Windows 11 finally lets you uninstall Copilot: Here’s how to do it

When Microsoft first added Copilot to Windows 11, I expected it would make all my work more efficient. Although the technology seemed promising on paper, it turned out unnecessary, intrusive, and not useful enough to justify its constant presence.

The taskbar icon, the system-level integration, and the inability to fully remove it at first made it feel forced. Now, Microsoft has seemingly reversed its approach. Copilot is no longer locked into the system, and you can uninstall it like a regular app.

In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to uninstall Copilot Windows 11 permanently and what actually happens after you do.

Why I removed Copilot on my PC

Copilot is Microsoft’s built-in Generative AI assistant for Windows 11. It’s designed to help with things like summarizing content, answering questions, tweaking system settings, and pulling information from the web, all from a sidebar inside your desktop. On paper, it sounds like a productivity boost.

Your Complete iOS 26 Playbook:

Get our exclusive Ultimate iOS 26 Guide 📚 — absolutely FREE when you sign up for our newsletter below.

But when I actually used it in my daily workflow, it didn’t stick. Most of the time, it redirected me to web results instead of doing it directly on my system. For tasks I repeat often, like writing, testing and troubleshooting, I already have faster, more reliable tools. Copilot felt like an extra layer rather than a shortcut.

I also didn’t like how visible it was. That constant presence on the taskbar reminded me of Cortana’s early days, useful in demos but forgettable in real work.

And I’m not alone here. A lot of users wanted to remove Copilot because it:

• Didn’t add real value to their workflow
• Raised privacy concerns due to cloud-based AI responses
• Cluttered the UI with something they rarely used
• Couldn’t be fully removed earlier

Who can uninstall Copilot

The good news is Copilot is no longer deeply baked into Windows. It’s now treated more like an app. That’s why uninstalling works.

If you’re on a recent Windows 11 build, you can remove it just like any other installed app via Settings or Start menu. But there are caveats.

On personal devices, it’s straightforward. On managed devices (work laptops, enterprise systems), it depends on IT policies. Microsoft has now officially provided instructions on how to uninstall Copilot using Group Policy, although this is only possible under certain circumstances.

So yes, you can uninstall it, but how easy it is depends on who controls your machine.

How to uninstall Copilot (step-by-step)

I have shared different methods to remove Copilot from the current user and all users’ profiles.

Method 1: From the Start menu

This is the fastest method and the one I use to uninstall apps by default.

1. Click the search bar at the bottom of your home screen and type Copilot.
2. When the Copilot appears, click Uninstall from the right panel.
3. It will redirect you to Settings. Click the three-dot next to Copilot and select Uninstall.
   

That’s it. On updated systems, this works instantly. If you don’t see uninstall here, your system hasn’t fully transitioned yet. Move to the next method.

Method 2: Via Windows Settings

This is the most guaranteed method if you can’t find the option to remove Copilot from the Start menu.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Apps and click on Installed apps.
3. Search for Copilot in the list.
4. Click the three-dot menu next to it and select Uninstall.
5. Confirm the action.
   

Method 3: Remove Copilot in Microsoft Edge

Even after uninstalling, Copilot can still show up in the Edge sidebar. This method removes that leftover presence.

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three-dot menu in the top right corner and go to Settings.
3. Navigate to Appearance, scroll down, and select Copilot and sidebar.
   
4. Click Copilot and toggle off all the options.
   

If you are concerned about your past conversations and shared data, first do the steps below and then disable Copilot in Edge.

1. Click the Chat icon in Edge > three-dot menu > Settings.
2. Select Privacy from the dropdown.
3. Choose Export or Delete History and sign in to your Microsoft account.
4. Finally, select Delete all activity history for all the apps.

Additionally, if you have the Microsoft 365 Copilot app installed in Edge, you need to delete it. Inside Edge, search for edge://apps/ and select Uninstall from the three-dot menu next to Copilot. After doing this, Copilot finally felt “gone” from my system.

Method 4: Using PowerShell Command

This is the most powerful method and useful if your PC has multiple users.

1. Click the search bar and search for PowerShell.
2. Right-click and select Run as Administrator. Click Yes on the prompt.
   
3. Enter the following command: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Where-Object {$_.Name -Like '*Microsoft.Copilot*'}
Remove-AppxPackage -ErrorAction Continue
4. Press Enter.
5. Wait for the process to finish.

This method will forcefully uninstall Copilot even if it refuses to leave your PC.

Delete Copilot on managed devices via Group Policy

If you’re dealing with a work device with Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, uninstalling isn’t enough; you need to block it. Because Copilot may come back after updates. However, it only works if you have not launched the Microsoft Copilot app in the past 28 days.

Ask your IT admin to follow the steps to delete Copilot from your system:

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
3. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows AI.
4. Select the Remove Microsoft Copilot app and confirm your action.

This doesn’t just remove Copilot, but also prevents it from reinstalling itself.

What happened after I deleted Copilot

Honestly? Nothing broke. No missing features, errors, or try Copilot prompts.

What I did notice:

• Cleaner taskbar
• Less distraction
• Slightly smoother experience on lower-end systems

More importantly, my workflow improved. I stopped reaching for something I didn’t really need.

Can you reinstall Copilot?

Yes, and it’s surprisingly easy.

Method 1: From the Microsoft Store

1. Open Microsoft Store.
2. Search for Copilot at the top.
3. Click on the app from the search results.
4. Hit Install.
5. Wait for the installation to complete.
   

Within seconds, it’s back.

Method 2: Via Windows Package Manager (winget)

This is the best method if you’re reinstalling across multiple systems.

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell
2. Type the following command: winget install Microsoft.Copilot
3. Press Enter.
4. Wait for the installation to complete.

I’ve used this method for batch installs; it’s fast and repeatable.

Additional Tips after uninstalling Copilot

Here are a few things I learned after testing this properly.

• Uninstalling doesn’t always remove the taskbar icon. You may need to unpin it manually.
• The Copilot app isn’t the only AI feature in Windows. Apps like Paint, Notepad, and Photos still include it. Open Settings > AI features in the individual app and toggle off Copilot. For Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote, go to File > Options > Copilot and deselect Enable Copilot.
• On some systems, updates can bring Copilot back. If that happens, use Group Policy or PowerShell Registry to lock it down.
• Finally, don’t expect massive performance gains. This is more about control and focus than speed.

Final thoughts

Uninstalling Copilot isn’t just about removing an app; it’s about deciding what belongs in your workflow. For years, Windows added features you couldn’t remove. Now, Microsoft is slowly reversing that, making even flagship AI tools optional.

If you’ve been thinking about removing Copilot, try it once. Use your system for a few days. You might realize that some features sound essential until you actually live without them.