April 26, 2025
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Have you recently opened Microsoft Word only to find that mysterious AI assistant called Copilot making suggestions as you type? While Microsoft’s AI writing assistant can be helpful for some users, many others find it distracting, unnecessary, or even concerning from a privacy perspective. If you’re in the latter camp and wondering how to reclaim your distraction-free writing experience, you’ve come to the right place.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Microsoft Copilot in Word—what it is, why you might want to disable it, and most importantly, the exact steps to turn it off on every platform. Whether you’re using Windows, Mac, mobile, or web versions of Word, I’ve got you covered with simple, clear instructions that anyone can follow.

Understanding Microsoft Copilot in Word

Before we dive into disabling Copilot, let’s take a moment to understand what we’re dealing with and why you might want to turn it off in the first place.

What Exactly Is Microsoft Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot (previously known as Microsoft 365 Copilot) is an AI-powered assistant integrated into Microsoft 365 applications, including Word. Using advanced AI language models, Copilot can:

  • Suggest text completions as you type
  • Help rewrite or reformat your content
  • Generate content based on prompts
  • Summarize lengthy documents
  • Check grammar and suggest style improvements

While these features sound useful, they come with several considerations that might make you want to disable them.

Why You Might Want to Disable Copilot

There are several legitimate reasons why users choose to turn off Copilot:

  1. Privacy concerns: Copilot analyzes your writing to make suggestions, which means your content is being processed by Microsoft’s AI systems.
  2. Workflow disruption: The constant suggestions and pop-ups can interrupt your train of thought and natural writing flow.
  3. Performance issues: On older or resource-constrained devices, Copilot can cause Word to run slower than usual.
  4. Subscription costs: Full Copilot functionality requires a paid subscription, and you might prefer not to be constantly reminded of features you haven’t purchased.
  5. Accuracy problems: The suggestions aren’t always accurate or appropriate for your specific writing context or style.

According to a Microsoft support survey, approximately 36% of Word users prefer to work without AI assistance, citing these exact concerns.

How to Disable Copilot in Word for Windows

If you’re using Microsoft Word on a Windows computer, follow these detailed steps to turn off Copilot completely.

Method 1: Using Word Settings

The most straightforward approach is through Word’s built-in settings:

  1. Open Microsoft Word and click on File in the top-left corner.
  2. Select Options at the bottom of the left sidebar.
  3. In the Word Options dialog box, click on General in the left panel.
  4. Scroll down to find the Copilot section.
  5. Uncheck the box next to “Enable Copilot features” or “Show Copilot.”
  6. Click OK to save your changes.

Word will now launch without Copilot features active. This method disables Copilot only in Word while leaving it enabled in other Microsoft 365 applications if you use them.

Method 2: Disable Through Group Policy (Enterprise Users)

If you’re in a corporate environment or using an enterprise edition, your IT administrator might have configured Copilot through Group Policy:

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type “gpedit.msc” and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
  3. Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Office 2016 (or your version) > User Configuration.
  4. Look for “Disable AI Features” or “Disable Copilot Features.”
  5. Double-click on the policy and set it to “Enabled” (yes, “Enabled” means you’re enabling the policy that disables the feature).
  6. Click Apply and then OK.

You may need administrator privileges to make these changes, and in some corporate environments, these settings may be locked by your IT department.

Turning Off Copilot in Word for Mac

Mac users will find the process slightly different but equally straightforward.

Using Word Preferences

Follow these steps to disable Copilot on your Mac:

  1. Open Microsoft Word on your Mac.
  2. Click on Word in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  3. Select Preferences from the dropdown menu.
  4. In the Preferences window, click on the General icon.
  5. Look for the Copilot or “AI Features” section.
  6. Uncheck the box next to “Enable Copilot features” or “Show Copilot.”
  7. Close the Preferences window to save your changes.

The changes will take effect immediately, and Copilot should no longer appear when you use Word.

Additional Step for Stubborn Installations

If you find that Copilot still appears after following the steps above, try this additional method:

  1. Close Microsoft Word completely.
  2. Open Finder and navigate to Applications.
  3. Right-click on Microsoft Word and select “Show Package Contents.”
  4. Navigate to Contents > Resources > DaemonStore.
  5. Look for files with “Copilot” in the name.
  6. Rename these files by adding “.disabled” to the end of their names.

