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
    2024-11-14T06:45:00+00:00

    I found MA chat, then they did remote session on my computer, removed the new Work version, replaced with previous version. Sorted

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-11-14T04:42:12+00:00

    I set up a new Microsoft account then I completely deleted 365 off the laaptop then reinstalled it using the new email address the problem was solved, The Backup computer uses the Primary email address the Laptop uses the new emaial address, thus far it is working fine.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-11-13T22:43:17+00:00

    Interesting. I signed out of my primary account in Word and signed back in with the newly-created account attached to the same Family plan.

    EDITED: To clarify, I had to sign out and restart the app a couple of times - it initially seemed to revert back to signed in under my primary account. After repeating the sign-out and restart until it got to the point where it though O365 wasn't 'activated' I then signed in again with the new account. Same rigamarole for Powerpoint.

    After that, I no longer see the copilot icon at the side nor the intrusive text on the first line of every new document inviting me to get copilot to write it for me - it's gone. I hope it stays gone.

    I was also doing more testing with Libreoffice and I take back what I said above - it actually seems fully compatible with complex word, excel and powerpoint docs. It's come a long way since I last used it. The only issues I found so far seem to be (a) a bug which causes some images in docs not to display - which is quite serious but is a known bug, I think, so hopefully will be fixed soon, (b) some non-standard fonts I was using which are being substituted, which I assume is easy to fix by adding the relevant fonts, and (c) looks like some differences in the way pivottable selection field dropdowns are displayed in spreadsheets, although the pivottables seem to work. The default toolbars etc are also garish but easily changed in the settings to a more muted 'Office style' look. Definitely will be spending more time testing this to see if it's a viable substitute for daily use.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-11-13T22:24:24+00:00

    If that is the case then microsoft can go and jump

    I have downloaded the free vmware workstation pro and have been happily moving my apps to fedora.

    So far I have got the following working happily when complete I will be replacing windows 11 and all with Fedora get stuffed Microsoft

    musicbee move to Elisa

    outlook move to evolution

    photos move to digicam

    nordvpn move to nordvpn

    VeraCrypt move to Veracrypt

    VLC move to VLC

    Edge move to firefox

    Legacy 10 move to gramps

    mp3tag move to EasyTag or puddletag

    dbpoweramp move to fre:ac or wine dbpoweramp

    streamfab move to wine streamfab

    allavsoft move to wine Allavsoft

    tag&rename move to wine tag&rename

    powerpoint move to LibreOffice Impress

    word move to LibreOffice writer

    excel move to LibreOffice Calc

    Visio move to edraw

    winxdvd move to wine winxdvd

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-11-13T22:02:51+00:00

    Hi Joe,

    I also have the Family version and have 2 separate Microsoft Accounts, which I switch between accounts in both Outlook 365 and Office 365 on the same laptop, and Copilot operates no matter which account is used.

    At the moment Copilot is only being used in Draft mode, so if you edit an existing Word file, you will see a little icon on the left side of the working page move up and down as you progress through the document that is Copilot. Or as someone in earlier posts had said when they opened a new Blank document, Copilot Draft icon was there again.

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