Hide or Remove Copilot in Windows 11 and Microsoft 365: Complete Guide

Windows 11 keeps pushing AI onto your desktop — Copilot in the taskbar, Copilot in Office, and now a separate Microsoft 365 Copilot app — and for many users that feels like unwanted bloat. If you’d rather a clean, AI‑free Windows, this article walks through everything you need to know to hide, disable, or remove Copilot from a single PC or across a fleet, explains the technical tradeoffs, and flags what to watch for as Microsoft continues to change how Copilot is deployed and managed.

Background​

Windows 11 currently exposes at least two Copilot experiences: the built‑in Windows Copilot (the assistant tied to the taskbar and Win+C), and the Microsoft 365 Copilot experience (the Copilot rebranding of the Microsoft 365/Office client and the centralized Copilot app). That duplication has left many users with two Copilot icons in the system tray and duplicated functionality on the same machine. Community guides and official docs document multiple ways to hide or disable each of these — from quick taskbar toggles up to Group Policy and registry enforcement for system administrators. Practical removal strategies vary by Windows edition (Home vs Pro/Enterprise) and by whether you have Microsoft 365 desktop apps installed. Community threads and forum archives show repeated user advice to toggle the taskbar, disable startup entries, employ Group Policy or registry keys, or in some cases uninstall the UWP/appx package manually.
Microsoft has also signalled a broader deployment shift: the Microsoft 365 Copilot app will be automatically installed to Windows devices that already have the Microsoft 365 desktop client apps, with the rollout scheduled to start in fall 2025 — and admins can opt out via the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center. This change means you may see the Microsoft 365 Copilot app appear without asking, depending on your environment and region.

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Quick wins: hide Copilot immediately​

If you just want the Copilot button off your taskbar and out of your face, use these fast, reversible options.

Remove the taskbar button (easy)​

• Right‑click an empty area of the taskbar and choose Taskbar settings.
• Under Taskbar items, toggle Copilot to Off.

That immediately removes the Copilot icon from the taskbar and system tray, but it does not always stop the app from running in other contexts (Search, Win+C hotkey, or background services). Treat this as a cosmetic fix for the visible UI only.

Stop Copilot launching at sign‑in​

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Switch to the Startup apps tab.
• Locate entries named Copilot and/or Microsoft 365 Copilot, right‑click and choose Disable.

This prevents Copilot from starting automatically after sign‑in on that user account. It’s an easy, low‑risk tweak that speeds startup and reduces background processes. Community reports show many PCs with both Copilot entries in Startup; disabling both is a common first step.

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Remove / uninstall Copilot from the PC​

If you don’t want Copilot on the machine at all, Windows lets you uninstall the app in many cases. Follow these steps in order of safety.

1) Uninstall via Start / Settings (recommended first)​

• Open Start, type Copilot, right‑click the result and choose Uninstall.
• Or go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps (or Apps & features), search Copilot, click the menu next to the app and select Uninstall.

If the Uninstall option is available and works, this is the cleanest method. Some users report that Microsoft sometimes grays out uninstall or that Windows updates may re‑provision the app later, so don’t be surprised if the app reappears after future updates.

2) Uninstall the Microsoft 365 Copilot app (if present)​

The Microsoft 365 Copilot app (the rebranded Microsoft 365/Office app) can be uninstalled the same way — but note Microsoft’s deployment change: the app will be automatically installed on devices with Microsoft 365 desktop clients unless an admin stops the automatic install. If you rely on Microsoft 365, that automatic install may reintroduce the app later unless blocked via the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center. For organizations, the admin setting to stop automatic Copilot install is in Customization > Device Configuration > Modern App Settings in the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center.

3) Force removal with PowerShell (advanced / user‑level)​

Community power users and admins sometimes use PowerShell to remove the packaged app:

• Open PowerShell as the affected user (Admin may be required for deprovisioning).
• Run:
• get-appxpackage copilot | Remove-AppxPackage
• For system‑wide deprovisioning (so new users don’t get it), use Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage (requires admin and exact package name).

This can work, especially for UWP/appx packages, but it’s not always supported for Microsoft’s newer installer models. Some users report success; others find the package not listed or that Windows automatically reinstalls it. Use this approach only if you’re comfortable with PowerShell and can recover the system if something goes wrong.

