How to Turn Off or Remove Copilot in Windows 11

To turn off or remove Copilot in Windows 11, hide its taskbar icon, disable the older Windows Copilot integration with policy or the registry, or uninstall the Copilot app when Windows offers that option. Hiding the icon is reversible but does not stop Copilot from launching; policy or the registry blocks the older integration; uninstalling removes only a separately listed Copilot app. The right method depends on your Windows 11 version, edition, and how Copilot is installed.

Do you want Copilot hidden, disabled, or completely removed?

These options have different results:

• Hide Copilot: Removes the taskbar icon. Copilot can still be available through Search, a keyboard shortcut, the Start menu, or its installed app.
• Disable Copilot: Blocks the older Windows Copilot integration through a supported policy or its registry equivalent. This stops that integration from opening, but it may not block a separately installed Copilot app on newer builds.
• Uninstall Copilot: Removes the Copilot app only when Windows lists it as an uninstallable application. It does not remove unrelated Windows components, Microsoft Edge, or Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Before you start:

• Check your edition in Settings > System > About, under Windows specifications.
• Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education include Local Group Policy Editor. Windows 11 Home normally does not, so use the registry method there.
• Create a restore point before editing the registry or changing a policy.
• You do not need administrator access to change the per-user registry value described below. An administrator account is useful if you need to uninstall an app for all users or change device-wide settings.

The policy and registry steps target the older Windows Copilot integration. On newer releases, Copilot can be a standalone app, so use its uninstall option as well if you want it removed completely.

Do not use random debloat scripts, delete system files, or remove unrelated packages to get rid of Copilot. Those methods can remove dependencies that other Windows features need and are harder to reverse than the built-in controls.

How to hide Copilot from the Windows 11 taskbar

Hiding the icon is the least invasive option. Copilot remains installed, but its taskbar button no longer occupies space.

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Personalization.
3. Select Taskbar.
4. Expand Taskbar items if necessary.
5. Turn Copilot (preview) or Copilot off.

The label depends on your Windows 11 build. If the switch is present, the icon should disappear from the taskbar immediately.

You can reach the same control from the taskbar:

1. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar.
2. Select Taskbar settings.
3. Turn the Copilot switch off under Taskbar items.

This setting hides the button only. It does not disable every way to open Copilot. If Copilot still appears in Search or opens with a shortcut, use the policy or registry method in the next section, or uninstall the separate app if Windows offers that option.

How to disable Copilot on Windows 11 Home or Pro

Windows 11 has used more than one Copilot design. The policy and registry setting below target the older Windows Copilot integration. On newer releases where Copilot is a standalone app, use the app's uninstall option as well if you want it removed completely.

Settings route

Some Windows 11 builds expose a Copilot control directly in Settings.

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Personalization.
3. Select Taskbar.
4. Turn off the Copilot option if your build shows one.

This is primarily a visibility control. If your build has a separate Copilot app, this switch may not prevent that app from launching.

Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education: Local Group Policy

Use this method when gpedit.msc is available. It is not normally included with Windows 11 Home.

1. Press Windows+R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Open User Configuration.
3. Open Administrative Templates.
4. Open Windows Components.
5. Select Windows Copilot.
6. Double-click Turn off Windows Copilot.
7. Select Enabled.
8. Select Apply, then OK.
9. Sign out and sign back in, or restart Windows.

The wording can differ slightly between Windows 11 builds. If the Windows Copilot folder or policy is missing, your build may use the newer standalone app model, so this policy may have no effect on that app.

To reverse the policy, return to the same setting and choose Not Configured, then apply it and sign in again.

Windows 11 Home or Pro: Registry alternative

Use Registry Editor when Local Group Policy is unavailable, including on Windows 11 Home. This is a per-user policy location.

Editing the wrong registry key can affect Windows or other applications. Change only the value described here, and export the key first if you want a backup.

