The following guide offers step-by-step instructions on how to disable Windows Copilot.
In less than two weeks, many Windows 11 users will gain access to Windows Copilot. Microsoft included the new AI-powered assistant in an optional update released in September 2023 already.
On October 10, 2023, Windows 11 users who upgrade their devices to the latest version, will receive Windows Copilot among other changes, courtesy of the fourth Moment update for the operating system.
What is Windows Copilot?
Microsoft describes Windows Copilot in the following way:
Copilot in Windows is an AI-powered intelligent assistant that helps you get answers and inspirations across the web, supports creativity and collaboration, and helps you focus on the tasks at hand.
Windows users may interact with Copilot directly from the Windows desktop. A click on the Copilot icon on the taskbar or pressing Windows-C opens the interface on the right side of the screen.
It looks very much like Bing Chat on first glance. Copilot includes Bing Chat functionality and other AI components.
Users interact with Windows Copilot by voice, text or by sending images, similarly to how interactions with other AI-powered tools happen.
One of Copilot’s greatest strengths is the ability to help users directly in Windows. The functionality is very limited at this stage, but you can use Copilot to turn on dark made, capture a screenshot of any desktop, or snap open windows.
What Copilot can’t do in its current stage is terminate processes, check Windows Defender logs and return research on found threats, or help users troubleshoot issues that they experience. All of this may come at a later stage, but Microsoft is tight-lipped about the functionality.
Privacy and Windows Copilot
Windows Copilot requires an active Internet connection and the tool breaks down when there is none.
Copilot needs to communicate with Microsoft servers. Anything typed, pasted or said is known to Microsoft as a consequence. This is not Microsoft-specific, tools like Google Bard or Claude AI do require Internet connectivity as well.
Windows Copilot is not active by default; this is unlike classic assistants, such as Alexa, which are programmed to listen to commands.
Still, some users may prefer to disable Windows Copilot entirely. There is no option to remove Windows Copilot, even though many tutorials sites suggest that there is an easy way to do so.
A click on Private Statement in the Copilot menu opens the general Microsoft Privacy Statement. Copilot is not mentioned once in the statement.
How to disable Windows Copilot
Windows 11 users have several options when it comes to turning off Windows Copilot on their devices.
Individual users may remove its icon from the Windows taskbar, but that does not shut down Windows Copilot, as it may still be launched using the keyboard shortcut.
Note that there is no option to remove Windows Copilot entirely from the system, without affecting other features. It is not listed under installed Apps.
Removing the Windows Copilot icon from the Windows taskbar
Still, it may be sufficient for some users. Here is how that is done:
Right-click on a blank location on the taskbar and select Taskbar Settings from the menu that opens.
Locate Copilot (preview) or Windows Copilot there and toggle it to Off.
The icon is removed immediately. Toggling the feature to the On state restores it again.
Disable Windows Copilot in the Group Policy Editor
The Group Policy Editor is not available in Windows 11 Home. Home administrators may make the change in the Windows Registry, which is explained in the next section.
Here is how you disable Windows Copilot in the Group Policy Editor:
Use the keyboard shortcut Windows-R to open the Run box.
Type gpedit.msc and press the Enter-key.
Use the folder structure on the left to follow this path: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot.
Double-click on Turn off Windows Copilot.
Set the value from “Not Configured” to “Enabled.
Click OK.
Close the Group Policy Editor.
Restart the PC.
Disable Windows Copilot in the Registry
The very same changes may also be applied to the Windows Registry directly. Here is how that is done:
Use the keyboard shortcut Windows-R to open the Run box.
Type regedit.exe and press the Enter-key.
Confirm the security prompt.
Use the folder structure on the left to navigate the following path: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot
Note: if a key does not exist, right-click on the previous one and select New > Key. Name it accordingly to create the entire path.
Right-click on WindowsCopilot and select New > Dword (32-bit) Value.
Name it TurnOffWindowsCopilot.
Double-click on the newly created Dword and change its value to 1.
Close the Registry Editor.
Restart the PC.
Closing Words
The Group Policy Editor and Registry Editor tweaks disable Windows Copilot on the operating system. The icon is removed in the process, the user can’t toggle the icon in Settings anymore, and the keyboard shortcut Windows-C does not work either anymore.
thanks for the instruction to disable Copilot.