How to disable or remove Copilot from Word (there is a solution - check 2nd edit)

Anonymous
2024-11-01T04:09:09+00:00

This morning Copilot appeared in Word. I do not have a subscription for it, nor do I want it at all. It just appeared in what must have been an update.

I have the most up-to-date word running on a desktop with Windows 11.

I need to disable Copilot. I do not want to see it in the ribbon or right in the middle of the writing space (in the image).

Please advise how to disable, remove or just stop Copilot as I can't seem to remove it. I'm downright frustrated with it and didn't ask or request it. I did not buy it or subscribe to it.

Thank you.

Leah

Edit: Found the best solution was to roll back to a previous version before it updated. I replied further down and used a method that worked for me. Best I can suggest is do that and then start updating again when they allow us to turn stupid Copilot OFF.

2nd Edit: In the newest update (including in Australia) you can now turn it off in word for windows: File -> Options -> copilot (4th option) -> untick enable.

HOORAY! IT IS OFF!!!!!!!!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | Other

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-11-11T01:16:06+00:00

    I ended up like the OP and rolling back to an older version of Office software from this link. I disconnected from the internet once I started installing the software to make sure it didn't start auto-updating... You can turn auto update off for all Office software by opening Word, Help, Check for Updates

    I also found this article from the Verge saying that this "auto-bundling" of AI Copilot **** is a limited roll out to a few countries - Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Appears no one was paying for the Copilot Pro add on, so they've just automatically added it to existing subscriptions AND put up the price - straight up "opt-out" evil. My 365 Family plan had automatically been "upgraded" to include Copilot, BUT the cost had also gone up by NZD$50 per year. I had to go into my account and actively switch back to the plan I signed up for, which is now called "family Classic" and is NZD$179/y vs NZ$229 for the version with the AI I don't want... Needless to say I went back to "Family Classic", however that new subscription, without Copilot, doesn't start till next March. So for now, I still need to run the older out of date versions and not do any updates.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-11-10T08:12:27+00:00

    Have installed Ubuntu, my smile is getting bigger by the minute. Have converted some of my spreadsheets into Google Sheets and LibreOffice will perform admirably for word processing I believe. Sayonara Microsoft, I doubt you will be missed.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-11-10T08:00:41+00:00

    THAT MIGHT BE THE WAY TO GO0 - CERTAINLY WONT BE RENEWING THE SUBSRIPTION UNLESS TIS ISSUE IS SORTED - MAYBE NOT EVEN THEN. Soory for the caps - too angry to go and retype

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-11-10T07:59:16+00:00

    BLOODY COPILOT IS BACK ON!!!!

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-11-09T15:05:32+00:00

    Until we get an option to toggle off Auto Interference, I'm happily using Notepad to write, then pasting into Word and saving for better times.

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