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You can turn off Copilot in supported Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote desktop apps with the Enable Copilot checkbox, or use Outlook’s separate Turn on Copilot toggle. Microsoft documents these controls for personal Microsoft accounts; work or school accounts may be managed by an administrator. Hiding the ribbon icon alone does not disable Copilot.
Choose the right control for your account and app
| What you use | Control to try | Scope and key limit |
|---|---|---|
| Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote desktop with a personal Microsoft account | Enable Copilot checkbox | Applies to that app on that device. Repeat in each app and on each device. |
| Outlook | Turn on Copilot toggle | Separate Outlook setting; Microsoft says the choice applies across Outlook on devices signed into the same account. |
| Desktop app where the checkbox is unavailable | Turn on experiences that analyze your content privacy setting | Broader than Copilot; it also turns off other connected features. |
| Work or school account | Ask your Microsoft 365 administrator | Organization settings and policies may control availability. Personal-account steps may not be available. |
Turn off Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote
Microsoft’s documented checkbox applies to supported Windows and Mac desktop apps signed in with a personal Microsoft account. It disables Copilot in the selected app on the device; it is not merely a way to remove a button.
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Windows
- Open the app and select File > Options > Copilot.
- Clear Enable Copilot, then select OK.
- Close and restart the app for the change to take effect.
Mac
- Open the app menu and select Preferences > Authoring and Proofing Tools > Copilot.
- Clear Enable Copilot.
- Close and restart the app.
To turn Copilot back on, return to the same setting and select the checkbox. Repeat the steps separately in every app where you want it disabled, and on each device where you use that app.
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Microsoft’s availability milestones, stated as of March 13, 2025, were Windows Word version 2412, Excel 2501, PowerPoint 2501, and OneNote 2502; for Mac, Word 16.93, Excel 16.93.2, and PowerPoint 16.93.2. These are dated milestones, not a guarantee that every current deployment has the checkbox. Check for an app update and consult Microsoft’s current Copilot instructions if your version or interface differs. Microsoft says this checkbox is not available in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint on the web, iOS, or Android.
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Turn off Copilot in Outlook
Outlook has a separate Turn on Copilot toggle rather than the desktop-app checkbox above. Microsoft lists these locations:
- Android, iOS, and Mac: Quick Settings > Copilot.
- Outlook on the web and new Outlook for Windows: Settings > Copilot.
Switch Turn on Copilot off. Microsoft dates availability of this toggle to June 3, 2025; it advises updating Outlook to the latest store version on iOS and Android and lists Mac version 16.95.3 as the minimum then specified. The article does not give an estimated availability date for classic Outlook for Windows. Because rollout details can change, check Microsoft’s live instructions if the setting is absent. The Outlook choice applies across devices signed into the same account.
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Use the broader privacy setting if the checkbox is unavailable
For a personal account, Microsoft documents a privacy-setting fallback in desktop apps. This is not a Copilot-only switch: Microsoft says it also disables features such as Outlook suggested replies, Word text predictions, PowerPoint Designer, and automatic alt text for images. Consider those trade-offs before changing it.
Windows
- In a Microsoft 365 app, select File > Account > Account Privacy > Manage Settings.
- Under Connected experiences, clear Turn on experiences that analyze your content.
- Select OK, then close and restart the app.
Mac
- Open the app menu and select Preferences > Personal Settings > Privacy > Connected Experiences > Manage Connected Experiences.
- Clear Turn on experiences that analyze your content, select OK, and restart the app.
Microsoft says this change made in one app takes effect in other apps the next time they open. It is distinct from turning off all non-essential connected experiences: Microsoft notes that broader choice can affect services such as document co-authoring and online file storage, while some essential services remain active. See Microsoft’s connected experiences overview for the distinction.
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What work or school account users can change
Microsoft says the personal-account turn-off settings are not available when you are signed in with a work or school account. Organization-managed privacy settings may also be controlled by the organization. Administrators retain policy controls over Copilot use with work content, including in some cases when a user accesses it through a personal Microsoft 365 subscription. If a control is missing or locked, contact your Microsoft 365 administrator rather than relying on the personal-account paths. Microsoft’s guidance for a missing Copilot button also discusses organization-managed settings.
Hiding the Copilot button does not turn it off
Removing the Copilot icon from the ribbon only hides that entry point. Microsoft says: “Removing the icon from the ribbon doesn’t turn off Copilot; you can still access Copilot through other methods, such as the shortcut menu.” Use the app checkbox for supported desktop apps or Outlook’s toggle when you want to disable Copilot rather than just declutter the ribbon.
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