Microsoft Co-Pilot ... impact on performance ???

[Gnits]

I notice Microsoft Co-Pilot (Ai tool) is starting to creep into everything Microsoft.

I am not sure if this correlates with significant issues I have had recently with my use of Microsoft Outlook (365).

I have picked up a vibe that it may now be inside the Office Suite and another vibe which indicates that its functionality can be turned off by "Turning Off" connected experiences.

I have just done that (and found the setting is now turned off on related office apps (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc).

I get the sense that Outlook is quicker to load and is more responsive ... but I have no scientific basis for any measurements.


Does anyone have any advice on how to turn off CoPilot at the o/s level or best way to avoid its use in Microsoft apps.

 

[clee01l]

Does anyone have any advice on how to turn off CoPilot at the o/s level or best way to avoid its use in Microsoft apps.

I don't know what the Preferences options are in a Windows machine, but on a Mac, there is ( in Word for example) a Co-Pilot setting. It has a single checkbox labeled "Enable Co-Pilot". I wisely chose to leave the checkbox unchecked.

 

[Gnits]

I cannot find such a setting on my PC… but assume it will appear in due course, as it might be on a phased deployment.

What is worrying me if I am in Outlook and I pull the Ethernet cable Outlook will not load. I have a service ticket open for this with Microsoft, sense the engineer not keen to progress, delayed by me because of a funeral, and hope to pick up on this next week.

I have a sense my overall Win machine is not responsive to items where it should be instant… and wondering if something like Co-Pilot might be working in the background, impacting both my Win and LrC performance.

I know of a student who complains that his Office (on Mac ) seems to be freezing his machine and many of his co students have a similar complaint.

 

[RoyReed]

Does anyone have any advice on how to turn off CoPilot at the o/s level or best way to avoid its use in Microsoft apps.

To disable Windows Copilot using the Registry Editor, you can do the following:

1. Open the Registry Editor by typing "regedit" in the Windows search bar
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
3. Right-click the Windows key, then select New and Key
4. Name the new key WindowsCopilot
5. Right-click the WindowsCopilot key, then select New and DWORD (32-bit) Value
6. Name the new subkey TurnOffWindowsCopilot
7. Double-click the TurnOffWindowsCopilot subkey and change the Value Data entry to 1
8. Click OK
9. Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer

Change the data value to 0 if you want to re-enable Copilot.

 

[Gnits]

Super..

And complements on a very clear set of instructions.

 

[clee01l]

This from "What is Co-Pilot?
"Microsoft 365 Copilot is only available to Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard, and Business Premium users.

For a subscription fee, you can access Copilot and integrate it with other applications like Word and Excel."

E is for Enterprise. I don't know If I have an enterprise package, I think not.

 

[RoyReed]

Super..

And complements on a very clear set of instructions.

I asked Gemini (Google's AI). And I just asked Copilot how to disable Copilot and it came up with a similar but less detailed answer, but with alternative methods.

Yes, there are a few alternative methods to disable Copilot in Windows 11:

1. **Using Group Policy Editor**: If you're using a Pro or Enterprise version of Windows, you can use the Group Policy Editor to disable Copilot. Open the Run dialog by pressing `Windows + R`, type `gpedit.msc`, and press Enter. Navigate to `User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Copilot` and disable the policy.

2. **Using Registry Editor**: You can also disable Copilot by editing the Windows Registry. Open the Run dialog by pressing `Windows + R`, type `regedit`, and press Enter. Navigate to `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Copilot` and set the value of `DisableCopilot` to `1`.

3. **Using PowerShell**: You can use PowerShell to disable Copilot. Open PowerShell as an administrator and run the following command:
powershell
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Copilot" -Name "DisableCopilot" -Value 1

4. **Using Third-Party Software**: Some third-party software solutions can help manage and disable Copilot. Make sure to download such software from reputable sources to avoid any security risks.

 

[Jim Wilde]

I have a standard family subscription to Office 365, and CoPilot has started to appear (and annoy) us. Have disabled it for now via the Preferences option.

 

[RoyReed]

I also asked if disabling Copilot in Windows also disables it in MS 365, but apparently not.

Disabling Copilot in Windows 11 through the methods I provided will not disable Copilot within Microsoft 365 applications like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
Copilot in Windows 11 and Copilot in Microsoft 365 are separate features, although they share the same name and core technology.
To disable Copilot in Microsoft 365, you'll need to do so within each individual application. Here's how you can generally do it:
* Open a Microsoft 365 app: Launch Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or any other app where you want to disable Copilot.
* Go to Options or Preferences:
* In most Windows apps, click File > Options.
* On a Mac, click the app's menu (e.g., Word > Preferences).
* Find the Copilot settings: Look for a section related to Copilot. It might be under "General," "AI Features," or a dedicated "Copilot" tab.
* Disable Copilot: Uncheck or toggle off the "Enable Copilot" option.
* Apply changes: Click OK or close the Preferences window. You might need to restart the application for the changes to take effect.
Keep in mind that the exact steps and menu names might vary slightly depending on the specific Microsoft 365 app and your operating system (Windows or Mac).
If you have trouble finding the Copilot settings, you can also check the app's help documentation or search online for instructions specific to that application.

 

[clee01l]

I have a standard family subscription to Office 365, and CoPilot has started to appear (and annoy) us. Have disabled it for now via the Preferences option.

This is what I did too. Recently, I got a notice from Microsoft to Update the Office 365 apps, When I did, I was "encouraged". to install CoPilot as well. Tis I ignored.

 

[Swingman]

This is what I did too. Recently, I got a notice from Microsoft to Update the Office 365 apps, When I did, I was "encouraged". to install CoPilot as well. Tis I ignored.

Now everyone want you to install half baked products without providing detailed information

 

[blpcsolutions]

Yeah, Co-Pilot is being integrated into a lot of Microsoft 365 apps now, including Outlook. It’s meant to help, but sometimes it can slow things down or cause weird glitches—especially if your system isn't super fast or fully updated.

If you're having issues, try turning off "Connected Experiences" in the settings. That can reduce AI features and may help performance.

Hope that helps!