This tutorial will show you how to completely disable the Windows Copilot feature and remove Copilot from the taskbar, Windows Search, and Microsoft Edge for all users in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Copilot in Windows provides centralized generative AI assistance to your users right from the Windows desktop. Copilot in Windows appears as a side bar docked on the Windows desktop and is designed to help users get things done in Windows. Copilot in Windows can perform common tasks in Windows like changing Windows settings, which makes it different from the browser-based Copilot in Edge. However, both user experiences, Copilot in Windows and Copilot in Edge, can share the same underlying chat provider platform.
References:
Welcome to Copilot in Windows - Microsoft Support
Copilot in Windows & Other AI-Powered Features | Microsoft
You must be signed in as an administrator to disable and remove Copilot.
This will also disable the sidebar in Microsoft Edge.
Disabling Copilot will also disable Secure DNS in Microsoft Edge.
However, you can still set and use DoT or DoH in Windows 11. This will be the same as having Secure DNS in Microsoft Edge set to "Use current service provider".
This tutorial will no longer work to disable/remove the new Copilot app. It will still disable/remove Copilot from Search and Edge.
Starting with Windows 11 build 26100.712 (RP), build 26227.5000 (Canary), and build 26120.751 (Dev), Microsoft is evolving the Copilot** experience on Windows as an app that will be pinned to the taskbar. This enables users to get the benefits of a traditional app experience, including the ability to resize, move, and snap the window.
EXAMPLE: Copilot on taskbar, Windows Search, and in Microsoft Edge
Copilot in Windows Search is only available in Windows 11 currently.
Here's How:
1 Do step 2 (disable/remove) or step 3 (undo) below for what you would like to do.
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot]
"TurnOffWindowsCopilot"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot]
"TurnOffWindowsCopilot"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"HubsSidebarEnabled"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"DisableSearchBoxSuggestions"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"DisableSearchBoxSuggestions"=dword:00000001
This is the default setting
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot]
"TurnOffWindowsCopilot"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot]
"TurnOffWindowsCopilot"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"HubsSidebarEnabled"=-
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"DisableSearchBoxSuggestions"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"DisableSearchBoxSuggestions"=-
4 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 Either restart explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
- Disable Ads in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable Windows Copilot in Windows 11 and Windows 10
- Add or Remove Copilot Button on Taskbar in Windows 11
- Add or Remove Copilot and "Find results in Web" in Windows Search in Windows 11
- Add or Remove Copilot Toolbar icon in Microsoft Edge
- Add or Remove "Ask Copilot" on Menu in Microsoft Edge
- Dock or Undock Copilot on Desktop in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable Copilot Vision in Microsoft Edge
- Enable or Disable "Rewrite with Copilot" in Microsoft Edge