How to Turn Off Copilot on Windows and Microsoft Apps

Copilot is built into Windows 11 and Microsoft 365 apps, but you can remove it from your screen and disable its features

Copilot is Microsoft's AI assistant that appears as a sidebar in Windows 11 and integrates into apps like Word, Excel, and Outlook. If you do not want it running, you have three separate options: hide the Copilot button from your taskbar, turn off Copilot in individual Microsoft apps, or disable it entirely through Windows settings. The steps differ depending on which version of Windows you use and which apps you want to control.

Disabling Copilot does not break Windows or your Microsoft apps — it simply removes the AI features from your interface. You can re-enable it later if you change your mind.

Key Takeaways

The Copilot button on your Windows 11 taskbar can be hidden without disabling the feature entirely — right-click the taskbar and uncheck "Show Copilot button".
In Microsoft 365 apps like Word and Excel, Copilot features can be turned off individually through app settings without affecting Windows itself.
Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions allow you to disable Copilot completely through Group Policy Editor, but Home edition does not have this option.
Disabling Copilot does not remove other Windows features or harm your system — you can turn it back on at any time through the same settings.

Hide the Copilot button from your taskbar

The fastest way to stop seeing Copilot is to remove its button from your taskbar. This hides the feature but does not fully disable it — Copilot can still appear in some Microsoft apps. Right-click an empty area of your taskbar at the bottom of your screen, then look for "Taskbar settings" or "Show Copilot button" in the menu that appears.

If you see "Show Copilot button" as a checkbox, click it to uncheck it. The Copilot icon will disappear from your taskbar immediately. If you see "Taskbar settings" instead, click it, scroll down to find the Copilot toggle, and turn it off. This method works on Windows 11 Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

Turn off Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps

Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook each have their own Copilot settings separate from Windows. Open the app you want to control, then look for "Settings" or "Options" — usually found in the top menu or under a gear icon. Search for "Copilot" or "AI" in the settings menu.

In Word and Excel, you may see an option labeled "Copilot" or "Designer" (which uses AI). Uncheck or toggle off any Copilot-related features. In Outlook, Copilot appears in the compose window; you can disable it by unchecking "Show Copilot" in compose settings. These changes affect only that single app, so you will need to repeat the process for each Microsoft app you use.

Disable Copilot completely on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education

If you use Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition, you can disable Copilot at the system level using Group Policy Editor. Press the Windows key and R together to open the Run dialog, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. This opens Group Policy Editor.

Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot. Look for a policy named "Turn off Windows Copilot" and double-click it. Select "Enabled" and click OK. Your computer will need to restart for the change to take effect. After restart, Copilot will be completely disabled across Windows and will not appear in the taskbar or in most Microsoft apps.

Windows 11 Home edition does not include Group Policy Editor, so this method is not available on Home. If you use Home edition, hiding the taskbar button and disabling Copilot in individual apps are your only options.

What happens when you disable Copilot

Disabling Copilot removes the AI assistant from your screen and stops it from running in the background. You will no longer see the Copilot sidebar when you press the Windows key and C together, and the feature will not appear in your Microsoft apps. Your files, settings, and other Windows features remain unchanged.

If you disabled Copilot through Group Policy and later want to turn it back on, open Group Policy Editor again, navigate to the same location, set the policy to "Not Configured" or "Disabled", and restart your computer. If you only hid the taskbar button, right-click the taskbar again and re-enable "Show Copilot button".

Why you might want to disable Copilot

Some people disable Copilot because they do not use AI features and prefer a simpler interface. Others turn it off for privacy reasons — Copilot sends prompts and data to Microsoft's servers to generate responses, and some users want to limit what information leaves their computer. Disabling it also frees up a small amount of system memory and removes a button from your taskbar.

If you are concerned about privacy specifically, note that disabling Copilot does not stop Windows from collecting other data — Windows 11 collects diagnostic information regardless of whether Copilot is on or off. Disabling Copilot is a choice about whether you want access to that particular AI feature, not a comprehensive privacy change.

Copilot in Windows 10 and older versions

Copilot is a Windows 11 feature and does not come built into Windows 10 or earlier versions. If you use Windows 10, you will not see a Copilot button on your taskbar or in Windows settings. You may still encounter Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps like Word or Excel if you have a recent version installed, and you can disable it using the app settings method described above.

If you are considering upgrading to Windows 11 and want to avoid Copilot, know that you can hide or disable it immediately after upgrading using the methods in this guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Copilot slow down my computer?

Disabling Copilot frees up a small amount of memory and processing power, but the difference is usually not noticeable on most computers. If your computer is already running slowly, disabling Copilot alone is unlikely to solve the problem. It may help slightly, but other factors like available storage space and background apps have a much larger impact on speed.

Can I disable Copilot on Windows 11 Home edition?

Windows 11 Home does not have Group Policy Editor, so you cannot disable Copilot completely at the system level. You can hide the taskbar button and turn off Copilot in individual Microsoft apps, but the feature remains installed. If you need full system-level control, you would need to upgrade to Pro or Enterprise edition.

Does disabling Copilot affect my Microsoft account or OneDrive?

No. Disabling Copilot does not change your Microsoft account, sign-out status, or OneDrive sync. Your files and account settings remain exactly as they were. Copilot is a separate feature that operates independently from your account and cloud storage.

What if I disable Copilot and then want to use it later?

You can re-enable Copilot at any time using the same settings where you disabled it. If you hid the taskbar button, right-click the taskbar and check "Show Copilot button" again. If you disabled it through Group Policy, open Group Policy Editor, set the policy back to "Not Configured", and restart your computer.

Does disabling Copilot remove it from Microsoft Teams or other Microsoft services?

Disabling Copilot through Windows settings primarily affects the Windows 11 system feature and Microsoft 365 desktop apps. Some Microsoft online services like Teams or Microsoft 365 web apps have their own Copilot settings that operate separately. You may need to disable Copilot in those services individually through their own settings menus.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.