How do I disable Copilot and all Other AI functionality in Windows 11 HOME edition

Question

I want to fully disable (or preferably remove) Copilot and all other AI functionality in Windows 11 Home Edition. This question may belong under another topic; I just guessed at Settings.

See the bottom of this post for system information. Below are specific questions related to the details of disabling Copilot and AI functionality. I have not been able to find any of this information on any Microsoft resources; perhaps I missed something?.

• Disabling Copilot in Windows 11 Home Edition: Please note that I am running Windows 11 Home edition - not Pro, Enterprise, etc., where I could solve the problem with group policies or other administrative options. The Windows Update setting "Get the latest updates" is turned on, so I am running Copilot Preview.
• Copilot Taskbar Button: I have hidden Copilot on the taskbar, but that is obviously not the same as disabling Copilot or other AI functionality.
• Disabling Copilot via Registry: There are instructions on various websites for disabling Copilot by editing the registry; I would appreciate details about how to do that, as long as the necessary edits are reasonably safe and reliable.
• Disabling all AI functionality: How centralized is AI functionality in Windows 11? Does disabling Copilot disable AI functionality across all Windows 11 built-in features, as well as Microsoft desktop apps? Or has AI metastasized across the entire Windows ecosystem, requiring a constant game of whack-a-mole to disable everywhere?

Thanks in advance for any help.

• Laura

Windows System Information:

Edition Windows 11 Home

Version 22H2

OS build OS Build 22621.2361 Preview (KB5030310)

Answer 1

It can be disabled in the registry. Right click the start button and select Terminal.

Copy and paste in the command below and press enter:

reg add HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot /v TurnOffWindowsCopilot /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

If it is successful, sign out of your account then back in for the change to take effect.

To reenable:

reg delete HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot /f

Answer 2

HKCU ony needs standard so both will work.

Admin is needed for HKLM registry keys.

Answer 3

Didn't work for me with standard Terminal (got "access denied"), but seems to have worked with Terminal with admin access. Thanks for your reply.

Answer 4

Regedit didn't work for me at all. Copilot still launches automatically at startup.

Honestly I don't care if it runs. I just want to get rid of the icon on the sidebar. Unpin option doesn't work. It is also turned OFF in Edge settings. I just don't want to even see it. I tried using it and the AI is just plain stupid. Doesn't know the difference between SIDEBAR and TASKBAR even after I tell it they are not the same.

Answer 5

There is no 'Terminal' option.