To remove the Microsoft Copilot app, use Settings > Apps. On Windows 11, open Installed apps, find Copilot, select its three-dot menu and choose Uninstall. On Windows 10, find Copilot in the Apps list and select Uninstall. If you only want its taskbar shortcut gone, unpin it instead.
Choose the app you intend to remove: a Copilot button inside Edge, Word or Outlook is a separate control. Uninstalling an app is not a promise that every AI feature or web service will be blocked.
Uninstall Copilot on Windows 11
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Select Apps > Installed apps to see installed applications.
- Search for Copilot and identify the app you want to remove.
- Open its three-dot menu > Uninstall. Review and confirm the removal prompt.
- Check the list again to confirm the selected app is gone. If Windows asks for a restart, follow that prompt.
Uninstall Copilot on Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings > Apps.
- Find Copilot in the app list, commonly labeled Apps & features.
- Select the app, choose Uninstall, and confirm any removal prompt.
- Check the list to verify that the app was removed.
These are Microsoft’s documented Copilot removal routes. Windows Security’s App & browser control is not the route for uninstalling Copilot. Turning off notifications only changes alerts; it does not uninstall the app.
Hide the shortcut or change the Copilot key
Right-click the Copilot app icon on the taskbar and choose Unpin from taskbar. The app remains installed. If you need the app removed, return to the appropriate uninstall steps above.
On Windows 11 devices with a Copilot key, search Settings for Customize Copilot key on keyboard. Microsoft documents a route through Personalization > Text input for choosing Search or an eligible app. Newer remapping options through Bluetooth & devices > Keyboard, including Right Ctrl or the context-menu key, depend on the Windows update and device. Do not assume every keyboard has every option; see Microsoft’s Copilot key update notes.
If Copilot is missing or cannot be removed
If the app is absent, first identify where the unwanted Copilot control appears. A browser button or an Office feature can remain after app removal. Do not uninstall a different app just because its name contains Copilot.
Another documented method is Start > All apps: right-click the app and select Uninstall. For an error, keep the exact message and consult Microsoft’s uninstall troubleshooting guidance. On a managed work or school PC, ask IT about an unavailable control or an app that returns. For general removal methods, see our Windows 11 app uninstall guide.
Microsoft recommends AppLocker rules for controlling installation or launch of the consumer Copilot app. Its managed Windows Copilot guide also documents a PowerShell removal method. These controls require an administrator to choose the correct package and deployment scope.
The old Turn off Windows Copilot policy targets the legacy sidebar and is deprecated. Do not present that policy or its registry value as a universal way to remove the current app.
The newer RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp policy is targeted removal on Windows 11 24H2 and later, with conditions: both Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Copilot installed, the Copilot app not installed by the user, and no launch in 28 days. Microsoft’s edition table and descriptive text differ on Pro eligibility; administrators should verify applicability for their build. Users can reinstall afterward, so this policy is not a permanent ban.
Copilot in Word, Outlook or Edge
Removing the Windows app does not configure each product’s Copilot controls. For supported desktop Word, Excel or PowerPoint versions signed in with a personal Microsoft account, use File > Options > Copilot, clear Enable Copilot, select OK, then restart that app. Repeat per app and device. New Outlook uses Settings > Copilot > Turn on Copilot. These settings differ for work or school accounts; consult Microsoft’s Microsoft 365 Copilot controls.
For an Edge toolbar button, use Edge’s own settings rather than Windows app removal. Hiding a button is different from blocking access to a service.
Can I get the app back?
Yes. Microsoft offers the Copilot app through the Microsoft Store. On a managed PC, check with IT before reinstalling. Removing the app alone should not be treated as deleting your online Copilot account or chat history.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.