On Windows 11, it’s possible to disable the Copilot AI assistant on the Microsoft 365 (Office) apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, and in this guide, I’ll show you how to complete this configuration.
Although in the past, you had to get the Copilot Plus subscription to access the AI assistant in the Office apps, Microsoft decided to raise the prices and bundle Copilot with the Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscription.
The only caveat (aside from the price increase) is that not many people want to use AI within these applications. As a result, the company added an option to disable Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, but you must turn it off manually for each app.
If you’re using the macOS version of the Microsoft 365 apps, you can only turn off the AI assistant in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Also, it’s not possible to disable the Copilot feature in the iOS, Android, or web versions of Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
In this guide, I’ll explain the steps to disable Copilot in the Microsoft 365 apps available for Windows 11. You can also completely uninstall the Copilot app if you don’t want the experience on Windows 11.
Disable Copilot in Word, Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint
To disable Copilot in the Microsoft 365 (Office) apps, follow these steps:
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Open the Microsoft Word, Excel, OneNote, or PowerPoint app.
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Click on Options.
Quick tip: If the app is already open with a document, click “File” and then select “Options.” -
Click on Copilot.
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Clear the “Enable Copilot” option to disable the AI feature.
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Click the OK button.
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Restart the app.
Once you complete the steps, Copilot will be disabled on Microsoft Word, and you’ll have to repeat the steps to turn off the AI assistant in Excel, OneNote, and PowerPoint.
The option to enable or disable Copilot in the desktop versions of Outlook, new Outlook for Windows 11, and Outlook for the web on desktop is planned for release in the second half of April 2025. However, at the time of this writing, the option isn’t available.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of Pureinfotech (est. 2010). With over 21 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.
Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+.
Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central.
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