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Quick Answer

In Office apps, click the X on the Copilot sidebar to close it. To hide the Copilot button on your Windows 11 taskbar, right-click the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, and toggle Copilot to Off.

How to Turn Off Microsoft Copilot (If It’s Getting in the Way) ​

Estimated Time to Fix: 3 minutes

Applies to: Microsoft 365, Windows 11
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-07-20

Summary ​

Microsoft Copilot is a powerful AI assistant, but if you want to write a document or crunch numbers in peace, its constant pop-ups and sidebars can be distracting. This guide explains how to hide or disable the Copilot button in Microsoft Office apps and on the Windows 11 taskbar.

Prerequisites ​

  • None required.

Instructions ​

1. Hide Copilot in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint ​

If the Copilot sidebar keeps popping open when you start a new document, you can close it and unpin it from your ribbon.

  1. Open the Office app (e.g., Word).
  2. If the Copilot pane is open on the right side of your screen, click the X in the top right corner of the pane to close it.
  3. To remove the button from your top menu (the Ribbon), right-click any empty gray space on the Ribbon at the top of the screen.
  4. Select Customize the Ribbon.
  5. In the right-hand column of the window that appears, look for Copilot.
  6. Uncheck the box next to it.
  7. Click OK.

2. Disable the "Draft with Copilot" Pop-up in Word ​

When you start a blank document in Word, Copilot often throws a large pop-up box in the middle of the page asking what you want to write.

  1. Currently, Microsoft does not provide a setting to permanently turn off the "Draft with Copilot" pop-up for individual users.
  2. However, it will disappear immediately if you start typing or press the Esc key on your keyboard.
  3. Note: Only an IT Administrator can completely disable this feature company-wide through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

3. Remove the Copilot Button from the Windows 11 Taskbar ​

If you don't want the Copilot icon sitting next to your Start Menu on the bottom of your screen:

  1. Right-click an empty space on your Windows taskbar.
  2. Select Taskbar settings.
  3. Under the Taskbar items section, look for Copilot.
  4. Toggle the switch to Off. The icon will disappear immediately.

Troubleshooting ​

WARNING

If your company purchased Copilot licenses specifically for your team, removing the buttons does not cancel the license—it hides the interface. You can always restore the buttons by reversing the steps above.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
I can't change the Taskbar settingsIT PolicyYour IT department may have locked down the taskbar layout. You cannot remove the button without an IT ticket.
Copilot reappeared after an updateFeature resetMicrosoft updates occasionally reset ribbon customizations. You will need to repeat Step 1 to hide it again.