tab
5. Click on Custom Instructions
6. Enter instructions that capture your style

The easiest way? Use our Copilot Sound More Like You Wizard to generate a personalized prompt based on your preferences, then copy it into the Custom Instructions field.

Step 3: Test and Refine

After saving your Custom Instructions:

1. Start a new conversation (Custom Instructions only apply to new chats)
2. Ask Copilot questions you'd typically ask
3. Compare the responses to how you'd actually respond
4. Refine your Custom Instructions based on what's missing

It may take a few iterations to get it right—that's normal!

What to Expect

Once you've set up personalized Custom Instructions, Copilot should:

• Match your tone: Responses will feel like they came from you
• Use your style: Structure and phrasing will align with how you communicate
• Reflect your personality: The "voice" will be recognizably yours
• Stay consistent: Every new conversation will use your style

Remember, Custom Instructions only work in new conversations. Existing chats won't be affected.

Before and After Examples

Here's how Copilot responds differently with personalized Custom Instructions:

Before (Default Copilot)

1. Improved work-life balance
2. Reduced commuting time and costs
3. Increased flexibility
4. Better focus and productivity
5. Access to a global talent pool

I hope this helps! Let me know if you'd like more details.

After (With Personalized "Like You" Prompt)

Think about it—you're cutting out hours of commute time every week. That's time you can spend on things that actually matter to you, whether that's family, hobbies, or just getting enough sleep.

Plus, when you're not stuck in an office, you can work when you're most productive. Some people crush it at 6am, others are night owls. Remote work lets you play to your strengths instead of forcing everyone into the same 9-to-5 box.

And honestly? Most people I know are way more focused at home. Fewer interruptions, less office drama, just you and your work. It's not for everyone, but for the right people, it's a game-changer."

Pro Tips for Personalization

Capture Your Unique Patterns

Think about what makes your communication distinctive:

• Signature phrases: Do you have go-to expressions? ("Here's the thing...", "Long story short...", etc.)
• Preferred examples: What kinds of analogies do you use? (Sports, cooking, tech, nature?)
• Response length: Are you known for being concise or thorough?
• Question style: Do you ask rhetorical questions? Use humor? Get straight to the point?

Use Specific Examples

Instead of vague instructions like "be casual," try:

• "Write like you're explaining to a smart friend over coffee"
• "Use short paragraphs and get straight to the point"
• "Include real-world examples, especially from [your field/interests]"
• "Match the formality level of a professional email to a colleague"

Iterate Based on Results

Your first attempt might not be perfect. That's okay! Use Copilot's responses as feedback:

• If it's too formal, add instructions to be more casual
• If it's too verbose, ask for more concise responses
• If it's missing your personality, add more specific style cues

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Focusing only on tone, not structure - Don't forget to specify how you organize your thoughts (lists vs. paragraphs, examples vs. theory)
2. Being too generic - "Sound like me" isn't helpful. Be specific about what "like you" means
3. Not testing enough - Set it up, test with real questions, and refine based on results
4. Trying to cover everything - Prioritize what matters most to your unique voice
5. Copying someone else's style - This is about your voice, not a generic "human" voice
6. Forgetting to start a new chat - Custom Instructions only apply to new conversations

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from just making Copilot sound more human?

Making Copilot "sound more human" focuses on removing robotic patterns. Making it "sound like you" goes further—it captures your specific communication style, tone, and personality. It's the difference between "natural" and "yours."

Can Copilot really sound like me?

Yes! The more specific you are about your style, the better Copilot can match it. It won't be perfect, but with good Custom Instructions, it can get remarkably close.

What if I communicate differently in different contexts?

Copilot only allows one set of Custom Instructions at a time. However, you can:

• Set your base style in Custom Instructions
• Add context-specific instructions at the start of individual conversations
• Modify Custom Instructions when switching between work/personal contexts

How do I know if it's working?

Compare Copilot's responses to how you'd actually respond to the same question. If friends or colleagues could mistake the response for yours, you're on the right track!

Can I make Copilot sound like a specific person (not me)?

Yes, but you'd need to analyze that person's communication style and encode it into Custom Instructions. The same principles apply—capture their tone, structure, phrasing, and personality patterns.

What if my Custom Instructions don't work well?

If Copilot isn't matching your style:

1. Be more specific about what "your style" means
2. Add concrete examples of how you'd phrase things
3. Remember that perfection isn't the goal—close enough is often good enough
4. Make sure you're testing in a new conversation (not an existing chat)

How do Custom Instructions compare to other AI platforms?

Copilot's Custom Instructions are similar to ChatGPT's feature. Claude uses Projects for custom instructions, and Perplexity has its own system. Each platform has its own approach, but they all serve the same purpose: making AI sound more natural and personalized.

Ready to Make Copilot Sound Like You?

The quickest way to get started is with our interactive Copilot Sound More Like You Wizard. We'll help you identify your communication style and generate a personalized prompt that captures your unique voice.

Want to learn more? Check out our guide on making Copilot sound more human for the basics, or explore prompt templates for different communication styles.