How to Disable Copilot on Windows

If you find the Copilot assistant on Windows more distracting than helpful, you can turn it off entirely. This guide covers the current methods to disable Copilot in Windows 10 and Windows 11, including removing it from the taskbar, disabling the shortcut keys, and turning off the app itself. You won’t need any special tools—just a few minutes and access to your Windows settings or Group Policy Editor (on Pro or Enterprise editions).

What You’ll Need

• Administrator access to your Windows account (to make system-level changes).
• Windows 11 version 23H2 or later, or Windows 10 with the Copilot app installed.
• For Group Policy method: Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition.

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Turn Off Copilot in Settings (Windows 11)

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Personalization > Taskbar.
3. Find the Copilot (preview) toggle and switch it to Off. This removes the Copilot icon from the taskbar.
4. To disable the Win + C shortcut, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > System tray icons (or search for “Copilot” in Settings). You may see a separate toggle for the shortcut; turn it off.

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

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot.
3. Double-click Turn off Windows Copilot.
4. Select Enabled, then click OK.
5. Restart your computer (or run gpupdate /force in Command Prompt).

Method 3: Uninstall the Copilot App (Windows 10 and 11)

1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Type the command: winget uninstall "Microsoft.Copilot" and press Enter.
3. If that doesn’t work, try: Get-AppxPackage *Copilot* | Remove-AppxPackage (in PowerShell as admin).
4. Restart your computer to complete the removal.

Method 4: Disable Copilot in Registry (Windows 11 Home)

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows.
3. Right-click on the Windows key, select New > Key, and name it WindowsCopilot.
4. Inside the new key, right-click on the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it TurnOffWindowsCopilot.
5. Double-click the new value, set it to 1, and click OK.
6. Close Registry Editor and restart your PC.

Common Mistakes

• Only removing the taskbar icon: Turning off the toggle in Settings only hides the icon; the Copilot app and its keyboard shortcut may still be active. Use one of the other methods to fully disable it.
• Using Group Policy on Home edition: Group Policy Editor is not available on Windows Home. Use the Registry method instead.
• Not restarting after changes: Some changes only take effect after a system restart. Always restart to ensure the setting is applied.
• Typing the registry path incorrectly: A single typo in the registry path can cause the key to be created in the wrong location, so the policy won’t be recognized.

Tips

• If you want to keep Copilot but stop it from launching automatically, you can disable its startup entry in Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) under the Startup tab.
• For a temporary disable, you can simply close the Copilot window and avoid pressing Win + C. The methods above are for permanent disablement.
• If you later change your mind, you can re-enable Copilot by reversing the steps (set the Group Policy to Not Configured, delete the registry value, or reinstall the app via Microsoft Store).

Troubleshooting

Copilot still appears after following the steps. Make sure you’ve used the correct method for your Windows edition. For Windows 11 Home, the Group Policy method won’t work—use the Registry method. Also verify that the registry value is set to 1 and that you restarted.

The Group Policy option is missing. If you don’t see the “Windows Copilot” folder under Administrative Templates, your Windows version may not have the latest updates. Run Windows Update and check again.

Can’t uninstall via winget. If the winget command fails, try the PowerShell command as shown. Make sure you’re running the terminal as administrator.

Copilot returns after a Windows update. Windows updates can sometimes reset policy settings. Reapply the Group Policy or registry change after major updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling Copilot affect other Windows features?

No, disabling Copilot only turns off the AI assistant. Other features like search, Start menu, and settings remain unaffected.

Can I still use Copilot if I disable it on the taskbar?

Yes, if you only turn off the taskbar toggle, Copilot is still available via the Win + C shortcut or by searching for “Copilot” in the Start menu. To fully disable it, use the Group Policy or Registry methods.

Is there a way to disable Copilot on Windows 10?

Yes, you can uninstall the Copilot app using the same winget or PowerShell command. Windows 10 does not have the Group Policy option for Copilot, so the app removal is the most reliable method.

Will disabling Copilot improve system performance?

Copilot runs in the background and uses some system resources. Disabling it may free up a small amount of memory and CPU, especially on lower-end hardware, but the impact is usually minimal.

Can I re-enable Copilot after disabling it?

Yes, you can re-enable it by reversing the steps: set the Group Policy to “Not Configured,” delete the registry value, or reinstall the app from the Microsoft Store.

Does disabling Copilot affect the new Windows 11 24H2 update?

In Windows 11 24H2, Copilot is a separate app that can be uninstalled like any other app. The methods above still apply, though the app may be listed as “Microsoft Copilot” in Settings > Apps.

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