How To Hide, Disable Copilot On Windows 11

Microsoft is continuously working on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) with most of its products. They have already included it in Microsoft Edge, Microsoft 365, PowerShell, and Windows 11. The tool that lets you use AI is known as “Copilot” across all of these apps and operating systems.

The Windows 11 copilot is a good thing to have, as long as you are tech savvy, and prefer having the machines take over as long as they increase your productivity. However, if you are not such a person, then you may prefer disabling the Copilot.

Here, you’ll find multiple ways to disable the Windows 11 Copilot and its icon in the taskbar if it is not needed.

Hide Copilot button on Windows 11 taskbar

Hide Copilot button from Settings

One way to hide the Copilot button on the taskbar is to disable it from the Settings app. Disabling this button (or re-enabling it) is as easy as toggling a button. Use the following steps to disable the Copilot button on the taskbar on Windows 11:

Note: These steps will only hide the button. Users will still be able to access Copilot through the Windows Key + C shortcut keys.

1. Press the Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.

2. Navigate to the following:

   Personalization >> Taskbar

3. Under “Taskbar items,” toggle the slider in front of “Copilot” into the Off position.

   

The Copilot button will now disappear from the taskbar, and hence, you will not be able to access it from there. However, you can still use the Windows Key + C shortcut keys to access Copilot.

If you want to restore the button in the future, all you need to do is return to the Taskbar Settings page and toggle it on again.

Hide Copilot button from Windows Registry

Another way to hide the Copilot button in the taskbar is from the .REG file given below. All you need to do is execute the harmless file and it will hide the button. A computer restart isn’t needed to implement the changes.

Click on the link to download the file, extract the contents, and then execute the .REG file to hide the Copilot button from the taskbar.

  Hide Copilot button from taskbar (359 bytes, 15 hits)

In case you want to re-enable it, you can go to Settings app >> Personalizations >> Taskbar, or use the .REG file below:

  Show Copilot button in taskbar.zip (358 bytes, 13 hits)

Disable Copilot from Group Policy

If you are using the Windows 11 Professional, Enterprise, or Education editions, then you can completely disable the Windows Copilot from the Group Policy Editor. By disabling it, you will no longer be able to launch it from the taskbar, nor by using the Windows Key + C shortcut keys – it will be completely disabled.

Learn how to install the Group Policy Editor on Windows 11 Home.

Note that the following steps to disable Copilot only apply to the user account you are logged in from. You cannot disable Copilot for all user accounts using this method.

1. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run Command box.

2. Type in “gpedit.msc” and press Enter to open the Group Policy editor.

3. Now navigate to the following path from the left pane:

   Local Computer Policy >> User Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Windows Copilot

4. Double-click the policy “Turn off Windows Copilot.”

   

5. Select “Enabled” and then click Apply and Ok.

   

If the Copilot button is visible in the taskbar, you will notice that it is no longer there. Therefore, applying this policy does not need a computer restart or enforcing the Group Policies. Additionally, if you head onto the Settings app >> Personalization >> Taskbar, you will find that the “Copilot” option has disappeared from there as well.

To re-enable Copilot and undo the changes, all you need to do is select either “Not configured” or “Disabled” in the “Turn off Windows Copilot” Group Policy.

Disable Copilot from Windows Registry

If you are working with a Home edition of Windows, or for some reason, the methods above did not work for you in disabling Copilot, then you can always adopt the harsh way – through the Windows Registry. Here are the steps to disable Copilot through Windows Registry:

1. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run Command box.

2. Type in “regedit” and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

   

3. Now navigate to the following path from the left pane:

   Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

4. Right-click the Windows key, expand New, and then click Key. Name this key “WindowsCopilot“.

   

5. Right-click the key “WindowsCopilot,” expand New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name this DWORD “TurnOffWindowsCopilot “.

   

6. Double-click the DWORD “TurnOffWindowsCopilot” and set its Value Data to 1, then click Ok.

   

7. Now restart the computer for the changes to take effect.

Once it restarts, you will notice that the Copilot button has disappeared from the taskbar, and it is no longer available as an option in the Settings app either.

In case you want to enable it in the future again, all you need to do is delete the “TurnOffWindowsCopilot“, or DWORD, change its Value Data to 0, and then restart the PC.

Ending thoughts

Although Copilot has been integrated with Windows to increase productivity and convenience, everyone is not accepting it with open arms. If you are annoyed by it or scared that Skynet will eventually take over, then you can simply hide the button in the taskbar, or disable it completely using the given methods above.