"RemoveWindowsAI" can disable every single AI feature in the OS, from Copilot to Recall

kelper · Dec 25, 2025

DJNelson said:
The script works as advertised, but everything will be reinstalled with the next update, unless windows update and WaasMedicSvc are disabled.

It includes the option to prevent AI packages from being reinstalled. Look at my screenshot in post #9.

I'll run the script and see if sfc /scannow adds them back.

dlross · Dec 25, 2025

Edwin said:
View attachment 157139

I don't let LG or Denon update anything anymore

hader · Dec 25, 2025

kelper said:
It includes the option to prevent AI packages from being reinstalled. Look at my screenshot in post #9.

I'll run the script and see if sfc /scannow adds them back.

Note. Mind you. If you officially deinstall Copilot, SFC will not add it back. It will fix this again when traces are left in the registry convinces SFC that Copilot is broken and repairs it. If these traces are gone it will not repair this.

User Zoicware made on Github a zip-package which you can start by using Powershell as admin, extract the zip-file and run "RemoveWindowsAi.ps1" It then shows you a window where you can remove everything that has to do with AI from Windows. (Thorough!) But before it starts you can turn off some items at will, make a backup of the settings so that the proces is reversable.

Link to github:

GitHub - zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI: Force Remove Copilot, Recall and More in Windows 11

Force Remove Copilot, Recall and More in Windows 11 - zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI

github.com

You can also invoke the proces remotely by starting Powershell as admin and execute the following command: "& ([scriptblock]::Create((irm "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI/main/RemoveWindowsAi.ps1")))"

Both options are possible. The advantage of the last option is that you don't have to download the zip-package.....

cheaterslick · Dec 25, 2025

NormanF said:
I find AI quite constructive and that said, I strongly feel people should have a choice.

If they want to remove it from Windows, that's their prerogative. Its not for everyone.

Problem is our tech lords don't see it that way and they feel that they know what's best for everybody.

"What's best" is their lining their pockets with $$ from data mining everybody and giving you nothing in return except their patronizing attitude.

Silvio · Dec 25, 2025

DJNelson said:
The script works as advertised, but everything will be reinstalled with the next update, unless windows update and WaasMedicSvc are disabled.

Almost makes you want to relocate, to another OS.

Oh wait, I did... Mac OS Sonoma.. :lmao:

cheaterslick · Dec 25, 2025

DJNelson said:
The script works as advertised, but everything will be reinstalled with the next update, unless windows update and WaasMedicSvc are disabled.

You had this happen?

Josey Wales · Dec 25, 2025

If you have pro and do the Group Policy steps provided it won't.

cheaterslick · Dec 25, 2025

Josey Wales said:
If you have pro and do the Group Policy steps provided it won't.

If you mean the four templates listed in post #15, then yeah, that does seem like a more permanent solution.

DJNelson · Dec 25, 2025

cheaterslick said:
You had this happen?

Yes. I've done most of those tweaks manually. WaasMedicSvc will "repair" some of them, and any feature update nullifies the rest.

PhilB · Dec 25, 2025

idgat said:
Turn off-able in program Settings

Thanks for the idea. I did some searches and ended up doing a registry change.

idgat · Dec 25, 2025

x509 said:
I did some searches and ended up doing a registry change.

I'd read several articles as well but was not quite sure whether they covered the whole gamut of options to turn off Copilot in Office

Here's my manual steps (for MS Word)
File menu > Options > Copilot > untick
File menu > Account > Account Privacy/Manage settings > untick every one of the Connected experiences options (Microsoft will threaten that the world will end if you do this; the worst that will happen is the user won't be able to access clipart on-line. If the user is that desperate, that connected experience can be turned back on for the required exercise, then turned off again)

As a general rule, these changes should permeate through other MS Office components ... but I always double-check manually

Ghot · Dec 26, 2025

I'm on Win 11 Home.
I used Winaero Tweaker to remove Cortana, then used REVO to remove Copilot.
Then I did this...

