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

I agree. Read this link.Build reversion

I (not an IT person, just a normal user) and others have had to revert the Office 365 build today to a prior version, then turn off updates in Office365, as there is no way to toggle it off. Microsoft Support today didn’t have a solution.

I’m a PhD student 5 weeks out from submitting my thesis, and AI use is an automatic fail, so having it forced with no option to toggle off is putting 4 years of my life at risk plus my family’s support and financial sacrifice for those years. That crazy in-line copilot prompt is a problem - it’s not just distracting, all it would take is a sleep-deprived click of the mouse in the wrong spot at 4am and the thesis is at risk.

When even regedit or group permissions alterations aren’t working either to remove copilot from Word, I needed to figure out how to do a software reversion for the first time in my life.

Microsoft, we NEED to have the option to toggle Copilot on and off. Uni students get reported for academic misconduct for using AI in assignments for non-AI subjects where they are required to use critical thinking. Universities are working toward incorporating AI but not all subjects are suited for AI integration… an option to toggle on/off would be great.

Hello,Leah Miller1

Welcome to the Microsoft community!

I have realized that you want to turn off Copilot.

Before that, I would like to ask you for some information to better address your question.

What is your current Office subscription? Are you currently a Microsoft 365 Personal Edition subscriber?

According to your reply, you should not have a subscription to the Copilot Pro version.

However, we recently received news that Copilot will be added to Microsoft 365 in some regions.

This should be the reason why you are having this issue after updating.

 Unlock your potential with Copilot and Designer in Microsoft 365 Personal and Family - Microsoft Stories Asia

Since this is an officially pushed update, the only way to confirm if there is an option to turn off the feature is through feedback at this point. Or rollback to an older version.

How to revert to an earlier version of Office - Microsoft Support

You can confirm your current version of Word by clicking File > Account > About Word

Search for "CMD" in the search box in the bottom left corner and run the command prompt as administrator.

cd %programfiles% \Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun

Press Enter when you are done typing and type on the next line

For example: April 9, 2024, version 2403 (Build 17425.20176)

Officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.17425.20176

（The version here is the April version, you can follow the link below to choose a similar version time）

If you're Microsoft 365, you can check this connection

Update history for Microsoft 365 Apps (listed by date) - Office release notes | Microsoft Learn

How do I give feedback on Microsoft 365? - Microsoft Support

Feel free to post back if you need further assistance. 

Thank you for your understanding and patience and I look forward to hearing from you.

Ryan - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

I do have a personal subscription, but I never wanted or desired a subscription to Copilot. I will admit that the roll back to a previous version that you've described here is a little too advanced for me. Could you break down the steps a little more for exactly what I should put into it?

The build I'm on is listed as: Version 2410 Build 16.0.18129.20100

I really am very desperate to remove the "Draft with Copilot" icon on the left side of the writing screen and its prompts as I'm desperately struggling with it triggering my Autism. I can't belief they would force us to use this with absolutely no option to turn it off. It really isn't a 'gift', its a curse. A terrible one, especially with people like me sensitive to change and movement when writing or reading in word.

I am having the same issue. It was just there. I am a subscriber and I should have been given the option before it being included or at the very least an option to disable it. I use Microsoft word for University studies and I am at risk of academic misconduct for having Copilot as it is AI.

Extremely stressful situation to be in right now as I am frantically emailing my university about it, searching for answers online and now replying here.

Grrrr