Microsoft has quietly introduced a Group Policy option that allows Windows 11 users and administrators to remove Copilot from PCs. The move comes amid growing criticism over Microsoft’s aggressive AI integration across Windows and Office products. Copilot is usually installed on Windows as an app, so users can find the option to remove it in the installed apps list or by right-clicking Copilot. However, Copilot can sometimes return after a fresh install of Windows 11.
Microsoft has been approaching 2026 with a far different mindset than the year before. The last year was packed full of instances where Microsoft rolled out its AI assistant, Copilot, into as many apps and services as possible. However, after the Windows user base failed to meet Microsoft's enthusiasm for Copilot, the company has been pulling back its efforts.
Windows Latest spotted the new entry in the Group Policy. While users can manually uninstall Copilot, it reappears after an update. Windows Latest claims that this Group Policy will delete Copilot and ensure it doesn't pop back up again.
For the version of Windows 11 that isn't the Home edition, users can open Group Policy and go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows AI. Users can see a policy titled "Remove Microsoft Copilot app" that not only removes the desktop version, but also Microsoft 365's Copilot.
Also Read: Microsoft Xbox Cancels AI Gaming Copilot as Focus Returns to Core Games
In Registry Editor, navigate to the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
Right-click the Windows key, and select New > Key. Name the new key as WindowsAI.
Now go to the following path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsAI
Right-click on the right side, and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name it as RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp. Then, double-click the new value and configure it to 1.
Restart Windows or sign out.
If you are using a Windows Home edition, you won't have the Group Policy tool on your system.