Copilot in Windows 11 is Microsoft's AI assistant app, opened with the Copilot key, Windows + C or its taskbar icon. You can use it to answer questions, summarise files and explain what is on screen, or turn it off by unpinning it, remapping the Copilot key and uninstalling the app. Pro adds policy controls for whole offices.
| What you want | Quickest method | Editions | Reversible? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Copilot | Copilot key or Windows + C | All | n/a |
| Hide it from the taskbar | Right-click the icon > Unpin from taskbar | All | Yes, pin it again |
| Change what the Copilot key does | Customize Copilot key on keyboard in Settings | All (PCs with the key) | Yes |
| Remove the app for one user | Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Uninstall | All | Yes, from Microsoft Store |
| Set the Copilot key for all users | Group Policy: Set Copilot Hardware Key | Pro, Enterprise, Education | Yes |
What is Copilot in Windows 11?
Copilot in Windows 11 is a free AI chat assistant that comes preinstalled as an app on new PCs and is pinned to the taskbar by default. It answers questions, drafts text, generates images, searches and reads your files, and can look at an open app or browser window with Copilot Vision to guide you step by step.
It works with a personal Microsoft account or a Microsoft 365 work or school account. Signing in with a personal account adds chat history, longer conversations, image creation and voice. Microsoft's Welcome to Copilot on Windows page lists the current features.
Copilot in Windows is not the same as Recall or the other on-device AI features reserved for Copilot+ PCs. It runs in the cloud, so it works on any Windows 11 PC with an internet connection.
How do I open and use Copilot on Windows 11?
Press the Copilot key on newer keyboards, press Windows + C, or select the Copilot icon on the taskbar or in Start. If the app is missing, install Microsoft Copilot from the Microsoft Store. You can also opt in to the "Hey, Copilot" wake word for hands-free voice use.
Practical things Copilot does well on a Windows PC:
- Find and summarise files: ask about a .docx, .xlsx, .pptx, .pdf or .txt file, including OneDrive files, once you allow file search.
- Explain settings: ask how to change a display, sound or Bluetooth option and follow the guidance.
- Copilot Vision: share an app or browser window and ask what to click next.
- Draft and rewrite text: emails, notes and summaries you then paste into Office or Outlook.
File search and file reading can be switched off under Account > Settings inside the Copilot app, which is worth doing on shared or work PCs. On a laptop used for client work, consider leaving file access off and attaching individual files to a chat only when you need them.
How do I remove Copilot from the taskbar?
Right-click the Copilot icon on the taskbar and select Unpin from taskbar. The app stays installed and still opens from Start, the Copilot key or Windows + C, but it no longer takes space on the taskbar. To restore it, find Copilot in Start, right-click it and choose Pin to taskbar.
Unpinning is the lightest option and suits people who use Copilot occasionally. If you also want to tidy other taskbar items such as the news panel, our guide to removing Widgets in Windows 11 follows the same idea.
How do I uninstall the Copilot app on Windows 11?
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Copilot, select the three-dot menu and choose Uninstall, then confirm. Alternatively, right-click Copilot in Start > All apps and select Uninstall. This removes the app for your account on any Windows 11 edition, Home included.
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Go to Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for Copilot, select the … menu and choose Uninstall.
- Select Uninstall again to confirm.
You can reinstall it at any time by searching for Microsoft Copilot in the Microsoft Store; you will need to pin it to the taskbar again yourself.
What we commonly see: the Copilot key keeps trying to launch Copilot after the app is removed, which looks like the app "came back". Remapping the key, covered next, stops that and is the step most people miss.
Can I change or disable the Copilot key?
Yes. On PCs with a Copilot key, open Settings and find Customize Copilot key on keyboard, then choose a different action or a custom app. On current builds this sits under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Keyboard; on some builds it appears under Settings > Personalization > Text input.
The Custom option only lists apps that support the Copilot key, which in practice means signed, packaged apps such as many Microsoft Store apps. Web shortcuts and arbitrary .exe files cannot be assigned. The setting has no effect on keyboards without a Copilot key.
Microsoft's free PowerToys Keyboard Manager offers another route if you want the key to act as a normal key, such as a right-hand Ctrl.
How do I turn off Copilot for every user on Windows 11 Pro?
Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise and Education include Group Policy settings for Copilot. Administrators can use Set Copilot Hardware Key to choose which app the Copilot key opens for all users, and newer builds add a Remove Microsoft Copilot app policy that uninstalls the app under specific conditions. Home edition has no Group Policy Editor.
- Press Windows + R, type
gpedit.mscand press Enter. - Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot.
