Microsoft 365 Copilot: Retirement of the Sites control in Researcher

[What and why]

We are retiring the Sites control in Microsoft 365 Copilot Researcher for users enabled for Frontier. Today, the Sites control allows users to enter and maintain a list of websites when creating a research request.

After this change, users can continue to guide Researcher to preferred websites by referencing website names or URLs directly in their prompts. For example: "Research this topic using information from contoso.com and fabrikam.com."

This update simplifies the Researcher experience while modernizing the underlying platform. Existing tenant-level web search controls will continue to determine whether Researcher can use web content. Specifying website names or URLs in a prompt indicates a user's preferred research scope and does not function as an administrator-managed allowlist or blocklist.

[Rollout schedule]

• Retirement for Frontier (Worldwide): Beginning in late September 2026 and expected to complete in late September 2026

[Impact on your organization]

Who is affected

• Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license who are enabled for Frontier and currently use Researcher

Platforms and services

• Microsoft 365 Copilot
• Researcher
• Frontier

What will happen

• The dedicated Sites control will be removed from the Researcher prompt experience.
• Users will no longer be able to add or manage websites through the Sites control.
• Users can continue to specify preferred websites by including website names or URLs directly in their prompts.
• Existing tenant-level web search settings will continue to govern whether Researcher can access web content.
• No changes are being made to administrator-configured website controls for Researcher with Computer Use.
• No new admin settings are being introduced.
• Existing web search governance and controls remain unchanged.

[Action required and recommendations]

No administrator action is required.

We recommend that you:

• Inform impacted users that the Sites control is being retired.
• Update any internal training or documentation that references the Sites control.
• Remind users that website preferences can continue to be specified directly within Researcher prompts.
• Review existing web search settings if you want to confirm how web content is governed in your organization.

[Compliance considerations]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.