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If you use Windows 11 on a regular basis, you may have noticed that for some time now, Copilot AI from Microsoft is now directly integrated into the operating system. Its objective is simple: to act as an aid to interact more simply with Windows.

However, for reasons of confidentiality, performance or even lack of interest, some users sometimes do not want to use Copilot on Windows 11, despite recurring updates. Except that uninstalling the application turns out to be more complicated than it seems (no, going to the “uninstall applications” section of the settings will not be enough.

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So check out two easy ways to make Copilot less intrusive (either by removing it from the taskbar or disabling it completely).

How to disable Copilot in the taskbar?

If you want to leave Copilot active, but make it invisible in the taskbar, the method is simple:

- Go to your Windows Settings, then select “Personalization”

- Then click on the “Taskbar” menu

- Then select Copilot, and deactivate the option.

How to disable Copilot in Windows 11?

If deactivating the assistant in the taskbar is particularly simple, this is not necessarily the case with completely deactivating the service in the operating system. Follow these steps:

Please note: Microsoft has evolved Copilot since its launch. Since the optional preview of May 2025, the assistant no longer opens in a sidebar but via a small prompt window, and the Win + C shortcut now launches the Microsoft 365 Copilot application. The “Turn off Windows Copilot” policy used below is therefore identified as legacy by Microsoft and may stop working on future builds.

- First, hold down the Windows button, then press the R button. A window appears at the bottom left of the screen: enter “regedit”, then click “OK”.

- Accept to launch the registry editor

- Then drop down the following menus: HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Policies/Microsoft/Windows.

- Right-click on “Windows”, then choose “New”, and “Key”.

- Rename the new key WindowsCopilot, then turn your attention to the right pane of the Registry Editor.

- Here, right-click on an empty place, then choose “New”, and “32-bit DWORD Value”

- Rename this value “TurnOffWindowsCopilot”, then double-click it and enter “1” as the value.

- You can now close the window and restart your computer.

That's it, Copilot is now disabled on your computer (but for one user only). If you want to disable the application for all users on your computer, do the same thing again by navigating to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot folder instead.

If the registry method is no longer sufficient on your PC (typical case of 24H2 versions and beyond), third-party tools like RemoveWindowsAI or unblocking utilities offer a more complete cleaning, also blocking automatic reinstallation at the next cumulative update.