To turn off Copilot in Windows 11, uninstall the Copilot app: open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select the three dots next to Copilot, and choose Uninstall. If you only want it out of sight, right-click its taskbar icon and select Unpin from taskbar.
Applies to: Windows 11 with the Microsoft Copilot app. Checked against Microsoft Support and Microsoft Learn on October 7, 2026.
What “turning off Copilot” means now
Older guides describe a Copilot side pane that was built into Windows and had its own on/off controls. Microsoft began replacing that pane with a regular app, called Microsoft Copilot, in an update rollout that started in September 2024. On a current Windows 11 PC, Copilot is an app that Microsoft says comes pre-installed on new PCs and is pinned to the taskbar or Start menu.
That change is good news if you do not want it. Because Copilot is an app, there is no single master switch to hunt for. You choose how far you want to go:
| What you want | What to do | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Copilot gone from this account | Uninstall the Copilot app | Removes the app. You can install it again from the Microsoft Store. |
| A cleaner taskbar, app kept | Unpin it from the taskbar | Hides the icon only. The app stays installed. |
| Copilot not opening at sign-in | Turn it off in Startup apps | The app stays installed and opens only when you start it. |
| The Copilot key to do something else | Reassign the key in Settings | The key opens Search or another app instead. |
You do not need administrator tools, Registry edits or third-party “debloat” utilities for any of these. The steps below use controls that Microsoft documents.
Uninstall the Copilot app in Settings
This is the method Microsoft Learn gives for people who want to remove the Microsoft Copilot app from their own PC.
- Select Start, then Settings. The Settings window opens.
- Select Apps, then Installed apps. You see a list of the apps on the PC.
- Find Copilot in the list.
- Select the three dots on the Copilot row. A short menu opens.
- Select Uninstall, and confirm if Windows asks. The Copilot entry disappears from the list when the removal finishes.
If your list shows more than one entry with Copilot in the name, read the names carefully before you remove anything. Copilot (Microsoft Copilot) is the consumer assistant this article is about. Microsoft 365 Copilot belongs to Microsoft 365, and it is managed separately.
The Start menu offers the same result in fewer clicks. Use it if you prefer not to open Settings.
- Select Start, then All apps.
- Scroll to Copilot in the alphabetical list.
- Right-click it (or press and hold on a touchscreen), then select Uninstall.
Both routes work for other apps too. Our guide on how to uninstall a program in Windows 11 covers the remaining methods, including Control Panel.
Unpin Copilot from the taskbar
Choose this if you want to keep Copilot available but do not want the icon next to your other apps.
- Find the Copilot icon on the taskbar.
- Right-click the icon. A menu opens above it.
- Select Unpin from taskbar. The icon disappears right away.
Unpinning does not uninstall anything. Copilot still appears in the Start menu’s app list, and keyboard shortcuts still open it.
You may have read that there is a Copilot switch in Taskbar settings. That switch belonged to the older built-in pane. Microsoft’s current taskbar documentation lists only Search, Task view and Widgets under Taskbar items, so on an up-to-date PC you unpin the Copilot icon like any other app. If your PC has not been updated in a long time and still shows a Copilot switch under Taskbar items, turning it off hides the button there.
Stop Copilot from starting when you sign in
If you keep the app but do not want it running until you ask for it, check the Windows startup list.
- Select Start > Settings > Apps > Startup.
- Look for Copilot in the list of apps.
- Set its toggle to Off.
You can do the same from Task Manager: right-click the Start button, select Task Manager, open the Startup apps tab, select Copilot and choose Disable. If Copilot is not in either list, it is not registered to start with Windows on your PC and there is nothing to change.
Change what the Copilot key and Windows key + C do
Many laptops sold since 2024 have a dedicated Copilot key, often where the right Ctrl key or the menu key used to be. According to Microsoft, pressing that key, or pressing Windows key + C, opens Copilot. You have three documented ways to change that.
Reassign the Copilot key
- Open Settings > Personalization > Text input.
- Find the Customize Copilot key on keyboard drop-down menu.
- Pick Search to make the key open Windows Search, or Custom to choose a different app. The menu also lists the app the key is currently mapped to.
Turn the key back into Right Ctrl or the menu key
Microsoft’s accessibility documentation describes a Windows 11 update that adds a remapping option under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Keyboard. It lets the Copilot key act as the Context menu key or as Right Ctrl. Two cautions from that page are worth knowing:
- If you choose Right Ctrl, shortcuts that combine Right Ctrl with the Windows key or with Shift do not behave normally. Microsoft recommends using the Left Ctrl key for those combinations.
- Some laptops come with their own manufacturer setting for the Copilot key. Use either the Windows setting or the manufacturer’s setting, not both.
What you see depends on your keyboard and on the updates installed. If neither setting appears, your PC either has no Copilot key or has not received the update yet.
