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

Too time consuming and convoluted. Microsoft added it to my computer without being asked to so it can take it off.

Is anyone else having issues with AutoSave since Copilot was introduced into Word?

My existing Word files and newly created Word files when I click on Auto-Save, does not work.

A Message displays 'AutoSave Isn't Available.

We couldn't save your file automatically due to your privacy settings.

To avoid losing your changes, please save the file using File > Save.

Privacy settings have not been changed.

When I go into look at Privacy Settings it's about collecting Diagnostic data and Connected experiences.

Yep, i noticed that. You cannot auto save if you want to turn off the privacy setting to disable copilot.

Is anyone else having issues with AutoSave since Copilot was introduced into Word?

My existing Word files and newly created Word files when I click on Auto-Save, does not work.

A Message displays 'AutoSave Isn't Available.

We couldn't save your file automatically due to your privacy settings.

To avoid losing your changes, please save the file using File > Save.

Privacy settings have not been changed.

When I go into look at Privacy Settings it's about collecting Diagnostic data and Connected experiences.

I want to walk as well! I am sicdk of Microsoft. Trouble is, I am not sure what else to go for, having used only Microsoft forever. I'm not a techie though I am fairly computer literate. Happy enough with it until they not only started to charge us each year (do they need the money??) but with updates that don't suit me, changes that make it work less efficiently for me than it did before, and now Copilot being the major irritation for us currently, which I definitely do NOT want or need, I need to get away from Microsoft!

I only use Word and Outlook really, the rest don't matter to me now, so I don't need anything fancy. I tried Google Docs for a Word alternative and that wasn't too bad.

Thinking I should research Libre or OnlyOffice to begin with....

How hypocritical is Microsoft. For the first time I viewed a TV commercial tonight for Microsoft Surface laptop Copilot + PC.

Within the commercial towards the end, the voice over says "AI is not for everyone".

But Microsoft has forced AI Copilot onto their customers via their software, with no option to toggle it off or remove it.

This may be a good reason for writing to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) concerning the legality of what Microsoft is doing with Copilot AI.

Today I received an email reply from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) about Microsoft to my complaint about Microsoft, Copilot and Office 365 - Word program. I have copied the email for your read below.

Reply:

Thank you for writing to us about Microsoft. We have recorded the details of your report. I acknowledge that you are reporting broader concerns about the conduct of Microsoft and have made a record of this. However, we can also offer you information about your consumer rights and how to resolve a dispute with a business, if you wished to pursue an individual remedy.

Your next steps

If writing to the business doesn’t resolve your dispute, we would suggest you contact NSW Fair Trading. Unlike the ACCC, which focuses on broad and national issues, your local consumer protection agency may be able to help resolve your dispute by negotiating an outcome. Find out more about how to make a complaint to NSW Fair Trading on its website.

If they’re unable to help, you may need to take your complaint to your state or territory small claims tribunal.

Your rights: match description

If a business describes a product to you, the description must be accurate. A business can describe a product in writing, verbally, with a picture or with a video. If a product you buy does not match its description, the business must fix the problem.

Repair, replacement or refund – faulty product

You have the right to ask for a repair, replacement or refund if a product fails to meet a consumer guarantee.

You can ask a business for your preference of a free repair, replacement or refund, but you are not always entitled to one. For example, the consumer guarantees do not apply if you got what you asked for but simply changed your mind, found it cheaper somewhere else, decided you did not like the purchase or had no use for it.

If a product you own has a minor problem, the business can choose to offer you a refund, repair or replacement. If the seller chooses to fix the problem, they must do this free of charge and within a reasonable time. If the seller refuses to fix the problem or takes too long, you may be able to get it fixed by someone else and recover the reasonable costs from the seller.

If a product you own has a major problem, you have the right to ask for your choice of a replacement or refund. Alternatively, you can choose to keep the product and negotiate a reduced price for the drop in value from what you initially agreed to pay—this may mean asking for some of your money back if you have already paid. You may also be able to claim compensation for any foreseeable losses resulting from the faulty product.

A product has a major problem when it:

• has a problem, or series of problems, that would have stopped someone from buying it if the problem had been known
• is unsafe
• is significantly different from the sample or description
• does not do what the business said it would, or what you asked for, and cannot easily be fixed.

Check out our website for more detailed information about the consumer guarantees, including a retailer or manufacturer’s obligations, how to return a faulty product and exceptions.

Your report: what the ACCC does with this information

The ACCC uses reports from the public, as well as other sources of intelligence, to inform our enforcement work. You can read more about how we prioritise our work on our website.

Please note, the ACCC generally does not comment on our work or what we do with the information we receive from reports. We will only contact you again if we require further information.

To keep up-to-date on public announcements from the ACCC, you can subscribe to our email alerts.

We hope the information we have provided is helpful.