This method should only be used as a last resort, as future updates may restore these files or cause other issues.

Disabling Copilot in Word Online (Web Version)

If you primarily use the web version of Microsoft Word through Office.com or Microsoft 365 online, the process is slightly different.

Through Word Online Settings

  1. Go to Office.com and sign in to your Microsoft account.
  2. Open a Word document or create a new one.
  3. Click on the Settings icon (gear symbol) in the top-right corner.
  4. Select Word Settings or Options.
  5. Look for the Copilot or Intelligence Features section.
  6. Toggle off “Enable Copilot” or uncheck “Show Copilot suggestions.”
  7. Close the settings panel to save your changes.

Using Browser Extensions as a Workaround

If the settings approach doesn’t work for you, consider using a browser extension:

  1. Install a script-blocking extension like uBlock Origin or NoScript.
  2. Configure the extension to block scripts containing “copilot” or “assistance” in the Office domain.
  3. Refresh your Word Online page.

This method blocks Copilot functionality but might also impact other aspects of Word Online, so use it cautiously.

Turning Off Copilot on Word Mobile Apps

Mobile users haven’t been forgotten in the Copilot rollout. Here’s how to disable it on your smartphones and tablets.

Android Devices

Follow these steps on your Android device:

  1. Open the Microsoft Word app.
  2. Tap on your profile picture or the icon in the top-right corner.
  3. Select Settings or the gear icon.
  4. Look for “Copilot features” or “Intelligence features.”
  5. Toggle the switch to the Off position.
  6. Exit settings and restart the app to apply changes.

iOS Devices (iPhone and iPad)

For Apple mobile devices:

  1. Launch the Microsoft Word app on your iOS device.
  2. Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner.
  3. Select Settings from the menu.
  4. Find “Copilot” or “Editor features.”
  5. Toggle the switch to disable Copilot features.
  6. Close and reopen the app to ensure changes take effect.

On newer versions of the app, you might also find a dedicated Copilot button in the ribbon that can be toggled off directly.

Organization-Wide Copilot Management

If you’re an IT administrator responsible for managing Microsoft 365 across an organization, you’ll want to know how to disable Copilot at scale.

Using Microsoft 365 Admin Center

For organization-wide control:

  1. Sign in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
  2. Navigate to Settings > Org settings.
  3. Select the Microsoft 365 Copilot tab.
  4. Toggle off “Allow users to use Copilot” or configure specific policies.
  5. Click Save to apply your changes organization-wide.

These settings will propagate to all users in your organization, though there may be a delay before they take effect for everyone.

Using PowerShell for Advanced Management

For more granular control through PowerShell:

  1. Open PowerShell as an administrator.
  2. Connect to Microsoft 365 using the command: Connect-MsolService
  3. Disable Copilot using: Set-OrganizationConfig -CopilotEnabled $false

This method gives you programmatic control and can be incorporated into broader IT automation scripts.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes disabling Copilot isn’t as straightforward as it should be. Here are solutions to common problems users encounter.

Copilot Keeps Reappearing After Updates

Microsoft updates may occasionally re-enable features you’ve disabled. If this happens:

  1. Create a reminder to check your Copilot settings after major updates.
  2. Document your preferred settings for quick reference.
  3. Consider creating a PowerShell script (for Windows) or Apple Script (for Mac) that can quickly restore your preferred settings.

According to the Microsoft Community forums, this is a common issue that affects approximately 22% of users who have previously disabled AI features.

Can’t Find Copilot Settings

If you can’t locate the settings mentioned above:

  1. Ensure you’re running the latest version of Microsoft Word.
  2. Some older versions may label the feature as “Editor” or “Microsoft Editor” rather than Copilot.
  3. Check if your organization has restricted access to certain settings.
  4. Look under Privacy settings if you don’t find it in the General section.

Alternative Approaches to Managing Copilot

If completely disabling Copilot seems too extreme, consider these middle-ground approaches.

Selectively Using Copilot

Rather than turning it off completely:

  1. Disable automatic suggestions but keep the Copilot panel available for when you want to use it.
  2. Use Focus Mode in Word, which temporarily suspends many distractions including Copilot suggestions.
  3. Create different Word templates—some with Copilot enabled for certain types of documents, others with it disabled.

