How to Disable Copilot Model Training on Windows 11: A Privacy Guide

In an age where privacy concerns are mounting and data usage is continuously scrutinized, the capabilities of AI assistants like Microsoft's Copilot come with both advantages and considerations. If you're a Windows 11 user, you might be wondering how to ensure your interactions with Copilot remain confidential. Well, worry not! Today, we’ll walk you through the process of disabling Copilot Model training, so your text and voice conversations won't contribute to AI training for your Microsoft account.

What is Copilot Model Training?​

By default, when you interact with Microsoft Copilot—your friendly AI assistant—it saves your chat history and uses it to enhance its learning capabilities. This means that your queries, responses, and interactions are being employed to not only improve your personalized experience but also to refine the AI itself. If that sounds a bit too intrusive for your liking, especially since this practice does vary by region (with users in the UK and EEA being exempt), here are the steps to turn it off.

Steps to Disable Copilot Model Training on Windows 11/10​

Disabling this functionality is straightforward. Just follow these steps:

1. Launch the Copilot App: Open either the Copilot web app or desktop application. Ensure you are signed in with your Microsoft account.
2. Access Account Settings: Click on the Profile icon (or Settings) located in the top-right corner of the app interface.
3. Navigate to Privacy Settings: Select your account name or email address to enter your account settings, and look for the Privacy option.
4. Turn Off Model Training: In the Privacy Settings, you will find the option for Model training. Simply toggle this off. If you wish, you can also opt to deactivate the Personalization feature, which leverages your chats and Bing activity to personalize your Copilot experience.
5. Manage Your Chat History: You have the option to export or delete your Copilot activity history, removing past interactions that you may not want stored.

If you reconsider and would like to participate in AI training later, simply repeat these steps and enable the Model training option again.

Disabling Copilot Model Training on Mobile Devices​

If you use the Copilot mobile application on Android or iOS, the process is just as intuitive:

1. Open the Copilot App: Launch the Copilot app on your mobile device and access your profile by tapping your Profile picture in the top-right corner.
2. Navigate Through Settings: Tap on the Account option to access the Privacy section.
3. Disable Model Training: Toggle the Model Training option off. Again, consider whether you’d also like to turn off Personalization.

Additional Copilot Management Tips​

How to Deactivate Microsoft Copilot Completely​

If your desire is to disable the Copilot feature altogether, the Group Policy Editor is your friend:

1. Open Group Policy Editor: You can do this by typing gpedit.msc in the Windows search bar.
2. Navigate to Copilot Settings: Head to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot.
3. Disable Copilot: Find the setting labeled "Turn off Windows Copilot." Select the Enabled option and press OK. This will render Copilot unusable on your system.

Removing Copilot from the Taskbar​

Previously, the way to remove Copilot from your taskbar was to go through Settings. Now, it's much simpler:

1. Unpin from Taskbar: Just right-click the Copilot icon on your taskbar and select “Unpin from taskbar.” Voilà! It’s gone.

Final Thoughts​

In a fast-paced tech landscape where data reigns supreme, it’s wise to take a proactive approach to protect your privacy. By disabling Copilot Model training, you ensure that your data remains your own, free from unconsented training uses. However, balancing privacy with personalization can be a tricky endeavor. If you find yourself reconsidering this decision, the steps to reactivate everything are just as easy.
Stay informed, stay protected! And as always, if you have further questions or wish to discuss your experiences with Copilot, feel free to join the conversation on our forums!

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Source: The Windows Club Disable Copilot Model Training for your Microsoft Account in Windows 11