Abstract
- Microsoft pulled again Copilot in 2026 after weak consumer uptake, shifting from an aggressive rollout.
- New Home windows 11 Group Coverage “Take away Microsoft Copilot app” deletes Copilot and retains it off.
- Home windows Residence lacks Group Coverage, however Registry edits obtain the same impact.
Microsoft has been approaching 2026 with a far completely different mindset than the yr earlier than. 2025 was packed stuffed with cases the place Microsoft rolled out its AI assistant, Copilot, into as many apps and companies as potential. Nonetheless, after the Home windows consumer base failed to satisfy Microsoft’s enthusiasm for Copilot (going as far as to coin the time period ‘Microslop’ across the flip of the brand new yr), the corporate has been pulling again its efforts.
We have seen Copilot in Notepad and Paint get a revision, and the tech has allowed folks to cover the Copilot button in Microsoft 365 within the ribbon if they need. Now, somebody has noticed a brand new entry within the Home windows 11 Group Coverage that not solely eliminates Copilot, however retains it off your PC for good.
Microsoft lastly admits the Copilot key wasn’t a terrific thought, and it will allow you to change it again quickly
Higher late than by no means.
A brand new Home windows 11 Group Coverage permits you to eliminate Copilot
It isn’t a terrific repair, nevertheless it’ll do
Windows Latest noticed the brand new entry within the Group Coverage, and believes that it was added someday within the April 2026 replace. When you can manually uninstall Copilot, it’s possible you’ll discover it reappearing after an replace. Home windows Newest claims that this Group Coverage will delete Copilot and guarantee it would not pop again up once more.
In the event you’re utilizing a model of Home windows 11 that is not the Residence version, you may open Group Coverage and go to Consumer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Home windows Elements > Home windows AI. You will then see a coverage titled “Take away Microsoft Copilot app” that not solely removes the desktop model, but in addition Microsoft 365’s Copilot.
Sadly, in case you’re utilizing a Home windows Residence version, you will not have the Group Coverage software in your system. Nonetheless, Home windows Newest says you may obtain the same objective utilizing the Registry editor:
- Open HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindows within the Registry editor.
- Proper-click the Home windows key and decide New > Key, then name the brand new key WindowsAI.
- Now go to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsAI, right-click on the precise facet, and decide New > DWORD (32-bit) Worth.
- Double-click it, set it to 1, then both restart Home windows or signal out.
Whereas neither of those strategies is as helpful as Microsoft giving us an in-system toggle, it is a step in the precise course.
Microsoft’s large Copilot rollback continues as Workplace now permits you to transfer its button to the ribbon
All the pieces carefully.