- Open Set Copilot Hardware Key, select Enabled, and enter the app ID to launch, or leave it Not Configured to keep the default.
- For removal on Windows 11 25H2 or later, look under Windows Components > Windows AI for Remove Microsoft Copilot app.
Advanced nuance: Microsoft's WindowsAI Policy CSP documentation says the removal policy only acts when both Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Copilot are installed, the user did not install Copilot themselves, and the app has not been launched in the last 28 days. Users can reinstall it afterwards. The older TurnOffWindowsCopilot policy is deprecated and does not apply to the current Copilot app.
Group Policy is one of the main reasons small offices choose Pro. If your PCs run Home, a Windows 11 Home to Pro upgrade unlocks gpedit.msc without reinstalling; new machines can be activated with a Windows 11 Pro key.
Is Copilot in Windows 11 safe for privacy?
Copilot sends your prompts, and any files or screen content you share with it, to Microsoft's cloud for processing, so treat it like any online service. It cannot see your screen unless you start Copilot Vision, and it only reads files when file search permissions are on. Work accounts are covered by the organisation's Microsoft 365 data protections.
Avoid pasting passwords, client data or confidential documents into a personal-account chat. For business data, use a work account where your organisation's retention and compliance settings apply.
Cause and effect: on a family PC with one shared Microsoft account, Copilot chat history is shared too. Separate Windows accounts for each person keep histories apart, which our local account setup guide explains how to create.
Is Microsoft reducing Copilot in Windows 11?
Partly. In March 2026, as TechCrunch reported, Microsoft said it would integrate AI "where it's most meaningful" and began scaling back Copilot features in built-in apps such as Photos, Widgets, Notepad and Snipping Tool. In August 2026 it also paused the "Ask Copilot" taskbar search option while merging the consumer and Microsoft 365 Copilot apps.
The standalone Copilot app, the Copilot key and Windows + C remain. Expect the app's look and sign-in experience to keep changing as the two Copilot apps merge, so menu names inside the app may differ slightly from those shown here.
Frequently asked questions
Does Copilot slow down Windows 11?
Not noticeably on most PCs. Copilot is a normal app that does its heavy processing in Microsoft's cloud, so it uses little memory when idle. If you never use it, uninstalling the app frees a small amount of storage and removes one startup process, but you should not expect a measurable speed improvement.
Is Copilot free on Windows 11?
Yes. The Copilot app on Windows 11 is free to use, and signing in with a personal Microsoft account adds chat history, longer conversations and voice. Paid plans such as Microsoft 365 Personal or Family and Microsoft 365 Copilot for business add higher usage limits and Copilot features inside Word, Excel and Outlook.
Can I use Copilot on Windows 11 Home?
Yes. Copilot works on every Windows 11 edition, including Home. The difference is management: Home users can unpin, remap the key and uninstall the app individually, but only Pro, Enterprise and Education include the Group Policy settings that apply Copilot choices to every user on a PC.
What does the Copilot key do if Copilot is uninstalled?
By default the key still tries to launch Copilot, so it may prompt you to reinstall the app or do nothing useful. Change it under Customize Copilot key on keyboard to Search or a custom app, or remap it to another key with Microsoft PowerToys Keyboard Manager.
Is Copilot the same as Recall?
No. Copilot is a cloud-based chat assistant available on any Windows 11 PC. Recall is an opt-in feature exclusive to Copilot+ PCs that saves encrypted screen snapshots locally so you can search your past activity. You can remove one without affecting the other.
Related guides
- Windows 11 Pro vs Home: what Pro adds
- Windows 11 24H2 end of support: move to 26H2
- Windows 11 Pro price in 2026
- Remove Widgets in Windows 11
Links in this guide
| Link | Type | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome to Copilot on Windows | External | Microsoft's list of Copilot features and shortcuts |
| Remove Widgets in Windows 11 | Internal | Tidy other taskbar items |
| WindowsAI Policy CSP | External | Official policy names, editions and removal conditions |
| Windows 11 Home to Pro upgrade | Internal | Unlocks Group Policy on Home PCs |
| Windows 11 Pro key | Internal | Pro edition with Copilot policy controls |
| Local account setup | Internal | Separate users and Copilot histories |
| TechCrunch: Microsoft rolls back some Copilot features | External | Independent report on the March 2026 changes |
| Windows 11 Pro vs Home | Internal | What else Pro adds |
| Windows 11 24H2 end of support | Internal | Policies need a supported Windows version |
| Windows 11 Pro price | Internal | Cost of moving to Pro |