Privacy-Focused Alternatives

If privacy is your main concern:

  1. Use Microsoft Word in local mode without signing in to a Microsoft account.
  2. Consider alternatives like LibreOffice Writer or Google Docs with their AI features disabled.
  3. Use offline mode when working with sensitive documents to prevent any cloud processing.

According to privacy researchers, using local applications in offline mode provides the highest level of document privacy.

The Future of AI in Word Processing

While this guide focuses on disabling Copilot, it’s worth considering the broader trend of AI in productivity software and what it might mean for the future.

Evolving AI Features

Microsoft continues to develop Copilot’s capabilities:

  • More granular controls are likely coming in future updates
  • Offline AI processing may address some privacy concerns
  • Industry-specific versions may offer more relevant assistance

According to Microsoft’s product roadmap, enhanced user controls for AI features are planned for upcoming releases.

Balancing Productivity and Agency

The best approach to AI tools like Copilot often involves finding the right balance:

  • Use AI assistance for repetitive tasks or first drafts
  • Maintain human oversight for creative or critical content
  • Periodically reassess whether the tools are enhancing or hindering your work

Conclusion: Your Word, Your Choice

At the end of the day, Microsoft Word is a tool that should serve your needs, not dictate how you work. Whether you’re disabling Copilot for privacy reasons, to reduce distractions, or simply because you prefer a more traditional writing experience, the choice is entirely yours to make.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you now have the knowledge to customize Word to work the way you want it to. Remember that as AI technology continues to evolve, so too will the options for controlling it within our productivity tools.

The most important thing is to create a writing environment that supports your unique process—one where technology enhances rather than hinders your creativity and productivity.

Usage Statistics: Copilot Adoption Rates

Copilot Adoption Rates Across Industries

User Satisfaction Comparison

User Satisfaction With and Without Copilot

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will turning off Copilot affect other Microsoft 365 applications?

No, disabling Copilot in Word specifically will not automatically turn it off in other Microsoft 365 applications like Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook. Each application has its own Copilot settings that need to be configured separately. If you want to disable Copilot across all Microsoft applications, you’ll need to repeat the process for each program individually. For organization-wide settings, IT administrators can use the Microsoft 365 Admin Center to apply consistent policies across all applications.

2. Does disabling Copilot improve Word’s performance and battery life?

Yes, turning off Copilot can improve performance, particularly on older or less powerful devices. Users report approximately 15-20% better battery life on laptops and up to 30% faster document loading times after disabling Copilot. This is because the AI features require additional processing power and memory, as well as constant communication with Microsoft’s servers. The performance improvement is most noticeable when working with larger documents or when running multiple applications simultaneously.

3. Will Microsoft charge less for subscriptions if Copilot is disabled?

Unfortunately, disabling Copilot does not reduce the cost of your Microsoft 365 subscription. The subscription price includes access to all features, whether you use them or not. However, if you’re using the base Microsoft 365 subscription without the Copilot add-on, you won’t be charged for premium Copilot features regardless. For enterprise customers, there are specific Copilot licenses that can be allocated selectively to users who need the functionality, which can help organizations optimize their licensing costs.

4. Can I temporarily enable Copilot for specific projects without changing settings?

Yes, even if you’ve disabled Copilot globally in Word, you can temporarily enable it for specific documents or sessions. In most versions of Word, you can right-click in a document and select “Show Copilot” or find a Copilot button in the ribbon interface that can be toggled on for that session only. This approach gives you the flexibility to use Copilot’s capabilities when they’re helpful while keeping them turned off by default. When you close and reopen Word, your default settings (with Copilot disabled) will be restored.

5. Does turning off Copilot prevent Microsoft from collecting data about my documents?

Disabling Copilot significantly reduces but doesn’t completely eliminate data collection. When Copilot is turned off, Microsoft no longer analyzes your document content to generate suggestions. However, Microsoft 365 still collects some usage data and telemetry information as part of its standard operation. For maximum privacy, you should also review your Microsoft privacy settings and consider using offline mode or local-only saving options. According to Microsoft’s privacy statement, turning off cloud-connected features provides the highest level of document privacy within their ecosystem.