Forum Discussion

CoralieSimonaire's avatar
CoralieSimonaire
Brass Contributor
Aug 31, 2026

Microsoft Forms Copilot: "/" command returns file search error

 

Hello,

I'm experiencing an issue in the Copilot draft experience in Microsoft Forms.

When I type only the / character, the search panel opens, but an error message is immediately displayed :

"I can't find this file right now. Check the file name or try again in a few moments."

I'm not searching for a specific file. I'm simply typing / to trigger the menu.

I get the exact same behavior when clicking the attachment (paperclip) button.

The behavior is reproducible.

Has anyone else experienced this issue with the / command in Microsoft Forms Copilot ?

Thank you.

microsoft 365 copilot

1 Reply

  • Surya_Narayana's avatar
    Surya_Narayana
    MCT
    Aug 31, 2026

    hi CoralieSimonaire​ This sounds more like an issue with the Copilot in Forms experience or the file/context picker than an actual problem with a specific file.

    The fact that the error appears immediately after entering `/`, before a file name is even provided, is an important clue. The same error when clicking the paperclip also suggests that both actions are trying to open the same file/context selection component.

    Microsoft's current documentation confirms that Copilot in Forms supports the Draft with Copilot experience, but it doesn't document `/` as a command that should produce a file-search error in Forms.

    A few things would be worth checking:

    Try the same test in an InPrivate/Incognito browser window to rule out cached data or an extension interfering with the picker.

    Test with another browser, particularly Edge and Chrome, and see whether the behavior is identical.

    If this is a work/school account, test with another user who has the same Copilot/Forms licensing to determine whether it's user-specific or tenant-wide.

    Check whether the issue occurs with a new blank form as well as an existing form.

    If possible, check the Microsoft 365 service health dashboard for any Forms/Copilot incidents around the time the problem occurs.

    Since both `/` and the paperclip reproduce the problem, and the error occurs without actually selecting a file, this looks worth reporting as a Forms Copilot UI/feature issue if the basic browser tests reproduce it consistently.

    When reporting it, include the Forms URL, browser/version, tenant type, approximate time of occurrence, and ideally a screenshot or short recording showing that simply entering `/` triggers the error. That should make it easier for the Forms/Copilot team to determine whether the file picker service is failing.

    There have been other reports of Copilot file/context attachment controls behaving inconsistently, so the behavior isn't completely unprecedented.