Edit Agent

Edit Agent Settings/Instructions

Modify agent metadata (agent.mcs.yml) or configuration (settings.mcs.yml).

Instructions

1. Auto-discover the agent directory:

`` Glob: **/agent.mcs.yml `` NEVER hardcode an agent name. If multiple agents found, ask which one.

1. Identify what the user wants to change and read the appropriate file:

• Instructions, display name, conversation starters, AI settings → agent.mcs.yml
• GenerativeActionsEnabled, authentication, recognizer, capabilities → settings.mcs.yml

1. If the user wants to change the AI model, run the schema lookup tool first:

``bash node ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../scripts/schema-lookup.bundle.js models ` Use the output to determine the correct modelNameHint and provider values. **CRITICAL:** Do NOT include kind in the model block — the agent-level schema uses CurrentModelsNoKind`.

1. Read the current file before making any changes.

1. Make the requested changes using the Edit tool.

Editable Fields in agent.mcs.yml

| Field | Description | Example | |-------|-------------|---------| | displayName | Agent's display name | displayName: My Agent | | instructions | System prompt / personality | Multi-line YAML with \| | | conversationStarters | Suggested conversation starters | Array of {title, text} | | aISettings.model.modelNameHint | Model hint (run models command for convention) | Sonnet46, GPT5Chat | | aISettings.model.provider | Model provider (required for non-OpenAI) | Anthropic |

Editable Fields in settings.mcs.yml

| Field | Description | Example | |-------|-------------|---------| | GenerativeActionsEnabled | Enable generative orchestration | true / false | | authenticationMode | Auth mode | Integrated, None | | authenticationTrigger | When to auth | Always, AsNeeded | | accessControlPolicy | Access control | ChatbotReaders | | configuration.aISettings.* | AI capabilities | Various booleans | | configuration.settings.*.content.capabilities.webBrowsing | Web browsing | true / false |

Writing Effective Instructions

For detailed guidance on writing knowledge-aware instructions, grounding directives, citation control, and scope enforcement, see [instructions-guide.md](instructions-guide.md).

Fields to NEVER Modify

• schemaName — This is the internal Power Platform identifier. Changing it breaks the agent.
• publishedOn — Managed by the platform.
• template — Managed by the platform.
• language — Changing this can corrupt the agent.

If the user asks to change any of these, warn them.

Example: Update Instructions

instructions: |
  You are a customer support agent for Contoso Ltd.

  Guidelines:
  - Be professional and empathetic
  - Always verify the customer's identity first
  - Escalate billing issues to a human agent

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: microsoft
• Source: microsoft/skills-for-copilot-studio
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.