Disable Virtual Agent

Question

I find the Virtual Agent too intrusive. How can I disable it?

Moved from: (Windows / Windows 10 / Cortana & search / PC)

Answer 1

We appreciate the details that you guys provided.

Regarding your concern, the Try the Virtual Agent (PREVIEW) button is a feature and part of the web page that Microsoft provided to the users in case we need extra assistance. It is part of the design of the web page and there's no option to disable it.

If you would like, you can submit feedback or suggestion using the Feedback Hub. You can either vote on an existing submission or submit a new issue or idea. When you submit a feedback item we gather additional details and information about your concern and address it. Feedback items regularly receive Microsoft responses on the submissions in the Feedback app so you can see what we are doing about your feedback. Please revisit frequently to see the status of your feedback items.

In order to submit new feedback, please follow these steps:

1. On a Windows 10 device, search for Feedback Hub in Cortanasearch, then launch the app.
2. Navigate to Feedback in the left menu, then press + Add new feedback.
3. Select the Problem, and share any details you think are relevant, and choose an appropriate category and subcategory.
4. If possible, reproduce the problem after clicking Begin monitoring, or Start capture near the end of the form. Stop monitoring when you’re done.
5. Once you’ve completed the form and monitoring, click Submit.
6. Click Continue using Feedback Hub.
7. Click My feedback at the top, then find the item you submitted.
8. Open the item you submitted, then click Share.
9. Click Copy link, then paste the link here in your response (it will look like https://aka.ms/ link>).

If you have other concerns, feel free to reach out.

Answer 2

If you're using Chrome you can install something like AdBlock and disable it using that. Presently they're using a static name on the container div, so just have AdBlock to look for this outer div (class="skylight-entry").  Pick this and the whole section gets wiped out every time.

Answer 3

I found that chrome does not display this "helper". So the solution would be not to use IE.

Answer 4

"Try the Virtual Agent (PREVIEW) button is a feature and part of the web page that Microsoft provided to the users in case we need extra assistance. It is part of the design of the web page and there's no option to disable it." That is the problem... in my case, when I try to do a screen print of important technical info I need to solve a problem, this feature blocks part of the text that I need. I have to cut & paste to get around it. It's 2017... this might be a programming error I might make in 1980... but not user friendly now. Let me know if you need any help in your programming department.

Answer 5

Yes, completely agree with Ken. There should be a cross mark or better setting that will disable it completely. It is Virtual Agent (Preview) that is nagging me in support.microsoft.com.