Remove Copilot and & AI

To completely uninstall the Microsoft Copilot app from your device, you can follow these steps:

1. Uninstall via Settings: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps. Find the Copilot app in the list, click on the three dots next to it, and select Uninstall.
2. Prevent Installation: If you are an IT administrator, you can prevent the installation of the Copilot app using AppLocker policy. This involves configuring AppLocker to control which apps can be run on your device. For more detailed steps on setting up AppLocker, refer to the relevant documentation.
3. Remove Copilot from SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS): If you have Copilot installed in SSMS, you can remove it using the Visual Studio Installer. Launch the Visual Studio Installer, select your SSMS installation, click Modify, uncheck AI Assistance on the Workloads tab, and then select Modify to uninstall it.

Following these steps should help you remove the Copilot app and its components from your computer completely.

Hi Anon,

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A!

I understand you have a clear preference regarding AI features and want them removed from your system. Unfortunately, Copilot and its underlying components are integrated within the Windows system. This means it is built into the OS, and not a standalone app you can uninstall.

While it is not possible to surgically remove every trace without potentially destabilizing your entire system, I can provide you some ways to disable or hide the features, remove accessible components, and block its functionality so it does not run or appear:

1 - Turn off Copilot in Windows:

• Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar
• Under Taskbar items, toggle Copilot to OFF
• Remove from File Explorer:
  • Open File Explorer > click View in the top menu
  • In the Show section, uncheck Copilot (if present)
• Remove Copilot from Microsoft Edge:
  • Open the browser's settings > Sidebar
  • In Copilot section, turn OFF Show Copilot

2 - Disable Copilot with advanced method:

• Via Group Policy (only for Windows Pro/Enterprise editions)
  • Press Win + R > type gpedit.msc > press Enter to open Group Policy Editor
  • Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components
  • Check Windows Copilot > Enable Turn off Windows Copilot > Restart your PC
• Disable via Registry (Home edition)
• Press Win + R > type regedit > press Enter to open Registry Editor
  • Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot
  • Add a new DWORD named TurnOffWindowsCopilot and set its value to 1
  • Close the window and restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work groups is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, first check out How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support 

3 - Additional methods (not recommended by Microsoft)

For users who are technically comfortable and want to go further, there are community-made solutions to get rid of Copilot. However, these operate outside of Microsoft's official support scope. Using them carries inherent risks, including system instability and unforeseen issues.

• Use a third-party script or tool for deep removal: PowerShell scripts and dedicated system utility tools designed to remove Copilot and its integrated components.
• Perform a custom Clean Install: Configure a Windows .iso package without Copilot. However, this will reset your device to a clean state (erase all your current data).

I know you need to get rid of Copilot, but there's currently no official method exists to completely remove it from Windows without breaking core system components. If you have a new device, consider making a custom Installation Media without Copilot and start from scratch.

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