After MS App Update, Copilot on MacOS Word enabled again and option to turn off is gone

DFWSusie 40 Reputation points
2026-08-30T19:11:37.2566667+00:00

I have disabled Copilot several times, but each time the Word app updates on Mac OS it turns back on. The prompts are intrusive but also using generative AI, even accidentally, is an ethical violation that can cost me my job. This last update the option to turn off Copilot has disappeared from my Preferences Menu entirely and the update re-enabled the service. I followed the instructions to disable the changes in my privacy settings also, but it did nothing to remove the Copilot prompt trigger at the front of every sentence, or stop the right click menu from turning into a Copilot prompt as well.

I also tried to find where the option at the whole account level was to disable Copilot, but could only find sales pages for signing up for Copilot Pro.

Please advise when the option to disable Copilot in the Word MacOS settings will return? Screenshot 2026-08-30 at 1.52.04 PM

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | MacOS
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Answer accepted by question author
John Korchok 235.9K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-08-30T20:44:10.63+00:00

The administration of Office for Business is unreasonably complex for individual users. Once you sign in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, choose Copilot, then Settings, then choose Allow Copilot access for your user, then click on Review, then choose Block app, then check the box Yes, I'm sure I want to block the app.

FWIW, Microsoft 365 for Business assumes you have an I.T. department. The Personal/Family edition is simpler to administer, is less expensive and probably has all the Office features you need.

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Answer accepted by question author
Stefan Blom 351.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2026-08-30T20:29:52.7033333+00:00

I am the admin. Which was why I was looking for the global enable/disable option first, but didn't find it.

Since you are the admin, you should find instructions for this in the admin center, via https://admin.microsoft.com . (Maybe that is what you tried?)

See if the support pages at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/enterprise/?view=o365-worldwide&culture=en-us&country=us will be helpful.

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  1. John Korchok 235.9K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-08-30T19:51:56.23+00:00

    If this a corporate environment, you may have no choice, as your I.T. department may be enabling Copilot by default.

    If you are a home or personal user, you might find Office 2024 with Outlook or without Outlook more useful, as they do not include Copilot.

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  2. Stefan Blom 351.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-08-30T19:42:59.6666667+00:00

    Is this a business subscription? In that case, enabling and disabling Copilot will be controlled by the IT support or local Office admin in your organization.

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  3. AI answer

    2026-08-30T19:11:57.2333333+00:00

    The Mac setting is available only in supported app versions. For Mac, the Enable Copilot checkbox is available in:

    • Word: 16.93
    • Excel: 16.93.2
    • PowerPoint: 16.93.2

    When that setting is present in Word on Mac, the path is:

    1. Word menu > Preferences > Authoring and Proofing Tools > Copilot
    2. Clear Enable Copilot
    3. Close and restart the app

    If the Copilot item is missing from Preferences, the documented guidance is to check the app version and update if needed.

    For Mac, there is also a privacy-based method:

    1. In Word, select Word > Preferences > Personal Settings > Privacy
    2. Go to Connected Experiences > Manage Connected Experiences
    3. Clear Turn on experiences that analyze your content
    4. Select OK, then close and restart the app

    That privacy change applies across apps the next time they open, but it also turns off other connected features.

    There is no supported account-level switch in the provided documentation to permanently keep Copilot off across updates on Mac. The documented controls are the per-app Enable Copilot checkbox on supported versions, or the privacy settings change.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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