Windows 11 Copilot is Spyware. Here is How to Disable It Completely .

If you want to disable Copilot completely, you can’t just ask nicely.

Microsoft calls it an “AI Assistant.” I call it what it really is: Spyware on your Taskbar.

If you have tried to turn off Copilot in the Settings menu, you have probably noticed a pattern. You toggle it off, but the process still runs in the background. Or worse, after the next Windows update, it magically reappears.

That is because the “Settings” toggle is a lie. It only hides the icon; it doesn’t stop the data collection.

“Copilot is just one part of the surveillance puzzle. If you are worried about tracking, you should also see how Facebook tracks you offline

In Windows 11 (especially the new 24H2 update), Copilot is deeply integrated into the operating system. It scans your context, reads your screen, and sends data back to Microsoft servers.

If you want to disable Copilot completely, you can’t just ask nicely. You have to force it out of the system Kernel.

In this guide, I will show you the 3-Step “Triple Kill” method to remove Copilot permanently using the Registry, PowerShell, and Group Policy.

You should also check your Chrome Ad settings.

⚠️ Warning: Read This First

We are about to edit the Windows Registry. This is the brain of your computer. If you follow these instructions exactly, it is safe. If you start deleting random folders, you can break Windows.

• Recommendation: Before we start, create a “Restore Point” (Search “Create a Restore Point” in your Start Menu) just in case.

Method 1: Disable Copilot Completely via Registry (Kill Switch)

Most guides tell you to “Unpin” the icon. That is useless. We need to create a Registry Key that tells Windows: “Do not load this feature.”

This works for most versions of Windows 11 (Home & Pro).

1. Click the Start Button and type regedit.
2. Right-click Registry Editor and select “Run as Administrator”.
3. In the address bar at the top, copy and paste this path (or navigate folder by folder): HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
4. Look for a folder named WindowsCopilot.
   • Don’t see it? No problem. Right-click the Windows folder, select New > Key, and name it WindowsCopilot.
5. Right-click inside your new WindowsCopilot folder (on the right side blank space).
6. Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
7. Name it exactly this: TurnOffWindowsCopilot
8. Double-click it and set the Value Data to 1.
9. Click OK and Restart your PC.

Result: The Copilot icon will vanish, and the system policy will block it from loading on startup.

Method 3: How to Disable Copilot Completely with PowerShell

If you recently updated to Windows 11 24H2 (late 2024/2025), Microsoft changed the game. Copilot is no longer just a “System Feature”—it is now installed as a standalone Web App.

This means the Registry key in Method 1 might not work alone. We need to uninstall the app package physically from your hard drive using PowerShell.

1. Right-click the Start Button and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
2. Copy and paste this exact command to see if Copilot is installed: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Copilot
3. If you see text pop up, it’s there. Now, enter the Kill Command to remove it for all users: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.Copilot | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers
4. Press Enter. You might see a blue deployment bar flash for a second. That is the sound of Copilot leaving your system.

Method 3: The “Zombie” Fix (Kill the Edge Sidebar)

Even if you delete the app, Microsoft has a backup plan. Copilot lives inside the Edge Browser Sidebar. If you hover your mouse over the right side of Edge, it pops up again.

Let’s kill that too.

1. Open Registry Editor (regedit) again.
2. Navigate to this path:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge(If the “Edge” folder doesn’t exist, create it inside ‘Microsoft’ using New > Key).
3. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named HubsSidebarEnabled.
4. Double-click it and leave the Value at 0.
5. (Optional) Create another DWORD named CopilotEnabled and set it to 0 as well.

Result: The annoying sidebar in Edge is gone, and Copilot has no way to launch itself.

Method 4: Disable Copilot Completely via Group Policy

If you have Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you don’t need to mess with the Registry. You have a special tool called the Group Policy Editor.

1. Press Windows Key + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to:User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot.
3. Double-click the setting called “Turn off Windows Copilot”.
4. Important: Select ENABLED.(Yes, this is confusing. You are “Enabling” the “Turn Off” feature).
5. Click Apply and OK.

Conclusion: You Have Successfully Disabled Copilot Completely

Microsoft wants Copilot to be inevitable. They put it on your taskbar, in your browser, and even built a dedicated button on new keyboards.

But it is your computer.

By following these steps, you have managed to disable Copilot completely and block the communication policies.

Now that your Windows PC is clean, don’t ignore the device in your pocket. Read my guide on How to Delete Your Google Advertising ID to stop ad tracking on your Android phone.

Next Step: Now that your PC is cleaner, what about your phone? Read my guide on Is Telegram Safe? The Truth About Cloud Chats to secure your mobile communications.

Stay paranoid. -Rock