How to disable Copilot in Excel

"Turn on experiences that analyze your content" has been unticked for a while (it didn't stop multiple instances of ai.exe spawning and slowing my system down) and this thing just started appearing in the bottom right corner this week.

I don't have anything for File > Options > Copilot.

Hi @LEng

Based on the information provided, I understand that you are experiencing an issue where a specific menu appears every time your cursor passes over it, which is disrupting your workflow and you'd like to disable it.

To help me identify exactly which feature is causing this and provide the right solution, could you please share a few more details?

• Excel Version: Are you using Excel for the Web (in a browser) or the Excel Desktop app?
• Device/OS: Are you working on a Windows PC, a Mac, or an Android device?
• Copilot License: Do you happen to have a separate Copilot license? (Sometimes new AI integration features have specific hover behaviors that can be toggled off).

Once I have these details, I can guide you to the specific setting to turn it off!

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Hi @LEng

Thank you for your update. While waiting for the IT admin, you can try the following workaround: right-click on the Copilot icon and select Dock. The Copilot icon will then shrink.

Although this is not a permanent solution, I hope this will help you temporarily.

To disable Copilot in Excel and stop the in-document Copilot icon and popups, use the Enable Copilot control or, if needed, privacy settings.

1. Turn off Copilot for Excel on the current device

There is a separate Enable Copilot checkbox per app and per device.

On Windows:

1. Open Excel.
2. Go to File > Options > Copilot.
3. Clear the Enable Copilot checkbox.
4. Select OK, then close and restart Excel.

On Mac:

1. Open Excel.
2. From the Excel menu, go to Preferences > Authoring and Proofing Tools > Copilot.
3. Clear the Enable Copilot checkbox.
4. Close and restart Excel.

Repeat these steps in any other apps (Word, PowerPoint, etc.) and on any other devices where Copilot should be disabled.

If the Enable Copilot checkbox is not visible, check that Excel is on a version that supports it and update if necessary, as described in the referenced article.

2. Turn off Copilot via privacy settings (if the checkbox is unavailable)

If Copilot cannot be turned off with the checkbox (for example, on older builds or some platforms), disable the connected experience that powers it.

On Windows:

1. In Excel, go to File > Account > Account Privacy > Manage Settings.
2. Under Connected experiences, clear Turn on experiences that analyze your content.
3. Select OK, then close and restart Excel.

On Mac:

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

This will turn off Copilot experiences across the Office apps that use the same account on that device.

Note: Copilot cannot be turned off in the iOS, Android, or web versions of Excel using these controls.

References:

• Turn off Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps
• How to disable co-pilot on Mac - Microsoft Q&A
• How to remove new Copilot in-document icon in Microsoft Word? - Microsoft Q&A
• How do I get rid of the Copilot icon on Docs as I'm working on them? - Microsoft Q&A
• How to remove Copilot from Word in Office Home & Business 2024? - Microsoft Q&A