How to Delete Copilot Preview in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you recently updated your PC, you might have noticed a new feature sitting on your taskbar — Microsoft Copilot (Preview). While some users love it for quick AI-powered assistance, others find it distracting, unnecessary, or even resource-heavy.

So, if you’re thinking, “How do I delete Copilot Preview in Windows 11?” — you’ve come to the right place.

In this complete guide, we’ll explain what Copilot Preview is, why it appears on your Windows 11 taskbar, and step-by-step methods to disable, hide, or completely remove it using Settings, Group Policy, and Registry Editor.

What Is Copilot Preview in Windows 11?

Microsoft Copilot (Preview) is an AI assistant integrated directly into Windows 11. It combines the power of ChatGPT and Bing AI with system-level integration — letting you do things like:

• Summarize documents

• Generate text or images

• Change system settings (like switching to dark mode or taking a screenshot)

• Get contextual help across apps

The “Preview” label means it’s still being tested and not the final version.

Copilot appears as a blue spark icon 🪄 on your taskbar — usually next to the search bar or widgets icon.

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Why Microsoft Added Copilot Preview

Microsoft introduced Copilot to make Windows more “intelligent.” It aims to simplify everyday tasks by combining AI-powered answers with direct PC control.

However, many users prefer traditional workflows and don’t want Copilot consuming resources or cluttering the taskbar — especially on work or gaming PCs.

That’s why Windows 11 allows you to turn it off — even though it’s not always obvious how.

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Should You Remove Copilot Preview?

Before removing it, consider these pros and cons.

If you rarely use it — or find it distracting — it’s perfectly safe to disable or delete.

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How to Delete Copilot Preview in Windows 11 (Overview)

There are several ways to remove Copilot Preview depending on your Windows edition.

Let’s go through each method in detail.

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Method 1: Turn Off Copilot from Taskbar Settings

This is the quickest and easiest method.

Steps:

1. Right-click on the taskbar (empty area).

2. Select Taskbar settings.

3. Under the Taskbar items section, find Copilot (Preview).

4. Toggle it Off.

That’s it! The Copilot icon disappears instantly from your taskbar.

✅ Note: This only hides Copilot — it doesn’t uninstall it. To remove it fully, see the methods below.

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Method 2: Remove Copilot via Windows Settings App

If you prefer a graphical method:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

2. Go to Personalization → Taskbar.

3. Find Copilot (Preview) under Taskbar items.

4. Toggle it Off.

5. Restart your PC to ensure the changes apply.

Now Copilot will no longer appear, and background services may pause.

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Method 3: Use Group Policy Editor to Disable Copilot

If you’re using Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you can permanently disable Copilot using Group Policy Editor.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

2. Navigate to:

   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot


3. Double-click Turn off Windows Copilot.

4. Select Enabled.

5. Click Apply → OK.

6. Restart your PC.

✅ Copilot is now disabled system-wide for all users.

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Method 4: Remove Copilot Using Registry Editor

For Windows 11 Home users (which lacks Group Policy), you can use the Registry Editor instead.

⚠️ Important:

Before editing the registry, always create a restore point.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.

2. Navigate to this path:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows


3. Right-click Windows → New → Key, name it WindowsCopilot.

4. Inside that key, right-click the right panel → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.

5. Name it TurnOffWindowsCopilot.

6. Double-click it → Set Value data to 1.

7. Click OK, close the Registry Editor, and restart your PC.

Copilot will now be completely disabled.

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Method 5: Uninstall Copilot with PowerShell Commands

If you’re confident using command-line tools, you can remove Copilot components with PowerShell.

Steps:

1. Press Start, type PowerShell, right-click it → Run as administrator.

2. Run this command:

   Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.Windows.Copilot* | Remove-AppxPackage


3. Wait for the process to complete.

4. Restart your computer.

This command removes the Copilot package from your Windows account.

💡 Tip: If you have multiple user profiles, repeat the command for each account.

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Method 6: Disable Copilot via Task Manager Startup Settings

If Copilot automatically launches at startup, you can disable it through Task Manager.

Steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

2. Go to the Startup apps tab.

3. Find Windows Copilot or related AI service entries.

4. Right-click → Disable.

After rebooting, Copilot will no longer auto-start.

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What If You Don’t See Copilot in Taskbar Settings?

If the toggle for Copilot doesn’t appear in your settings, here’s what to check:

• Update Windows 11 to the latest version (Windows + I → Windows Update → Check for updates).

• Restart Windows Explorer:

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, find Windows Explorer, right-click → Restart.

• Region settings: Some regions don’t have Copilot yet. Set region to United States under Settings → Time & Language → Language & Region.

• If still missing, use the Registry Editor or Group Policy methods.

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How to Restore Copilot (If You Change Your Mind)

If you want to bring Copilot back:

Using Settings:

1. Go to Settings → Personalization → Taskbar.

2. Toggle Copilot (Preview) On.

Using Group Policy:

1. Open gpedit.msc.

2. Go to Windows Copilot → Turn off Windows Copilot → Set to Not Configured or Disabled.

3. Restart your PC.

Using Registry:

1. Set TurnOffWindowsCopilot value back to 0.

2. Restart.

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Troubleshooting Common Copilot Issues

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Difference Between Copilot Preview and Full Copilot Release

If you find Copilot Preview unstable or unnecessary, it’s perfectly fine to disable it until the full version is stable.

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Tips to Optimize Windows 11 After Removing Copilot

After removing Copilot, take a few extra steps to keep your system optimized:

• Run Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr)

• Disable other unused startup apps

• Update Windows Defender and remove temporary files

• Check for driver updates

• Restart your PC regularly to clear memory cache

Doing these ensures your PC stays fast and responsive — without unnecessary AI bloat.

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Conclusion

Removing Copilot Preview in Windows 11 is simple once you know where to look.

You can:

• Hide it using Taskbar Settings,

• Disable it through Group Policy or Registry, or

• Uninstall it completely with PowerShell.

No matter which method you choose, your system will work just as smoothly — and likely even faster — without Copilot running in the background.

Remember, you can always bring it back if you decide to give it another try later.

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FAQs

1. Can I permanently remove Copilot Preview from Windows 11?

Yes. Use Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor to permanently disable it.

2. Is disabling Copilot safe?

Absolutely. Disabling or removing Copilot doesn’t affect core Windows functions.

3. Does removing Copilot free up system resources?

Yes — you may notice improved performance and reduced memory usage.

4. Why don’t I see the Copilot toggle in Settings?

The feature may not be available in your region or Windows build. Try switching to the US region or updating Windows.

5. Can I reinstall Copilot later?

Yes. Simply enable it again in Taskbar Settings or revert Group Policy/Registry changes.

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Summary: Key Takeaways

✅ In short:
To delete Copilot Preview in Windows 11, go to Settings → Personalization → Taskbar, find Copilot (Preview), and toggle it off — or use Group Policy/Registry Editor to remove it completely.