Why I Completely Removed Copilot from Windows 11 and All Its Apps
In the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, tech giants are frantically embedding AI-driven features into their software ecosystems. Microsoft's Copilot, touted as a game-changer for productivity on Windows 11, is becoming ubiquitous — appearing across core apps like Notepad, Outlook, Microsoft Edge, and the Office suite. But despite the hype and promise, I’ve found Copilot more intrusive than innovative. Here’s why I decided to remove it from Windows 11 and every app it's crept into—and why you might want to consider doing the same.Copilot: The AI Assistant That’s Everywhere... and Nowhere
Microsoft’s vision for Copilot is straightforward: make Windows 11 smarter by integrating AI capabilities directly into its core applications. Whether summarizing emails, rewriting text, or assisting with spreadsheets, Copilot is designed to boost efficiency. Yet, the current reality is far from that ideal. Copilot is slow, occasionally malfunctioning, and sometimes just plain unnecessary. More troubling is how it's surfacing in apps where it doesn’t add much value, disrupting workflows rather than enhancing them.Notepad: A 40-Year-Old Classic Doesn’t Need AI Flair
Notepad, the venerable plain-text editor that has shipped with Windows for over four decades, recently received an unexpected feature injection: Copilot. But is an AI assistant really essential in such a simple, minimalist app? From my experience, Copilot here isn’t a productivity boon; it’s a gimmick. The so-called “rewrite” and assistance features feel like flashy tricks rather than practical tools. For anyone needing more from a text editor, better options exist outside default Notepad—ones that offer rich functionality without AI distractions.If you want to disable Copilot in Notepad, simply open the Settings menu from Notepad’s top bar, find the AI Features section, and toggle it off. This instantly clears your workspace of the AI’s unnecessary presence.
Outlook’s New AI: Summaries That Miss the Mark
Email is one of those productivity domains where AI could shine—but Microsoft’s Copilot integration in the new Outlook app falls short. The tool's promise to summarize and respond to emails automatically sounds handy, but the reality is a mixed bag. Copilot-generated replies tend to feel generic and impersonal, lacking the nuance a human touch provides. Also, longtime email users likely don’t need a summary tool since quickly scanning and sorting messages is second nature.Another concern is privacy: by allowing AI access to emails for data analysis, you risk exposing sensitive information to algorithmic learning processes. If you prefer to remove Copilot from Outlook, navigate to Settings > General > Privacy and data > Privacy settings and switch off “Turn on experiences that analyze your content.” This keeps your email workflow AI-free.
Microsoft Edge: An AI That Splits Your Focus
Among all the apps, Copilot’s integration in Microsoft Edge is perhaps most frustrating. Edge users gain a button to summon Copilot, which can attempt to summarize web pages or rewrite highlighted text. While these features sound beneficial on paper, they often hinder more than help. Summaries tend to gloss over important details, forcing me to read the full article anyway. The “Rewrite with Copilot” option feels like two separate assistants competing for attention, creating workflow fragmentation.Thankfully, both features can be disabled. Turn off the rewriting feature by accessing Settings > Languages, and toggle “Use Compose (AI-writing) on the web” under “Writing assistance.” To hide the sidebar Copilot interface, go to Settings > Copilot and sidebar, then turn off the “Show Copilot button on the toolbar.” This simple step removes Copilot distractions and restores a cleaner browsing experience.
Microsoft Office: Helpful in Spreadsheets, Overkill Elsewhere
Microsoft Office is a mixed bag when it comes to Copilot. For Excel users grappling with complex formulas, the AI’s assistance can be undeniably useful. But beyond spreadsheets, I find Copilot’s value diminishes rapidly. Word’s rewriting feature is sluggish compared to third-party tools like Grammarly, which handle grammar and tone adjustments far more efficiently. Plus, many users, including myself, don’t rely on AI for creating complex formatted documents or summaries, so the feature often feels redundant.If you want to switch Copilot off in Office apps, go to File > Options > Copilot, uncheck “Enable Copilot,” and confirm your choice. This cuts down on distractions and lets you focus solely on your content.
The Core Copilot App: A Persistent Nuisance
The most inconveniencing aspect of Copilot is not just its infiltration into individual apps but its core system-level presence in Windows 11 itself. The native Windows Copilot app occupies space and system resources without offering tangible benefits for many users. For those who neither engage with it nor want random AI interruptions, the ideal solution is to disable it entirely.On Windows 11 Pro, this can be achieved via the Group Policy Editor: press Win+R, type gpedit.msc, and navigate through:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows CopilotHere, enable the policy setting labeled “Turn off Windows Copilot.” Apply and save your changes. This removes the persistent Copilot interface, letting you regain control over your desktop environment.
Why Microsoft’s AI Push Feels Forced
The ongoing pandemic of AI integration by tech companies creates a massive pressure to embed AI everywhere—even where it doesn’t belong. Microsoft’s Copilot feels more like a checkbox exercise to keep pace with competitors than a carefully crafted productivity assistant. The lack of smooth performance, questionable usefulness in many apps, and cumbersome toggling settings left me skeptical. Several times, Copilot interruptions felt like a hindrance rather than a help.The AI promises of faster, smarter computing are exciting but not yet delivered seamlessly. The forced AI inclusion without a clear opt-in strategy frustrates users who prefer to keep their workspace clutter-free and under their control.
How to Remove Copilot: A Quick Guide
Here’s a consolidated guide to freeing your Windows 11 environment from omnipresent Copilot:- Notepad: Open Notepad, go to Settings > AI Features, and toggle off Copilot.
- Outlook: Settings > General > Privacy and data > Privacy settings; disable content analysis.
- Microsoft Edge: Settings > Languages, disable “Use Compose on the web” and Settings > Copilot and sidebar to hide the toolbar button.
- Microsoft Office: File > Options > Copilot, uncheck Enable Copilot.
- Core Copilot App (Windows 11 Pro): Use Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) to enable “Turn off Windows Copilot” under Windows Components.
What the Future Holds for AI in Windows
As Microsoft continues to bake AI into its Windows ecosystem, the likelihood increases that Copilot or its successors will appear more frequently across utilities, tools, and user interfaces. Ideally, this would come with refined performance, more intuitive interactions, and user-friendly opt-in choices.Until then, having the freedom to disable AI enhancements is crucial for productivity purists and privacy-conscious users. It’s a balancing act between embracing future tech and preserving tried-and-true workflows without new distractions.
Final Thoughts: Choose Your Own AI Adventure
AI-infused OS features might represent the future, but at present, they can be more of an obstacle than an asset, especially when forced upon users without clear consent or control. Microsoft’s Copilot, while promising in theory, needs significant improvements in speed, reliability, and relevance to earn its keep across diverse Windows 11 applications.For now, if you value efficiency, privacy, and a distraction-free environment, removing Copilot from your system and apps is a smart move. Until AI assistants become truly helpful partners, rather than annoying interlopers, keeping Copilot at bay lets you focus on what matters most: your work.
By shedding Copilot from Windows 11 and its apps, I reclaimed a cleaner, faster, and more personal computing experience. If Copilot hasn’t earned a spot in your workflow, perhaps it’s time to do the same.
Source: XDA https://www.xda-developers.com/completely-remove-copilot-on-windows-11-apps-its-crept-into/
Last edited:
