What is New in Microsoft 365 Copilot for February 2026

Ghot said:

Copilot: I can help you with many different things.

Me: Excellent. Please remove yourself from my computer?

Copilot: I... er... uh...

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You’re not infected with anything, and I’m not “installed” on your computer in the way an app or program is. I don’t run in the background, I don’t have access to your system, and I can’t persist on your device. I only appear when you open an app or website that includes me.


If what you want is to stop Copilot from appearing or being accessible on your Windows 11 machine, there are a few different ways to do that depending on how deep you want the removal to be.

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What “removing Copilot” can mean​

There are three distinct levels:

1. Hide the Copilot button — removes it from the taskbar but Copilot still exists if you open it manually.
2. Disable Copilot completely — prevents it from launching at all.
3. Block Copilot using Group Policy or Registry — the strongest option; it fully disables the feature at the OS level.

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Option 1: Hide the Copilot button (quickest)​

This removes it visually but doesn’t disable the feature.

• Right‑click the taskbar
• Select Taskbar settings
• Turn Copilot → Off

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Option 2: Disable Copilot via Settings (Windows 11 23H2+)​

If your build supports it:

• Open Settings
• Go to Personalization → Taskbar
• Turn Copilot → Off
• Then go to Settings → System → Multitasking
• Turn off Copilot if the toggle is present

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Option 3: Fully disable Copilot using Group Policy (Pro/Enterprise)​

This prevents Copilot from launching anywhere.

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, press Enter
2. Navigate to:
   Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Copilot
3. Open Turn off Windows Copilot
4. Set to Enabled
5. Restart your PC

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Option 4: Disable Copilot using Registry (Home edition)​

If you don’t have Group Policy Editor:

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, press Enter
2. Navigate to:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot
   (Create the key if it doesn’t exist)
3. Create a DWORD (32‑bit) value named:
   TurnOffWindowsCopilot
4. Set its value to 1
5. Restart your PC

This fully disables Copilot at the OS level.

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Option 5: Remove the standalone Copilot app (if installed)​

If you installed the separate Copilot app from the Microsoft Store:

• Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps
• Find Microsoft Copilot
• Click Uninstall

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If you tell me which of these outcomes you want — hide, disable, or fully remove — I’ll give you the exact steps tailored to your Windows 11 build.

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BruceR said:

Five options:

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Option 3: Fully disable Copilot using Group Policy (Pro/Enterprise)​

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, press Enter
2. Navigate to:
   Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Copilot
3. Open Turn off Windows Copilot
4. Set to Enabled
5. Restart your PC

Marcus Vinicus said:

Some of the posts in this thread are getting off topic. The top post isn't about AI in Windows 11.

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