How do I remove the "floating" Copilot icon in Word if I've already removed the program?

Question

Microsoft's Copilot (and all AI for that matter) is an absolutely infuriating inconvenience. Having AI forced on me is driving me to a rage I cannot begin to put to words. Bad enough I'm forced to accept that I can't remove Microsoft Edge, but now Copliot, too? Needless to say, when I opened a Word document last week and found a new Copilot icon floating in the bottom left of my computer screen, I almost lost my mind. How do I make this disappear?

I want it gone forever. I want all AI blocked from my computers. In the meantime, I'll have to see if I can't move our firm away from Microsoft altogether since there are so many other issues at hand as well.

Answer 1

The Copilot app is not even an app, it's just a shortcut to copilot.microsoft.com webpage. Uninstalling it doesn't actually uninstall anything from the computer, it just removes the shortcut to that website.

1. In Word, Click on the File menu and select Options.
2. Cick the Copilot tab in the Word Options window, then uncheck the Enable Copilot checkbox.
3. Click OK to save the changes and restart Word if necessary.

This page has more detail, but the steps above are really the meat of it. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/turn-off-copilot-in-microsoft-365-apps-bc7e530b-152d-4123-8e78-edc06f8b85f1

Answer 2

As of Dec.19.25 there is no easy way to remove the floating icon. In fact there does not appear to be a way to disable the AI Copilot at this time.

It is a terrible move by Microsoft to place this massive piece of coloured 'eye candy' right within the workspace. It is worse than the old Clippy

Answer 3

Ask your IT where he switch it off - I've tried all the settings I can find in Admin Centre with no effect on the floating icon.