To uninstall Copilot on Windows 11, open Settings, then Apps, then Installed apps, find Copilot, open the More options (...) menu and choose Uninstall. On Windows 10 it's Settings, then Apps, find Copilot and choose Uninstall, and that's all most people need as of October 2026.
If you manage the PC for a business, Microsoft documents two extra tools: a PowerShell command to remove it, and an AppLocker rule to stop it coming back. Both are below, along with the question people forget to ask first: which Copilot are you removing?
First, which Copilot is on your PC?
Microsoft's Learn page for IT admins draws a line between two things. The Microsoft Copilot app is the consumer app, and that's the one you can uninstall. Microsoft Copilot Chat for work is reached with a work (Microsoft Entra) sign-in, through the work Copilot app or at m365.cloud.microsoft/chat. The consumer app doesn't support work sign-in at all.
So if what's bothering you is Copilot inside Word, Excel or Outlook, uninstalling the app won't touch it. That's a different job, and my guide to turning Copilot off in Word, Excel and Outlook covers it. If you're not sure what the app even is, this explainer on the Microsoft Copilot app sorts that out.
Wondering why it turned up uninvited? Microsoft says the app is switched on automatically after a run of Windows updates, unless a group policy to stop the installation was already in place. Those updates started with the September 2024 optional preview release, then the October 2024 monthly security update for Windows 11, and reached Windows 10 PCs in November 2024.
Windows 11: remove it in Settings
- Open Settings.
- Select Apps, then Installed apps.
- Find Copilot in the list of apps.
- Select the More options (...) menu on the right of Copilot.
- Choose Uninstall, then confirm.
Microsoft says enterprise users can uninstall it the same way: Settings, then Apps, then Installed Apps, select the three dots on the right of the app, and choose Uninstall from the dropdown. If it's a company laptop, though, I'd still ask IT first, because they may reinstall it or have a reason it's there.
Windows 10 steps
- Open Settings.
- Select Apps.
- Find Copilot in the list.
- Choose Uninstall.
For IT: the PowerShell route
Microsoft documents a PowerShell method for admins who'd rather script it. It runs in two steps: first get the app's full package name, then remove that package.
- Open the Start menu, type PowerShell, and select Windows PowerShell from the results.
- Run the first command below. It looks up the Copilot app and prints its package full name.
- Run the second command, adding the package full name from step 2 after it.
- Check Settings, then Apps, then Installed apps, to confirm Copilot has gone.
Step 1: get the package full name
Get-AppxPackage -Name "Microsoft.Copilot" | Select-Object -ExpandProperty PackageFullName
Step 2: remove it (add the package full name from step 1 after this)
Remove-AppxPackage -Package
Microsoft's own script on its Learn page saves that name in a variable and passes it straight to the second command, which is handy if you're running it across lots of PCs. The result is the same.
Stop it being installed again
Removing the app once doesn't stop a later Windows update bringing it back. Microsoft's answer for managed PCs is an AppLocker policy, which controls which apps and files people can run. It says to set this up before installing the Windows update, and to add these values to the policy:
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- Publisher: CN=MICROSOFT CORPORATION, O=MICROSOFT CORPORATION, L=REDMOND, S=WASHINGTON, C=US
- Package name: MICROSOFT.COPILOT
- Package version: * (and above)
With that policy on, Microsoft says it stops the consumer app being installed if it isn't on the device yet, and blocks it from launching if it's already installed. Microsoft also says to use AppLocker instead of the older Turn Off Windows Copilot policy setting and its MDM equivalent, TurnOffWindowsCopilot, because that older policy is subject to near-term deprecation. If you set it up years ago, it's time to switch.
| Method | Who it's for | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Settings, then Apps | Anyone on their own PC, and enterprise users | Removes the Copilot app from that PC |
| PowerShell | IT admins and anyone scripting removal | Removes the Copilot app package |
| AppLocker policy | IT admins managing PCs | Stops the app installing and blocks it from launching |
What uninstalling doesn't touch
Removing the app is a narrow fix. The Copilot key on your keyboard doesn't disappear with it, and on commercial PCs Microsoft's Learn page says the key, or Windows key + C, opens a lightweight prompt box for Copilot. Admins can point the key at a different app through policy.
My own caution, because it trips people up: uninstalling an app isn't the same as cancelling anything you pay for. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, check it separately in your Microsoft account. The same goes for your chat history, so look at that in your account before you assume it's gone. And if you're clearing out Microsoft's browser as well, that's its own process, covered in my guide to uninstalling Microsoft Edge.
The route I'd pick
I'd use the Settings route on your own PC. It's five clicks, it's the method Microsoft gives everyone, and you can reinstall from the Microsoft Store if you change your mind. Skip PowerShell unless you manage the PC, and leave AppLocker to whoever runs your company's devices. If you decide to keep Copilot after all, here's how to make it earn its place.
If you'd like a clear, sensible policy on which AI tools stay on your team's computers, that's the kind of AI enablement I help with. I run AI training and workshops for teams, and help businesses with AI enablement and workflow automation, so the busywork runs itself and people get time back. Most of that work is with SaaS marketing teams and small businesses. Here's how we can work together.
Frequently asked questions
How do I uninstall Copilot from Windows 11?
Open Settings, then Apps, then Installed apps, find Copilot, open the More options (...) menu and choose Uninstall.
How do I remove Copilot from Windows 10?
Open Settings, then Apps, find Copilot and choose Uninstall.
Will Copilot come back after I uninstall it?
A later Windows update can bring it back. For managed PCs, Microsoft says to use an AppLocker policy, which stops the app installing and blocks it from launching.
Does uninstalling the Copilot app remove Copilot from Word and Outlook?
No. The app you uninstall is the consumer Copilot app. Copilot inside Microsoft 365 apps is turned off separately.
Should I still use the Turn Off Windows Copilot policy?
Microsoft says to use AppLocker instead, because the older Turn Off Windows Copilot policy and TurnOffWindowsCopilot are subject to near-term deprecation.
