This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
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!!!!!!!!
Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Unchecked everything and rebooted. Copilot is still there, so it doesn't work for everyone. Pity.
I used Libre Office before I bought MS 365 a couple of years ago on a whim with a new laptop. Back then I was commenting on other people's ms and editing, etc. You can get away with using Libre on Word documents and commenting, editing, etc. It's not 100% seamless, you get a few hiccups like you used to do when moving between different versions of MS Word on different operating systems.
But yeah, I agree, we shouldn't have to workaround this problem. I'm able to go back to Libre easily at the moment but if you use it professionally, it's much trickier. Surely publishers, universities, etc, who buy big MS Office subscriptions might be able to get some answers if everybody screams loud enough.
This worked for me, although I had to reboot before CoPilot prompts actually disappeared.
For others, Ed Bott of ZDNET has written on this at https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-copilot-ai-is-coming-to-your-office-apps-whether-you-like-it-or-not/.
In this he says that "[Microsoft] is making Copilot part of all Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand." So we're the test market guinea pigs.
He also says "For Microsoft 365 Family subscribers, the added features are available only to the primary user and can't be shared with other members." So perhaps one option to get rid of CoPilot if you've got a Family subscription and a spare licence may well be to stop being the primary user of the Family account. I haven't tried this though.
This is a massive oversight on the behalf of the office team leaders and managers and i would expect heads to roll. They have risked serious legal implications for their institutional and educational users. The use of AI is highly contentious in commercial and education institutions due to how it obtains its data - many see this as clandestine for of plagiarism. We may be wondering why Microsoft brought out a feature that was clearly unwanted and in some regions questionably legal. It will of course allow tech companies to monitor all activity on your computing environment in much the same way virtual home assistants do so for shopping behavior. surveillance.
I already have both those boxes unchecked - it doesn't stop Copilot Draft from operating.