To control Copilot’s access to files on your Windows device, open the Copilot app and go to Account > Settings > File Search and File Read. You can turn off the relevant access there. This app setting is distinct from Windows Search indexing, PC insights permissions, and Microsoft 365 access to organizational file shares.
Change Copilot’s file search and reading settings
- Open the Copilot app.
- Open Account > Settings > File Search and File Read.
- Turn off the setting for the file access you want to limit. Microsoft documents these as toggles but does not specify the exact current on-screen labels or layout.
Microsoft says Copilot file search can find and open supported files on the device and answer questions about them. That can include OneDrive files synced to the device. The formats Microsoft lists as readable are .docx, .xlsx, .pptx, .txt, .pdf, and .json. Microsoft’s Copilot for Windows feature guide describes the feature and its setting.
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Recent files are different from file search
Copilot may display recent files by referencing Windows Recent Items. Microsoft says this does not mean Copilot scans the PC or automatically uploads files. A recent-file listing is not the same as asking Copilot to search for or read a file. To remove a displayed item, right-click it and choose Hide. See Microsoft’s Copilot on Windows FAQ.
Choose the control that matches your concern
| Control | What it affects | How access is controlled |
|---|---|---|
| Copilot File Search and File Read | Supported files on the device, including files synced from OneDrive | Toggle in Copilot app settings |
| Windows Search indexing | Locations and file types Windows Search indexes | Configure indexing options in Windows Settings |
| PC insights | Information relevant to a question about the PC | Consent per request or remembered permission; manage in Copilot privacy settings |
| Organizational file shares | Work files exposed through a Microsoft 365 Copilot file-share connector | Administrator configuration and share or NTFS ACL search permissions |
Exclude folders or file types from Windows Search
If your goal is to keep Windows Search from indexing a location or type of file, use the separate Windows Search controls: open Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows > Advanced indexing options, then adjust the indexed locations or file types. This changes Windows Search indexing; Microsoft does not describe it as a switch for every Copilot permission.
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On Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft says semantic indexing is enabled by default and that semantic-indexing data is stored locally. These indexing settings are separate from the Copilot app’s File Search and File Read controls. Details are in Microsoft’s Windows Search indexing guide.
Manage PC insights permission separately
PC insights is an experimental feature with a separate consent flow. When prompted, you can choose Allow for this session, Always allow for similar requests, or Not now. You can change an ongoing permission back to asking each time or revoke it in Copilot privacy settings. Microsoft says availability is rolling out gradually and may vary. Its statement that “Copilot only accesses information after you give permission” applies specifically to PC insights, not to every Copilot feature. See Microsoft’s PC insights guidance.
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Work file shares use administrator-managed permissions
If you mean files on an organization’s on-premises file share, the Windows Copilot app’s personal file settings are not the relevant control. Microsoft 365 Copilot can use a separately configured file-share connector, with search permissions based on share ACLs or NTFS ACLs. Ask your administrator about the connector and the permissions on the share. Microsoft documents the setup in its File Share connector overview.
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