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

Wake up, fellow Microsoft customers. Microsoft will not change its ways unless it is forced to do so. But you are not helpless. If you live in the U.S. you can complain to the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition Last December the FTC initiated a comprehensive investigation into Microsoft’s business practices, focusing on areas such as cloud computing, software licensing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence products. This investigation followed over a year of informal interviews with competitors and business partners, leading to a detailed request for information from Microsoft.

If you reside in the E.U. you can complain to the EU Competition DG The E.U. has taken vigorous action against Microsoft and fined it a total of 1.68 billion Euros from 2004 to 2008. In 2024 the European Commission charged Microsoft with illegally bundling its Teams app with its Office product, alleging that this practice gave Microsoft an unfair advantage over its competitors. Additionally, the E.U. has fined Microsoft's LinkedIn platform 310 million Euros for violations related to targeted advertising practices.

Microsoft will let you disable Copilot in the end, but it will have to be dragged to do so kicking and screaming. It is simply too big for its own good.

I can not see Copilot on the right in subscriptions. I just want to stop it. It is in the way as I create pages in ppts and I can not remove!!!!

I wish to add my voice to the chorus of disapprobation about Copilot. What were they thinking?

For students, it would be considered plagiarism and the utilization of external assistance. For creative professionals, it is distracting, intrusive and completely pointless.

AI has a place, there is no doubt about that. And, those who wish to use Copilot in their work, fine, do so, for whatever reason.

However, it needs to be an opt-in function.

It is, without a doubt, the most boneheaded addition that if the software geeks and boffins had bothered to think, rather than just write code, would have realized the response from users that is now rearing its head.

Hopefully, in a new update, there will be an option to opt out of Copilot. I’ve been using MS Word since 1989 when Word For Windows 2.0 was released. I know, I’m old. It’s an essential part of my working and leisure life as an educator and writer.

I don’t want nor do I need Copilot.

Charley

Could always consider a class action lawsuit against them for invading privacy? I'm sure there's a loophole we can use if they don't fix this (intended) 'glitch'.

Are you reading the room yet, Microsoft?

Thank you, Tanya.

I respond to each of your points below:

I also have a Microsoft 365 Family subscription! Pardon me, an important distinction I completely overlooked until checking back for you. A personal Microsoft account, but an Office 365 Family subscription. Noted

I can only suggest:

• Were Word (and all the other 365 apps) closed while you changed the privacy settings from Excel? Yes
• I deselected ALL the available 'connected experiences' in the privacy settings (there are three altogether - they advise turning off only two of them) I did this too.
• You are accessing these apps on the one device, using the one subscription? Yes and yes.
• You were signed in to your account while changing the settings in Excel? Then, again, signed in to Word? Its quite onerous to sign out, must admit, but worth a check? I was signed into my Microsoft account in each App.

If I were you, I'd turn the connected experiences on again, then off again in the privacy settings each app. Just in case something is over riding the settings for one app in particular. I tried this. Copilot is still active in Word, but not Excel.  Interestingly, when I prompt the Copilot dropdown (RH end of the top ribbon) in Word, I get a message "Open Copilot",  but it's already open!!  In Excel the dropdown message is different: "Use the power of AI to explore your data. Copilot only works with files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint."  I use neither OneDrive nore SharePoint.

I tried going into privacy settings from my Microsoft account - none of the relevant options available unfortunately.

You could simply try turning everything off and starting again i.e.: system restart???? I tried this, but the result was the same.

Unlike others, for whom Copilot has serious implications, I can live with it, albeit with increased blood pressure!

Hopefully, Microsoft will get the message that this is unacceptable and default Copilot OFF - and provide a simple opt-in for those who see merit in it.