Microsoft Finally Lets IT Admins Remove Copilot From Windows 11

Microsoft has introduced a new policy that allows IT administrators to uninstall Microsoft Copilot from managed Windows 11 devices. The feature rolled out after the April 2026 Patch Tuesday update and targets enterprise environments that need tighter control over AI features.

The new policy, called RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp, works through Group Policy and Policy CSP tools like Intune and SCCM. It applies to Windows 11 25H2 systems across Enterprise, Pro, and Education editions.

How the Copilot removal policy works

The system removes the Copilot app automatically when specific conditions are met. Both Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot must be installed, and the user must not have installed Copilot manually. The app must also remain unused for at least 28 days.

Once enabled, the policy uninstalls Copilot silently in the background. Users still retain the option to reinstall it manually if needed, keeping flexibility intact while reducing unnecessary deployments.

Admins can configure the setting through dedicated policy paths:

/User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/WindowsAI/RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp
/Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/WindowsAI/RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp

Microsoft first introduced the feature in Windows Insider builds earlier this year, and it has now reached general availability.

Why this change matters for enterprises

This update signals a shift in Microsoft’s approach to AI distribution on Windows. Instead of pushing Copilot broadly, the company now gives organizations the ability to remove unused AI tools and manage adoption at their own pace.

For IT teams, this reduces clutter, improves compliance, and ensures that only actively used features remain on company devices. It also helps organizations align AI usage with internal policies and security requirements.

In other news, Microsoft recently enabled Copilot Agent mode for Office in Microsoft 365 and expanded Copilot Checkout with additional capabilities.

Via Bleeping Computer