Disable Copilot in Microsoft Word on Windows 11

Microsoft Copilot in Word can be distracting if you don’t use it, and it may also raise privacy concerns. This guide shows you how to turn it off completely on Windows 11, either through Word’s settings or via the registry if the setting is grayed out. You don’t need admin rights for the in-app method, but you will need them for the registry tweak.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 11 PC with Microsoft Word installed (Microsoft 365 or standalone version).
• Administrator access if you plan to use the registry method (optional).
• Your Microsoft account sign-in details (if you need to change organization settings).

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Disable via Word’s Settings (Recommended)

1. Open Microsoft Word on your Windows 11 computer.
2. Click on the File tab in the top-left corner of the ribbon.
3. In the left sidebar, select Options at the bottom. This opens the Word Options dialog box.
4. In the Word Options window, click on Copilot in the left-hand menu. (If you don’t see this option, your Word version may not support disabling Copilot here – skip to Method 2.)
5. Uncheck the box that says Enable Copilot or Show Copilot in the ribbon. The exact wording may vary slightly depending on your Word version.
6. Click OK to save your changes.
7. Restart Word for the change to take effect. The Copilot icon should no longer appear in the ribbon.

Method 2: Disable via Group Policy (For Windows 11 Pro/Enterprise)

If your Word version doesn’t have the Copilot option in Settings, or if you manage multiple computers, you can use the Local Group Policy Editor.

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter. If you get an error, you’re on Windows 11 Home – use Method 3 instead.
3. Navigate to User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Microsoft Office 2016 → Tools | Options → General → Copilot.
4. Double-click on Turn off Copilot (or Disable Copilot).
5. Select Enabled in the dialog box, then click OK.
6. Close the Group Policy Editor and restart Word.

Method 3: Disable via Registry Editor (For Windows 11 Home)

If you don’t have Group Policy, you can edit the Windows registry directly. Be careful – a wrong edit can cause issues.

1. Close Microsoft Word completely.
2. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control.
3. Navigate to the following path:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\common\copilot
   If the copilot key doesn’t exist, right-click on common, select New → Key, and name it copilot.
4. In the right pane, right-click and select New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name it TurnOffCopilot.
6. Double-click the new value, set its data to 1, and click OK.
7. Close the Registry Editor and restart Word. Copilot should be disabled.

Common Mistakes

• Not restarting Word: Changes often only apply after a full restart. Make sure you close and reopen Word.
• Using the wrong registry path: A typo in the path can cause the setting to be ignored. Copy the path exactly as shown.
• Editing the wrong policy: In Group Policy, ensure you’re in the User Configuration section, not Computer Configuration, unless you want the setting to apply to all users on the machine.
• Forgetting to enable the policy: In Group Policy, you must select Enabled, not Not Configured.

Tips

• Check your Word version: The Copilot setting may only appear in recent versions of Microsoft 365. If you have an older perpetual license, the option might be missing.
• Use the ribbon toggle: In some versions, right-clicking the ribbon and selecting Customize the Ribbon lets you uncheck the Copilot checkbox to hide its icon without fully disabling the feature.
• Re-enable easily: To turn Copilot back on, simply reverse the steps (uncheck the box, set the policy to Disabled, or set the registry value to 0).
• Consider organizational settings: If you’re on a work or school account, your IT admin may have already set a policy that overrides your local changes. Contact them if the setting is grayed out.

Troubleshooting

Copilot still appears after following the steps:

• Double-check that you restarted Word completely (check the system tray for lingering processes).
• Verify the registry value is named correctly and set to 1. Sometimes a typo in the value name prevents it from working.
• If you used Group Policy, run gpupdate /force in Command Prompt (as admin) to refresh policies immediately.
• Make sure you’re editing the correct registry hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER affects only the current user; if you want it for all users, use HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE but you’ll need admin rights.

Copilot option is grayed out in Word Options:

• This usually means your organization has enforced a policy. You’ll need to contact your IT administrator to change it.
• Alternatively, try the registry method – sometimes it bypasses the grayed-out setting.

Copilot still shows in new documents:

• Some templates or add-ins might re-enable it. Check if you have any third-party add-ins that interfere, and disable them temporarily.
• Ensure you’re editing the correct document template (Normal.dotm).

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Copilot affect other Microsoft 365 apps?

No, the methods above only affect Microsoft Word. Copilot in Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook will remain unchanged unless you apply similar settings in those apps.

Can I re-enable Copilot later?

Yes, simply reverse the steps: uncheck the box in Options, set the policy to Disabled, or change the registry value back to 0.

Does disabling Copilot improve performance?

It can slightly reduce memory usage and startup time, but the difference is usually negligible on modern hardware. The main benefit is decluttering the interface.

Is there a way to hide the Copilot icon without disabling the feature?

Yes, right-click on the ribbon, choose Customize the Ribbon, and uncheck the Copilot checkbox under the main tabs. This hides the icon but leaves the feature available via keyboard shortcuts or other means.

Why don’t I see the Copilot option in Word Options?

Your Word version may be older, or your organization has disabled the setting. Check for updates or use the Group Policy/registry method instead.

Will disabling Copilot stop data from being sent to Microsoft?

Disabling Copilot stops the Copilot-specific data collection, but Word still sends diagnostic data as per your privacy settings. To minimize data sharing, you can adjust your Windows privacy settings as well.

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