Disable Windows 11 Copilot via GPO or Registry

Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant integrated directly into Windows 11. While it provides quick access to AI features, many users and system administrators prefer to remove it to save system resources, reduce interface clutter, or comply with privacy and security policies. This guide outlines the exact steps to disable Windows Copilot system-wide using the Local Group Policy Editor on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education, or via the Windows Registry on Windows 11 Home.

Method 1: Disable Copilot Using Local Group Policy Editor

This method is the cleanest approach for Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
  3. In the left sidebar, navigate to the following path: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot
  4. In the right pane, double-click the policy named Turn off Windows Copilot.
  5. Select the Enabled option. (Enabling this policy turns Copilot off).
  6. Click Apply, then click OK.
  7. Restart your computer or sign out and sign back in for the changes to take effect.

Method 2: Disable Copilot Using the Windows Registry

Windows 11 Home does not include the Group Policy Editor, but you can achieve the same result using the Windows Registry.

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  3. In the address bar at the top, paste the following path and press Enter: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
  4. Check if a key named WindowsCopilot exists under Windows. If not:
    • Right-click the Windows folder, select New > Key, and name it WindowsCopilot.
  5. Select the WindowsCopilot folder.
  6. Right-click in the empty space on the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it: TurnOffWindowsCopilot
  7. Double-click TurnOffWindowsCopilot, change its Value data to 1, and click OK.
  8. To apply the change system-wide for all users on the machine, repeat the steps at this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot (Create the WindowsCopilot key and the TurnOffWindowsCopilot DWORD with a value of 1).
  9. Restart your computer or restart the Windows Explorer process in Task Manager.

How to Re-enable Windows Copilot

If you ever need to restore Copilot: * Group Policy: Set the Turn off Windows Copilot policy back to Not Configured or Disabled. * Registry: Change the TurnOffWindowsCopilot value from 1 to 0, or delete the TurnOffWindowsCopilot DWORD entirely.