Enable or Disable Automatically Update Apps in Microsoft Store in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the automatic download and install of available app updates in the Microsoft Store for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft redesigned the Microsoft Store app from the ground up in Windows 11, making space for more content...

www.elevenforum.com

I probably also used some of the tutorials in the "App Removal" section, here...

Windows 11 Tweaks - Leader Board.

These are tweaks I've seen asked for... many times. They are collected here for easy access. All of these and more can be found in the Eleven Forum Tutorials Make sure to read the "notes" in the various tutorials. At the bottom of the first post in all the "tutorials", there are links to...

www.elevenforum.com

I don't have any Office programs and my Word and Notepad are the Classic versions.

And I haven't seen Cortana, Copilot or RECALL... since.

cheaterslick · Dec 26, 2025

idgat said:
I'd read several articles as well but was not quite sure whether they covered the whole gamut of options to turn off Copilot in Office

Here's my manual steps (for MS Word)
File menu > Options > Copilot > untick
File menu > Account > Account Privacy/Manage settings > untick every one of the Connected experiences options (Microsoft will threaten that the world will end if you do this; the worst that will happen is the user won't be able to access clipart on-line. If the user is that desperate, that connected experience can be turned back on for the required exercise, then turned off again)

As a general rule, these changes should permeate through other MS Office components ... but I always double-check manually

Ghot said:
I'm on Win 11 Home.
I used Winaero Tweaker to remove Cortana, then used REVO to remove Copilot.
Then I did this...

Enable or Disable Automatically Update Apps in Microsoft Store in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the automatic download and install of available app updates in the Microsoft Store for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft redesigned the Microsoft Store app from the ground up in Windows 11, making space for more content...

www.elevenforum.com

I probably also used some of the tutorials in the "App Removal" section, here...

Windows 11 Tweaks - Leader Board.

These are tweaks I've seen asked for... many times. They are collected here for easy access. All of these and more can be found in the Eleven Forum Tutorials Make sure to read the "notes" in the various tutorials. At the bottom of the first post in all the "tutorials", there are links to...

www.elevenforum.com

I don't have any Office programs and my Word and Notepad are the Classic versions.

And I haven't seen Cortana, Copilot or RECALL... since.

I would turn off Copilot in all those settings AND use those templates in post #15 to boot!

Edwin · Dec 26, 2025

idgat said:
Here's my manual steps (for MS Word)

You forgot this one! :wink:

idgat · Dec 26, 2025

Edwin said:
You forgot this one!

View attachment 158044

Yeh, and IIRC there's something else in the menu items but I can't remember exactly where ....

However I figure that if the "services" are disabled in the Experiences options then the menu items shouldn't (won't?) work anyway. Untested, admittedly.

Edwin · Dec 26, 2025

idgat said:
However I figure that if the "services" are disabled in the Experiences options then the menu items shouldn't (won't?) work anyway.

I don't like a cluttered UI, I get rid of all that Copilot, Dictate, Add-ins, etc.

Josey Wales · Jan 25, 2026

Code:

Running the script with PowerShell 7 is no longer supported and it WILL cause issues, to avoid this ensure you are running Windows PowerShell (5.1)

I use PS 7.6 so it seems that this may not work.

cheaterslick · Jan 25, 2026

Josey Wales said:
Code:

Running the script with PowerShell 7 is no longer supported and it WILL cause issues, to avoid this ensure you are running Windows PowerShell (5.1)

I use PS 7.6 so it seems that this may not work.

And Powershell 5.1 is like 10 years old.

A lot has happened since then and unfortunately it looks like this script hasn't been kept totally up to date.

DJNelson · Jan 25, 2026

Works on PS 5.1. Can't seem to find a link to download that version anywhere any more though.

Josey Wales · Jan 27, 2026

I ran the script on whatever the Powershell that was in The Control Panel. It looked as though it completed without error, but after a restart nothing was changed. It could be that it no longer works in 26200.7628..

"RemoveWindowsAI" can disable every single AI feature in the OS, from Copilot to Recall

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