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Disable Copilot permanently (Group Policy & Registry)​

If you want Copilot disabled beyond just hiding the icon — so it can’t be invoked with Win+C, Search, or other shortcuts — use Group Policy or registry settings. These are the authoritative controls Microsoft provided for enterprise configuration.

For Pro / Enterprise / Education: Local Group Policy Editor​

• Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
• Navigate to:
  User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot.
• Open Turn off Windows Copilot, set to Enabled, then Apply and OK.
• Restart the PC to enforce the change.

This policy hides the Copilot button and should block invocation across the user account. Documentation and community guides confirm the policy path and behavior, but note some users have reported that the policy hides only the taskbar button in certain builds — leaving other access points intact — so test carefully.

For Windows Home users: Registry tweak (HKCU / HKLM)​

If you’re on Windows 11 Home (no gpedit.msc), you can create the equivalent policy keys in the registry.

• To disable for the current user:
• Create or set DWORD at:
• HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot\TurnOffWindowsCopilot = 1
• To disable system‑wide:
• Create or set DWORD at:
• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot\TurnOffWindowsCopilot = 1

After creating the key, restart the PC. Use the registry editor carefully; back up before changes. Community guidance and Microsoft Q&A threads reference these keys as the registry representation of the Group Policy.

Caveat: Some builds and enterprise deployments behave differently​

Microsoft has iterated Copilot integration several times. In some releases, policies only hide the taskbar button while the app remains accessible via other methods. For environments requiring strict hardening, administrators often combine policy/registry changes with AppLocker, App Control, or endpoint management (Intune/MDM) rules to block or remove the app package entirely. Expect to test the behavior on the exact Windows build you run.

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Enterprise and fleet management: what IT needs to know​

Organizations that must prevent Copilot from being installed or used at scale have several levers:

• Microsoft 365 Apps admin center: prevents automatic installation of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app to devices with Microsoft 365 desktop clients. This is the published way to stop Microsoft’s background deployment for managed tenants.
• Group Policy / MDM (Intune): set the Turn off Windows Copilot policy, deploy registry settings, and use Intune configuration profiles to enforce settings across users and devices.
• AppLocker / Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC): explicitly block the Copilot executable or package family name to prevent execution. This is more robust but requires careful packaging and testing to avoid collateral blocking.
• Deprovisioning Store apps: use PowerShell provisioning commands to deprovision appx packages so that new or redirected user profiles do not get the app. This can be effective for UWP/appx deployments but less so for new installer mechanisms.

Note that Microsoft’s admin tools also provide controls to govern Copilot feature access (who can use agents, data‑grounding, and what enterprise data Copilot may access), which you should review if your concern includes data security rather than just UI clutter.

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Microsoft 365 apps: turn off Copilot in Office applications​

Copilot features are exposed inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. You can disable Copilot for these apps without uninstalling the Copilot app itself.

• Open Word/Excel/PowerPoint.
• File > Options > Copilot (or File > Account > Account Privacy > Manage Settings) and clear Enable Copilot.
• For older or different versions, change privacy/connected experiences to turn off connected features that analyze content.

This disables Copilot within those Office apps on the device and is an official Microsoft support method for users who want to keep Office but not Copilot in the apps. Keep in mind toggles are app‑and‑device specific; you must change them on each device where you want Copilot turned off.

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When uninstalling or disabling won't stick: reasons and mitigations​

There are several reasons Copilot may return or resist removal:

• Windows updates or Microsoft’s staged rollouts may reinstall or re‑enable Copilot automatically (Microsoft has previously fixed and re‑rolled Copilot updates). Be prepared to re‑apply policies after major updates.
• The Microsoft 365 Copilot app automatic install (fall 2025) can reintroduce the app on devices with Microsoft 365 desktop clients unless an admin prevents it. Personal (consumer) users may not have the admin-level opt‑out. Organizations should use the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center to block the automatic install.
• Some uninstall methods only remove the visible UI, not background services or cloud features; conversely, registry or Group Policy changes can prevent app access but not remove residual files. For complete removal across an enterprise, combine deprovisioning, AppLocker rules, and management‑center settings.

If Copilot keeps reappearing, audit update history and your management center settings (Intune / Microsoft 365 Apps admin center), and consider contacting Microsoft support for deployment questions.