Adjust the shortcut inside the Copilot app
If you keep Copilot installed, the app has its own control for the key and for Windows key + C. Open Copilot, select your account, then Settings > Copilot Keyboard Shortcuts. Microsoft says this is where you choose whether the shortcut opens the full app or a smaller quick view.
Remove Copilot with PowerShell
Microsoft Learn also publishes a short PowerShell script that removes the Copilot app for the signed-in user. It does the same job as the Settings method, so most people do not need it. It is useful when you are setting up several accounts or the Settings app will not open.
- Search for PowerShell from Start and open it.
- Run this line to read the app’s full package name:
$packageFullName = Get-AppxPackage -Name "Microsoft.Copilot" | Select-Object -ExpandProperty PackageFullName - Run this line to remove the app:
Remove-AppxPackage -Package $packageFullName
Type the commands exactly as shown. If the first line finds nothing, Copilot is not installed for your account and the second line has nothing to remove.
How to confirm it worked, and how to undo it
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps again and look for Copilot. If the app no longer appears, it is uninstalled for your account. Then check the taskbar; if an icon is still pinned there, right-click it and select Unpin from taskbar.
Every change in this article is reversible:
- Uninstalled the app: open the Microsoft Store, search for Copilot and install it again. Microsoft states that people can reinstall the app if they choose to.
- Unpinned the icon: search for Copilot from Start, right-click the result and select Pin to taskbar.
- Turned off startup: go back to Apps > Startup and set the toggle to On.
- Reassigned the key: return to Customize Copilot key on keyboard and choose the Copilot entry again.
Troubleshooting
There is no Uninstall option, or it is unavailable
On a work or school PC, your organization decides which apps you can remove. Microsoft gives administrators their own tools for Copilot, including an AppLocker policy that blocks the app from installing or launching. Do not try to get around a managed setting; ask the person or team that manages the device.
Copilot came back after an update
Check which Copilot you are looking at. If it is the Copilot app, uninstall it again with the steps above. If it is a Copilot button inside another program, such as Word or Excel, that is a separate feature with its own setting (see below). On a managed PC, an administrator can also pin or deploy Copilot again from the Microsoft 365 admin center.
An old Group Policy or Registry method did nothing
Many tutorials still recommend the Turn off Windows Copilot policy or the Registry value with the same name. Microsoft marks that policy as deprecated and notes that it was not made for the newer Copilot app experience. Microsoft tells administrators to use AppLocker instead. On your own PC, uninstalling the app is the supported route.
I heard about a “Remove Microsoft Copilot app” policy
It exists, but it is an administrator tool with narrow conditions. Microsoft’s policy reference says it applies to Windows 11, version 24H2 and later, and only removes the app when Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Copilot are both installed, the Copilot app was not installed by the user, and the app has not been opened in the last 28 days. People can still reinstall the app afterward. For a home PC, the Settings method is simpler and has no such conditions.
Copilot still shows up in Word, Excel or PowerPoint
Uninstalling the Windows app does not change Microsoft 365. In Word, Excel, PowerPoint or OneNote for Windows, go to File > Options > Copilot, clear the Enable Copilot checkbox, select OK, then close and restart the app. Microsoft notes that this setting is per app and per device, so repeat it in each app where you want Copilot off. New Outlook uses a Turn on Copilot toggle instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to uninstall Copilot from Windows 11?
Yes. Microsoft documents uninstalling the Copilot app from Installed apps as the way for users to remove it, and you can reinstall it from the Microsoft Store later.
Does unpinning Copilot turn it off?
No. Unpinning only removes the taskbar icon. The app remains installed, and the Copilot key and Windows key + C can still open it. Uninstall the app if you want it gone.
Can I disable the Copilot key completely?
Microsoft’s documented options reassign the key rather than switch it off: you can point it at Search or another app, or, where the update is available, make it act as Right Ctrl or the Context menu key. Reassigning it to something you actually use is the practical fix.
Do I need Group Policy or a Registry edit?
No. Those methods were written for the old built-in pane or for administrators managing many PCs. On a personal PC, the Settings and taskbar steps in this article cover the app, its icon, its startup entry and its key.
Is Copilot the same as Microsoft 365 Copilot?
No. Microsoft Copilot is the assistant app that ships with Windows 11. Microsoft 365 Copilot is tied to the Microsoft 365 apps. Removing one does not remove the other.
Is the process different in Windows 10?
The idea is the same, but the menus differ. See our separate guide on how to turn off Copilot in Windows 10.
For the official reference, see Microsoft Learn’s page on the updated Windows and Microsoft Copilot experience, Microsoft Support’s guide to accessing Microsoft Copilot on Windows, and its notes on updates to the Copilot key. Start with unpinning if you are unsure, and uninstall the app once you know you do not miss it.
Related: How to add Copilot to Excel.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.