If you’ve been asking yourself what is Microsoft Loop, you’re not alone. It’s one of those tools that quietly appeared in your Microsoft 365 apps and left you wondering, “what on earth is that?” In this post, I’m going to break it down in plain English so you can decide whether it’s worth exploring.
So, What Actually Is Microsoft Loop?
At its simplest, Loop is a note-taking and collaboration tool. Think of it as a flexible workspace where you can keep your notes, tasks, plans, and ideas all in one place.
The clever bit? It’s a living document. That means you and your team can all work in the same space at the same time, and everything stays up to date. No more emailing documents back and forth — everyone’s looking at the same thing.
It connects with the rest of Microsoft 365, but it’s not a replacement for Teams or Outlook. It works alongside them.
Who Can Use Microsoft Loop?
Pretty much anyone with a Microsoft account can access Loop. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Personal Microsoft account – You can use Loop in the browser, but with some limitations.
- Business Standard licence or above – You get full access, including Loop components inside Outlook and Microsoft Teams.
The good news is that Microsoft has recently made the licensing simpler, so more people can now sign in and get started.
What Can You Do With It?
Once you’re inside a workspace, you can create pages that hold all sorts of content — checklists, tables, headings, links, plain text notes. Whatever you’d normally jot down or organise, Loop can handle it.
It’s particularly useful if you work with others and want a single place where everyone can see what’s happening without chasing updates.
Do You Actually Need It?
Here’s the honest answer — if you’ve got a Business Standard licence, Loop is already included. It won’t cost you a penny extra. So there’s really no reason not to at least have a play with it.
It’s brilliant for having one place to gather your thoughts, track projects, and collaborate with colleagues. Is it essential? Not necessarily. But it’s a handy tool to have in your toolkit.
You might be thinking, “I already use OneNote, so why would I bother?” That’s a fair point — and there are some differences worth knowing about. I’ll be covering Loop vs OneNote in a future video, so keep an eye out for that one.
How Do You Get To It?
Head to loop.cloud.microsoft in your browser. You’ll land on the Loop homepage where you’ll see a default area called My Workspace. From there, you can start exploring — and in my next video, I’ll walk you through setting up your very first workspace.
Ready to Give It a Go?
Still wondering what is Microsoft Loop and whether it’s right for you? The best way to find out is to log in and have a look around — it’s already sitting in your M365 toolkit waiting for you.
What are you currently using for notes and planning? OneNote? Word? A trusty notebook? I’d love to know — drop a comment below and let the community know how you’re getting on.
If you found this helpful, don’t forget to check out the video below for a full walkthrough!
Written with the help of Claude AI from an original transcription.
Complete Your Toolkit
The Loop Essentials Pack
Cut through the confusion and start using Microsoft Loop with confidence
YouTube Videos
What is MS Loop – and do you actually need it?
Microsoft Loop: Create Your First Workspace
Loop vs OneNote – which should you use?
Loop and MS To Do – How Tasks Connect Across Microsoft 365
Related MS Loop Posts
Microsoft Loop – Time to Actually Use What’s Already in Your M365 Toolkit (current post)
Ready to Create Your First Microsoft Loop Workspace?
Loop or OneNote? Here’s What Actually Makes Sense for Your Business
Loop Tasks in Microsoft To Do — Your New Favourite Shortcut
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