Copilot is built into Windows 11, but you can remove it from your taskbar or uninstall it entirely

Microsoft Copilot comes pre-installed on Windows 11 and appears as a button on your taskbar by default. If you do not use it, you have two options: hide the button so it stops taking up space, or remove the process entirely. Hiding it is faster and reversible. Uninstalling it requires more steps but frees up disk space and removes it completely from your system.

The method you choose depends on whether you think you might use Copilot later. If you are certain you will not, uninstalling is cleaner. If you just want it out of sight for now, hiding the taskbar button takes 10 seconds and you can bring it back anytime.

Key Takeaways

  • You can hide the Copilot button from your taskbar in Settings without removing the process itself.
  • Uninstalling Copilot requires using PowerShell with administrator permissions and takes about five minutes.
  • Hiding the button is reversible; uninstalling is permanent unless you reinstall Windows or use a system restore point.
  • Removing Copilot does not affect Windows updates or system stability — it is a standalone feature.
  • If you hide Copilot and change your mind, you can re-enable it through the same Settings menu.

Hide the Copilot button from your taskbar

The fastest way to get Copilot out of your way is to remove its button from the taskbar. This keeps the process on your system but hides it from view. You can restore it later if you want.

Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I. Go to Personalization, then select Taskbar. Scroll down to find Taskbar items. Look for the toggle next to Copilot and turn it off. The button disappears from your taskbar when ready. If you ever want it back, return to this same menu and turn the toggle on again.

This method leaves Copilot installed on your computer. You can still open it by pressing Windows key + Shift + C or by searching for "Copilot" in the Start menu. Hiding the button is useful if you rarely use Copilot but do not want to go through the uninstall process.

Uninstall Copilot using PowerShell

If you want to remove Copilot completely from your system, you need to use PowerShell with administrator access. This method deletes the process and frees up the disk space it uses. The process takes about five minutes.

Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin). If you see PowerShell (Admin) instead, click that. When the terminal opens, you will see a prompt asking if you want to allow the app to make changes. Click Yes.

Copy and paste this command into the terminal window: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.CopilotProactiveMessages | Remove-AppxPackage. Press Enter. The system will process the command silently — you may not see any confirmation message, but the process will be removed. Close the terminal window when it finishes.

If the command does not work or you see an error, try this alternative: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.Copilot | Remove-AppxPackage. Paste it into the same terminal and press Enter. One of these two commands will remove Copilot from your system.

What happens after you uninstall Copilot

Once Copilot is uninstalled, the button disappears from your taskbar and the process no longer appears in your Start menu or app list. Searching for "Copilot" will return no results. Your system will continue to work normally — removing Copilot does not affect Windows updates, security patches, or any other system functions.

If you uninstall Copilot and later decide you want it back, you have two options. You can use the same PowerShell commands with Add-AppxPackage instead of Remove-AppxPackage, though this is more complex. The simpler route is to wait for the next major Windows update, which will reinstall Copilot automatically. Alternatively, you can create a system restore point before uninstalling, which lets you roll back to a previous state if you change your mind.

Hiding versus uninstalling: which should you choose

Hide the button if you think you might use Copilot occasionally or if you want to keep your options open. Hiding takes 10 seconds, is completely reversible, and does not affect your system in any way. You can always unhide it later from the same Settings menu.

Uninstall Copilot if you are certain you will not use it and want to reclaim the disk space. The uninstall process is straightforward but requires using PowerShell, which some people find intimidating. Once uninstalled, bringing it back requires either waiting for a Windows update or using more advanced system tools. If you are unsure, hide it first and uninstall later if you find you never use it.

Troubleshooting if the uninstall does not work

If you run the PowerShell command and nothing happens, or you see an error message, the most common cause is that you did not open PowerShell with administrator permissions. Close the terminal and right-click the Start button again, making sure you select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin) — not the regular version.

If you see a message saying "Access Denied" or "The system cannot find the file specified," try restarting your computer and running the command again. Sometimes Windows locks files that are currently in use. After a restart, open PowerShell as admin and paste the command once more.

If neither command works, your version of Windows may have a different package name for Copilot. In that case, hiding the button from your taskbar is the safest option. You can also check Microsoft's support site for your specific Windows version, as the exact command sometimes changes with updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will removing Copilot break Windows or cause problems?

No. Copilot is a standalone feature, not part of the core Windows system. Uninstalling it does not affect updates, security, stability, or any other Windows functions. Your computer will work exactly as it did before.

Can I hide Copilot and then uninstall it later?

Yes. Hiding the button does not prevent you from uninstalling later. You can hide it for a few weeks, decide you do not miss it, and then uninstall using PowerShell whenever you want.

What if Windows reinstalls Copilot after an update?

Major Windows updates sometimes restore Copilot automatically. If this happens, you can uninstall it again using the same PowerShell command. Alternatively, you can hide the button instead, which persists through most updates.

Does uninstalling Copilot save a lot of disk space?

Copilot uses roughly 100 to 200 megabytes of disk space, depending on your system. This is not a large amount by modern standards, but if you are running low on storage, removing it does free up that space.

Can I uninstall Copilot if I use Windows 10?

Copilot is a Windows 11 feature and does not come with Windows 10. If you use Windows 10, you do not have Copilot to remove. You can still use Copilot through the web browser or the standalone Copilot app if you choose to install it separately.