How To Disable Copilot in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Tutorial
How to Turn Off Copilot in Windows 11 (Without the Headaches)
So, turning off Copilot in Windows 11 seems like a big deal, but trust me, it’s way simpler than it looks. Whether it’s to boost your PC’s performance or just to kick that distracting feature to the curb, following a few straightforward steps can do the trick. Expect a cleaner interface and, hopefully, a bit more speed. Your machine might appreciate not juggling unnecessary stuff in the background. Here’s the lowdown on how to get it done.
Head Over to the Settings
First things first, pop open the Start menu and hit that gear icon, or just smash Windows + I to dive straight into Settings. No fancy business here, this is where most of the magic happens for adjusting your Windows settings.
Find the Apps Section
Once you’re in there, look for the Apps section on the left. Clicking on it will take you to all those apps you’ve got hanging out on your system. Copilot is one of those optional features, so it’ll be hiding somewhere in here.
Dive Into Optional Features
Next, you’ll want to click on Optional Features. Seriously, this is where all the good and questionable stuff lives. If you want Copilot gone, it’s in this list. You could also throw optionalfeatures.exe into the Run dialog (Windows + R) if you wanna shortcut your way there.
Find and Select Copilot
Scroll until you spot Copilot. It can be a pain to sift through the list, especially if you’ve got a lot of extras installed. Just make sure you’re clicking on the right one. Oversights can happen.
Uninstall Like a Pro
Click on Copilot, then hit that glorious Uninstall button. Easy peasy. It’ll ask for confirmation, and you might need to approve it for admin access. No biggie! If you’re feeling a bit more tech-savvy, you could just pop open PowerShell and run this command:
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "Microsoft.Windows.Copilot" -Online -NoRestart
Then, bam, restart your machine with shutdown /r /t 0 to finalize things.
Tips for Smooth Sailing
Before diving in, it’s smart to back everything up just in case. Use Windows Backup or create a restore point through Control Panel > System > System protection. Keeping things up-to-date via Settings > Windows Update is also a good practice. After you’ve uninstalled, a quick reboot should have everything working better. Flipping back to Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) afterward shows how much smoother things run now — you’ll definitely want to take a peek at resource use.
Common Questions and Concerns
Will turning off Copilot mess with anything else?
Usually not. Copilot is kind of an add-on and shouldn’t impact your main Windows functions. Just think of it as cleaning out some clutter.
Can it be brought back?
Sure! If you later decide Copilot is worth having around, you can easily reinstall it through the same Optional Features menu. Or, just run this PowerShell command:
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name "MicrosoftWindows.Client.Copilot~~~~0.0.1.0".
Is it safe to uninstall Copilot?
Yep, totally safe. No risks to your system’s health or stability here. It’s just a feature, not the core of your OS.
Will I get back any system memory?
You bet. Since Copilot runs in the background, getting rid of it can free up some resources, which is golden — especially for those with older or less RAM-heavy machines. You can check your memory situation via Task Manager after the deed.
How do I confirm it’s really gone?
To see if Copilot took a hike, head back to Optional Features. If it’s not on the list anymore, then congrats, you did it!
Wrap-Up
So, ditching Copilot is pretty straightforward, and the perks are real. Say goodbye to that pesky feature and hello to better performance. Just remember, if you change your mind later, re-adding it is just a few clicks away or another PowerShell command away. Windows 11 is meant to be flexible, so feel free to tinker around and make it yours. This should save someone some time and headaches.
- Open Settings (Windows + I).
- Select Apps.
- Go to Optional Features.
- Hunt down Copilot.
- Click and hit Uninstall, or run the PowerShell command:
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName "Microsoft.Windows.Copilot" -Online -NoRestart. - Restart with Windows + R, type
shutdown /r /t 0.
If this helps clear the cobwebs off your system or even just eases your mind about what’s running in the background, sweet. That’s a win.