At a glance
Microsoft Copilot now shows up in Windows, Edge, and Office apps like Word and Outlook. You can switch it off in each place: unpin or uninstall it in Windows, turn it off in Edge’s sidebar settings, and disable it in each Office app’s options. Nothing breaks, it is reversible, and on a work account your admin may control it. Here is how, app by app.
Microsoft Copilot keeps appearing in more Microsoft products, and not everyone wants it there. Maybe you do not use it, you find it distracting, or you would rather not have an AI button in every app. Whatever the reason, you can turn it off in each spot it appears. None of this harms Windows or Office, and you can switch it back on anytime.
How do I turn off Copilot in Windows?
In current versions of Windows 11, Copilot is a regular app rather than a built-in button, which makes it easy to remove:
- To hide it, right-click the Copilot icon on the taskbar and choose Unpin
- To remove it, open Settings, go to Apps, find Copilot, and select Uninstall
- On Windows Pro or work PCs, an admin can disable it through policy settings
The exact wording shifts between Windows updates, but the idea is the same: unpin to hide it, uninstall to remove it.
How do I turn off Copilot in Microsoft Edge?
Edge has a Copilot button and sidebar. To switch it off, open Edge Settings, go to Sidebar, open the Copilot settings, and turn it off. That removes the button and stops the sidebar from appearing. If a new tab still shows Copilot suggestions, you can turn those off in the new tab page settings.
How do I turn off Copilot in Word, Excel, and Outlook?
| Where Copilot appears | How to turn it off |
|---|---|
| Windows taskbar | Unpin it, or uninstall the app in Settings |
| Microsoft Edge | Settings, then Sidebar, then turn off Copilot |
| Word, Excel, Outlook | File, then Options, then turn off Copilot |
In the Office apps, open File, then Options, look for the Copilot section, and uncheck the option to enable it. Restart the app and the Copilot button goes away. On a work or school account, this option may be greyed out because your organization controls it.
Can I remove Copilot completely?
On a personal device, yes, more or less. You can uninstall the Windows app, turn it off in Edge, and disable it in each Office app, which removes it from the places you see it. On a managed work computer, full removal is up to your IT admin. Either way, turning it off is reversible, so you are not making a permanent change.
Why would you turn off Copilot?
- You do not use it and want a cleaner, simpler interface
- You find the buttons and pop-ups distracting
- You prefer a different AI assistant
- You have privacy questions about AI features at work
Turning a tool off is a valid choice. Using AI well includes deciding when not to use it. If Copilot is not helping you, switching it off is sensible, not anti-AI. And if your hesitation is about privacy rather than the feature itself, it is worth understanding what these tools do with your data, which our guide to AI data safety covers.
Is it safe to disable Copilot?
Yes. Turning off or uninstalling Copilot does not damage Windows, Edge, or Office, and your files and settings are untouched. It simply removes the AI features until you choose to add them back. If you later want to try an assistant again, you can re-enable Copilot or pick another one from our chatbots compared guide.
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Common questions about turning off Copilot
Will turning off Copilot slow down or break my PC?
No. Removing Copilot has no negative effect on Windows or your apps. If anything, uninstalling an app you do not use frees up a little space and clutter.
Why does Copilot keep coming back after updates?
Microsoft sometimes re-adds features in updates. If Copilot reappears, just unpin or disable it again using the same steps. On work devices, your admin settings usually keep it consistent.
Can I turn off Copilot on a work computer?
Sometimes. If the option is greyed out, your organization controls it, and you would need to ask your IT team. On a personal device you have full control.
How do I turn Copilot back on later?
Reinstall the Windows app from the Microsoft Store, or re-enable Copilot in Edge and Office settings. Everything returns to how it was before.
Sources
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