Connect Microsoft 365 Apps (Outlook, Teams, SharePoint) to ChatGPT

Quick Links: | Microsoft 365 Connectors Overview | Add a Microsoft 365 Connector to ChatGPT | Using Connectors in Chat | Troubleshooting and Tips |

Microsoft 365 Connectors Overview  

 IMPORTANT: You do not have access to these connectors by default.  You will need to submit a ticket for ChatGPT Support to request access.

In ChatGPT, “connectors” are also referred to as Apps. After you connect an M365 app, ChatGPT can pull relevant context from that service when you ask, helping you summarize, locate, compare, and draft content based on your own work information.

Available Microsoft 365 Apps

  • Outlook Email (read-only): Search and reference messages in your mailbox to summarize threads, find details, and draft replies.
  • Outlook Calendar (read-only): Search and reference calendar events to prep for meetings, find scheduling info, and summarize your day/week.
  • SharePoint (read-only): Search and reference files you have permission to access, including items shared with you.
  • Microsoft Teams (read-only): Search and reference your 1:1 and group chats (and other messages you have access to) to surface details and recap conversations.

Permissions and Privacy

  • You can only access what you already have permission to view in M365 (email, calendar items, files, chats, etc.).
  • Other users cannot see your connected data just because you connected an app. Your connection is tied to your account.
  • ChatGPT may request you to sign in and approve access (OAuth consent) for the specific app you’re connecting.
  • Training note: In many institutional/workspace offerings, connected data is not used to train the model by default. (If you are using a personal/non-workspace ChatGPT account, review your Data Controls settings.)

Add a Microsoft 365 App to ChatGPT  

  1. Sign in to ChatGPT.com using Chico State Single-Sign On (SSO).
  2. Select your account from the bottom left corner.
  3. Click Settings, then Apps from the left sidebar.
  4. On the Apps menu, click Add more (top right) or Explore Apps (center).
    Explore Apps button in the ChatGPT Settings menu
     
  5. Locate the app you want to add, then click Connect. 
  6. Approve the App to connect to your ChatGPT account and sign into your account, if prompted.
    • It can only access data you can see.
    • Others will not be able to see your data just because you connected an app.
  7. Use the Start Chat button to begin using the app, or use the “+” button in a new or existing chat. 
    Use the plus icon to find connected apps and use them in Chat

Using M365 Apps in ChatGPT

There are several ways to begin using apps once they are connected:

  • Use the “+” button to explicitly add/select an app for the conversation when you want to be specific (recommended for clarity).
  • Be specific in your prompt about what you want (time range, course/program name, committee name, keywords, sender, etc.).
  • Example prompt pattern: “Using Outlook Email, find…” or “Using SharePoint, summarize…”

Remember read-only behavior: Many M365 apps in ChatGPT focus on searching and referencing content (not sending email, editing files, or posting messages).

Connected apps are read-only. They can search and reference content, but cannot act on your behalf. You cannot use ChatGPT apps to send emails, edit files, post messages, etc. 

Use Cases and Examples

Outlook Calendar

  • Meeting prep: “Summarize my next 3 meetings today and list what I should prepare for each.”
  • Student support planning: “What does my availability look like this week for office hours? Suggest 3 open blocks.”
  • Committee coordination: “Find the next meeting for the [Committee Name] and summarize the invite details (time, location, attendees).”

Outlook Email

  • Inbox triage: “Summarize emails from the last 7 days that mention [Scholarship/Grant/Accreditation].”
  • Drafting: “Draft a reply to the most recent email from [Name] acknowledging receipt and outlining next steps.”
  • Student communication: “Find the email thread about [Student Project / Course Number] and summarize key decisions and deadlines.”

SharePoint

  • Policy/process help: “Find the latest version of the [Policy/Procedure Name] and summarize the steps I’m supposed to follow.”
  • Onboarding: “Use our SharePoint onboarding documents to create a 1-page checklist for a new student employee.”
  • Program review/accreditation: “Summarize the key metrics and goals from the latest program review documents in my SharePoint folders.”

Microsoft Teams

  • Conversation recap: “Summarize my recent chat with [Person/Team] and list action items.”
  • Find decisions: “In my Teams messages from the last two weeks, find where we decided on the due date for [Project] and quote the message.”
  • Link roundup: “List all links shared in my chat with [Team Name] in the last 7 days, and label what each appears to be for.”

Troubleshooting and Tips  

  • I don’t see Apps / Connectors in Settings: Make sure you are signed in to the correct ChatGPT account/workspace in the bottom left corner.
  • Connect button is missing/greyed out: Some apps may not be available based on plan, region, or workspace settings. In some org-managed workspaces, apps must be enabled by an admin before you can connect them. Make sure you have submitted a ticket for ChatGPT apps.
  • I connected SharePoint but can’t find a file: Confirm you have access to the file in SharePoint and that it’s a supported file type (for example, .pdf, .docx, .pptx, .xlsx, .txt). Also try narrowing your search terms.
  • I’m worried about sensitive data: Only connect what you need, avoid pasting sensitive personal information into prompts, and follow campus data handling guidance for protected data.

 Still need help? Contact IT Support Services for further assistance.
  
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