1. Press Windows+R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Approve the User Account Control prompt.
3. Go to this path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot

4. If WindowsCopilot does not exist, create it by right-clicking Windows, selecting New > Key, and naming the key WindowsCopilot.
5. Inside that key, create a DWORD (32-bit) Value named TurnOffWindowsCopilot.
6. Open the value and set Value data to 1.
7. Close Registry Editor.
8. Sign out and sign in again, or restart Windows.

You can create the same value from an elevated PowerShell window, but Registry Editor makes it easier to confirm the exact key and value. To restore the integration, delete TurnOffWindowsCopilot or change its value to 0, then sign in again. If a work or school policy controls the setting, your change may be overwritten.

How to uninstall the Copilot app when Windows allows it

On newer Windows 11 releases, Copilot can appear as a normal installed app. When it does, Windows can remove it without deleting system files.

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Apps.
3. Select Installed apps.
4. Search for Copilot.
5. Select the three-dot menu next to the Copilot entry.
6. Select Uninstall.
7. Confirm the removal and follow any prompts.

You can also open the Start menu, find Copilot, right-click it, and select Uninstall when that command is available.

The uninstall option can be missing because your Windows build treats Copilot as a Windows component, your organization manages the app, or the Copilot feature is supplied through another Microsoft product. Microsoft also changes how Copilot is packaged across Windows 11 releases, so the absence of an uninstall button does not indicate that Windows is damaged.

Uninstalling the app is different from disabling the older Windows Copilot policy. If Copilot still appears after you uninstall a listed app, check the taskbar setting and the policy or registry setting. If Windows does not offer Uninstall, leave the component in place and use the supported hide or disable method instead.

Do not force removal with unofficial debloat tools, package-removal scripts, or commands copied from an unknown source.

How to confirm Copilot is gone and restore it later

Check each location where Copilot previously appeared:

• The taskbar should no longer show a Copilot button if you hid it.
• Search for Copilot from Start. If you uninstalled the app, it should not appear as an installed application.
• Press the shortcut that previously opened Copilot, if you used one. It should no longer open the blocked integration; a separately installed app can still respond if it remains installed.
• Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and check whether a Copilot entry remains.
• If you used Group Policy, reopen gpedit.msc and confirm Turn off Windows Copilot is still Enabled.
• If you used the registry, check that TurnOffWindowsCopilot is set to 1 under the WindowsCopilot policy key.

To restore a hidden icon, open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and turn Copilot back on. To restore the policy-controlled integration, set Turn off Windows Copilot to Not Configured, or delete TurnOffWindowsCopilot from the registry and sign out and back in. To restore an uninstalled app, open the Microsoft Store or the official Microsoft download or app-management page offered for your Windows build; availability depends on the version and account.

If Copilot returns after a Windows update, check the taskbar setting, installed apps, and policy again. A feature update can change Copilot from an integrated Windows feature into a separate app, so the control that worked before may no longer control the same component.

Conclusion

For most people, turning off the taskbar item is enough and carries no real risk. Use Local Group Policy on Pro, Enterprise, or Education when you need to block the older Windows integration; use the matching registry value on Home. If Windows lists Copilot under Installed apps, uninstall it there rather than forcing removal. Then check the taskbar, Search, the app list, and your usual shortcut to confirm which part has actually been removed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does hiding Copilot uninstall it?

No. Hiding the taskbar item removes only its button. Copilot can remain installed and may still be available through Search, a shortcut, or the Start menu.

Can I disable Copilot on Windows 11 Home?

Yes. Use the Settings control if your build provides one, or create `TurnOffWindowsCopilot` with a value of `1` under `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot`. Windows 11 Home normally does not include Local Group Policy Editor.

Why is there no Uninstall button for Copilot?

Your Windows build may treat Copilot as an integrated component, or the app may be managed by an organization or supplied through another Microsoft product. Use the supported hide or disable controls instead of forcing removal with unofficial tools.