How to disable copilot on microsoft office (excel, word, ppt) on Macbook

Hi Hannah,

as you may have noticed from the growing list of respondents to this issue, many people are unable to disable Copilot from their Office apps, e.g., Word.

For many people, this is a serious problem affecting their workflow. I don't want a Copilot prompt distracting me every time I start a new paragraph. For some people there are regulatory issues for them even having Copilot running. I cannot believe it is so hard to disable it!

The advice you gave back in July 2024 does not work (at least not as of November 2024) because the options you've advised to turn it off under log Microsoft account | Services & subscriptions are not there. Several people have noted this in the thread.

Microsoft, if you are listening, this is not acceptable. There is a long and growing list of people who simply do not want Copilot interfering or distracting their workflow in the Office apps. Can you please advise how to disable it and get it out of our sight and workflow?

Sincerely, Frank

Hi Tanya (and everybody else trying to get rid of that damned Copilot),

I too tried the approach you suggested but without success.

I am on macOS Sonoma 14.5. I did it from Word using the application menu: Word > Preferences > Privacy, as you've suggested. I was also signed in. I found one check box "Turn on optional connected experiences", which was initially checked. I unchecked it. I closed Word and opened it again but found the dreaded Copilot button still in the Home menu at top right, and a Copilot prompt at the first empty paragraph. I tried exiting Word, logging out of Microsoft, then logging back in and starting up Word again, but no change.

However, thank you for your suggestion.

As many of you have noted, this should not be so hard!

Microsoft, if you are listening, this is not acceptable. There is a long and growing list of people who simply do not want Copilot interfering or distracting their workflow in the Office apps. Can you please advise how to disable it and get it out of our sight and workflow?

Regards, Frank

Thank you, your google-fu is strong! That worked for me. The Copilot icon is still up at the end of the toolbar, but the super annoying floating symbol on each line you move the cursor over is gone.

Edit: this apparently did not work. For some reason it was gone initially, but it's now back. I turned off the settings through the various instructions here and here, but the copilot stuff is still showing - infuriatingly the outlined icon is on the page and the coloured one is in the toolbar.

SUCCESS!!!

To all frustrated respondents to this post, I have found a way to turn it off!!!!

It is in this article: Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps for home: Your data and privacy

...

Please note: As far as I know, this applies only when you’re using Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps for home*.*

This worked perfectly.

THANK YOU!!!