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Privacy and security tradeoffs​

Disabling or uninstalling Copilot reduces background processes and prevents the assistant from analyzing content on the device, but there are tradeoffs:

• Some features in Office (suggested replies, automatic suggestions, Designer, etc.) are gated by the same connected experiences settings that control Copilot. Turning off Copilot via privacy settings may also disable other desirable features. Microsoft documents which features are affected when connected experiences are disabled; review that list before changing policies.
• In enterprise contexts, Copilot management includes data‑grounding and governance controls; blanket removal may not be desirable if business teams plan to leverage Copilot with enterprise safeguards. IT should weigh data governance controls against user preferences.
• Blocking Copilot through AppLocker/WDAC is effective but increases management complexity and the risk of accidentally blocking legitimate workloads.

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Recommended step‑by‑step checklist​

• Quick hide: Taskbar settings → toggle Copilot off.
• Stop startup: Task Manager → Startup apps → Disable Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot.
• If you want it gone for a single PC: Settings > Apps > Installed apps → Uninstall Copilot (and Microsoft 365 Copilot if present). Test reboot.
• If Uninstall not available and you are comfortable: run PowerShell get-appxpackage copilot | Remove-AppxPackage (test on one device first).
• For full disable on Pro/Enterprise: set Turn off Windows Copilot via Group Policy, then restart. Verify Win+C and Search do not invoke Copilot.
• For Home: apply registry keys (HKCU/HKLM) to the WindowsCopilot policy keys, then restart. Back up registry first.
• For fleets: use Microsoft 365 Apps admin center to clear automatic installation of Microsoft 365 Copilot and deploy Group Policy/Intune profiles. Confirm that your tenant or region isn’t excluded.

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What to watch next: policy changes and automatic installs​

Microsoft is actively evolving Copilot integration — both on the Windows client and across Microsoft 365. In fall 2025 Microsoft will begin automatic installation of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app to machines with Microsoft 365 desktop apps unless an admin disables that rollout via the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center. This makes organizational controls essential for IT teams that want to avoid Copilot on managed PCs. Consumer users should be aware that their Microsoft 365 client updates could add the Copilot app automatically and may have limited opt‑out options.
Be cautious when trusting community "one‑liner" uninstall scripts: they may work temporarily but can be brittle against updates and may not be supported by Microsoft. If you're responsible for many devices, use Microsoft’s documented admin controls and test on small groups before broad deployment.

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Final analysis: strengths, risks, and practical advice​

• Strengths of disabling/removing Copilot:
• Cleaner UI and fewer distractions — removing the taskbar icon and disabling startup reduces clutter and improves perceived performance.
• Less background resource use — disabling or uninstalling Copilot can slightly reduce CPU/memory use and network traffic.
• Increased privacy control — removing AI features can reduce the surface area for content analysis if you prefer an offline workflow.
• Risks and downsides:
• Feature loss in Office — some connected features (suggested replies, Designer, automatic alt text) may be affected when you disable Copilot via privacy settings.
• Update reversion — Microsoft updates or tenant policies may reinstall or re‑enable Copilot; repeated maintenance may be required without tenant‑level controls.
• Enterprise complexity — blocking or deprovisioning at scale requires management policies (Intune/GPO/AppLocker) and testing to avoid unintended app breaks.

Practical advice: start with non‑destructive steps (taskbar toggle, Task Manager disable), then move to App uninstall or Group Policy if you need stronger enforcement. For organizations, use the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center to prevent automatic Microsoft 365 Copilot installs and combine that with MDM profiles or AppLocker rules for the most reliable outcome. Keep a short playbook for re‑applying your settings after major Windows feature updates.

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Windows remains customizable — and Microsoft provides official controls for Copilot in Office apps and enterprise deployment options. But the ecosystem is shifting quickly: the Microsoft 365 Copilot app’s automatic rollout and the variety of ways Copilot appears on a machine mean persistence is a fact of life unless you manage the problem centrally. If you want a Copilot‑free machine, use the combined approach above: hide, disable startup, uninstall local apps, and, for fleet‑wide control, apply policy or admin‑center blocking to stop automatic reinstallation. The result will be a quieter, less AI‑forward Windows that behaves the way you want.

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Source: PCWorld Sick of AI in your Windows 11 PC? Here's how to get rid of it