How to Remove Copilot and Disable Other AI Features on Windows 11

Microsoft has been integrating AI deeply into Windows 11 — from Copilot in the taskbar to AI-powered recommendations in File Explorer and the Start menu. While these features can be useful, not everyone wants them running in the background or cluttering up their workspace.

If you prefer a simpler, more traditional Windows experience, you can disable or remove Copilot and other AI features completely. In this guide, we’ll walk you through several ways to do it safely.

Remove Copilot and Disable Other AI Features

Before you start, make sure you create a system restore point, just in case you want to bring Copilot back later. Once that’s done, you can proceed to remove Copilot and turn off other AI-related elements in Windows 11.

Step 1: Remove Copilot from the Taskbar

The easiest way to remove Copilot is through the Settings app.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Select Personalization from the left sidebar.
3. Click Taskbar on the right.
4. Under Taskbar items, find Copilot (preview).
5. Toggle it Off.

The Copilot icon will disappear immediately from your taskbar.

If you only wanted to hide it, you’re done — but if you’d like to disable it completely, move on to the next step.

Step 2: Disable Copilot via Group Policy Editor (Windows 11 Pro)

If you’re using Windows 11 Pro or higher, you can disable Copilot through the Group Policy Editor so it doesn’t launch at all.

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the following path: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot
3. Double-click Turn off Windows Copilot on the right pane.
4. Select Enabled, then click Apply and OK.

Restart your PC, and Copilot will be completely disabled — even if Microsoft pushes new updates.

Step 3: Disable Copilot Using the Registry Editor (Windows 11 Home)

If you’re using Windows 11 Home, the Group Policy Editor isn’t available by default, but you can achieve the same effect through the Registry Editor.

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
3. Right-click on Windows, select New > Key, and name it WindowsCopilot.
4. Inside that key, right-click on the right panel and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name it TurnOffWindowsCopilot.
6. Double-click it and set its Value data to 1.
7. Click OK and close the Registry Editor.

Restart your PC for the change to take effect. Copilot will now be completely disabled.

Step 4: Disable AI Features in the Start Menu and File Explorer

Windows 11 includes additional AI-driven recommendations — such as “Recommended Files” in the Start menu and “Gallery” previews in File Explorer. Here’s how to turn them off.

Turn Off Recommended Files in Start Menu

1. Open Settings > Personalization > Start.
2. Toggle off Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more.
3. Optionally, disable Show recently opened items if you prefer a cleaner look.

Disable Gallery and AI Suggestions in File Explorer

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click the View menu, then select Options.
3. In the General tab, uncheck:
   • Show recently used files
   • Show frequently used folders
4. Click Apply and OK.

This removes AI-powered suggestions and recent activity tracking from File Explorer.

Step 5: Disable Online AI Features in Microsoft Edge

Even if you remove Copilot from Windows, it’s still embedded in Microsoft Edge. Here’s how to turn it off.

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner and choose Settings.
3. Go to Sidebar > Copilot.
4. Turn off Show Copilot.

You can also disable sidebar suggestions and Discover features from the same menu to keep your browser clutter-free.

Step 6: Turn Off AI Cloud Integration in Windows Search

Windows Search now uses AI and cloud results to provide suggestions and web content — but you can limit it to local files only.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Privacy & security > Search permissions.
3. Under Cloud content search, turn off both:
   • Microsoft account
   • Work or school account

This ensures search results come only from your PC and not the web or OneDrive.

Step 7: Optional – Block AI and Copilot Through Registry Policy (Advanced)

If you want to ensure Copilot stays disabled even after major Windows updates, you can enforce it using a system-wide policy.

1. Open Registry Editor as administrator.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
3. Create a new key named WindowsCopilot (if it doesn’t exist).
4. Inside it, create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named TurnOffWindowsCopilot.
5. Set its value to 1.
6. Restart your PC.

This prevents Copilot from reappearing when Windows updates or reinstalls system features.

Wrapping Up

Whether you find Copilot useful or intrusive, Windows 11 gives you several ways to remove or disable it — along with other AI-driven features. Turning off these options can make your PC feel lighter, faster, and more private.

You can always re-enable them later if Microsoft improves the experience or adds features you’d like to try. For now, if you prefer a clean, classic Windows setup without AI assistance, these steps will help you take full control of your system.