Windows 11 has become synonymous with Microsoft’s aggressive AI push, earning it the unflattering nickname “Microslop” among frustrated users. With Copilot integrated into everything from Notepad to the Taskbar, and controversial features like Windows Recall capturing screenshots of your activity, many professionals and privacy-conscious users are seeking ways to reclaim a clean, AI-free computing experience.
As an IT specialist with over 5 years of enterprise experience, I’ve compiled this comprehensive guide based on the latest Windows 11 builds (2026). Whether you’re managing corporate endpoints or simply want a distraction-free workspace, these methods will help you disable 13+ AI features without relying on third-party tools.
⚠️ Important: Before proceeding, create a System Restore point. Some steps involve Registry and Group Policy modifications that require caution.
Table: Quick Reference for Disabling Windows 11 AI Features
| AI Feature | Difficulty | Method | Windows Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copilot App | Easy | Settings > Apps | All |
| Windows Search Copilot Icon | Medium | Registry Editor | All |
| File Explorer AI Actions | Easy | Settings > Apps | All |
| Notepad Copilot | Easy | In-app Settings | All |
| Paint AI (Cocreator) | Medium | Registry/GPO | All |
| Windows Recall | Easy-Medium | Optional Features | All |
| Click to Do | Easy | Privacy Settings | Copilot+ PCs |
| Gaming Copilot | Easy | Xbox Game Bar | All |
| Windows Studio Effects | Easy | Camera Settings | Copilot+ PCs |
| Edge Browser Copilot | Easy | Browser Settings | All |
1. Completely Uninstall the Copilot Application
The Copilot app is the foundation of Microsoft’s AI ecosystem in Windows 11. Removing it eliminates the Taskbar icon, context menu entries, and the “Ask Copilot” feature in the taskbar.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Press Windows + I to open Settings
- Navigate to Apps → Installed apps
- Type “Copilot” in the search bar
- Click the three dots (⋯) next to Microsoft Copilot
- Select Uninstall and confirm
What this removes:
- Taskbar Copilot button
- “Ask Copilot” in taskbar (including Voice and Vision)
- “Share with Copilot” option when hovering over taskbar apps
- Right-click context menu entries in File Explorer
Note: Uninstalling the main app will not remove the Copilot logo from Windows Search. See Section 2 for that fix. (https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/02/06/how-i-disabled-13-ai-features-in-windows-11-safely-no-third-party-apps-needed/)
2. Remove Copilot from Windows Search
Even after uninstalling the app, the Copilot icon persists in Windows Search, alongside clutter like trending searches and daily highlights. Here’s how to clean it up using the Registry Editor.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Press Windows + R, type
regedit, and press Enter - Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows- Check for an Explorer key. If missing:
- Right-click the Windows folder → New → Key
- Name it
Explorer
- Right-click the Explorer key → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value
- Name it
DisableSearchBoxSuggestions - Double-click the new value and change Value data from
0to1 - Click OK and restart your PC
Result: Windows Search will display a clean interface without suggestions, trending topics, or the Copilot logo. (https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/02/06/how-i-disabled-13-ai-features-in-windows-11-safely-no-third-party-apps-needed/)
3. Disable AI Actions in File Explorer
Right-clicking an image in File Explorer now shows an AI Actions submenu with options like “Visual Search,” “Blur Background,” and “Remove Background.” While useful for some, it adds bloat to the context menu.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Press Windows + I to open Settings
- Go to Apps → Actions (or search for “Actions”)
- Turn off toggles for:
- Paint
- Photos
- Teams
- Microsoft 365 Copilot
Current Limitation: The “AI Actions” label remains in the context menu but displays “No actions available” when hovered over. Microsoft has confirmed that a future update will completely hide this section when no actions are enabled. (https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20260207A0293D00)
4. Turn Off Copilot in Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge has Copilot deeply integrated into the sidebar and toolbar. Disabling it requires accessing the browser’s settings.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Open Microsoft Edge
- Click the three dots (⋯) → Settings
- Select Sidebar → Copilot
- Toggle off Show Copilot
- Go to Privacy, search, and services
- Scroll to Services and turn off Copilot in Edge
Additional Step: To remove the Copilot button from the toolbar:
- Click the three dots (⋯) → Settings → Appearance
- Toggle off Show Copilot button
5. Disable AI Features in Notepad
Microsoft transformed Notepad from a simple text editor into an AI-powered application with Copilot integration and Microsoft account requirements.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Open Notepad
- Click the Settings icon (gear) in the top-right corner
- Under AI Features, toggle off Copilot
- (Optional) Disable Formatting and Spelling to restore the classic Notepad experience
Benefit: Disabling Copilot also removes the Microsoft account sign-in prompts that appear when opening Notepad. (https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/02/06/how-i-disabled-13-ai-features-in-windows-11-safely-no-third-party-apps-needed/)
6. Remove AI Features from the Photos App
The modern Photos app includes AI editing tools and Copilot integration. If you prefer a straightforward image viewer, you have two options.
Option A: Install Photos Legacy (Recommended)
- Open the Photos app
- Click Settings (gear icon)
- Scroll to Photos Legacy and click Get Photos Legacy
- Install from the Microsoft Store
- Return to Settings → Apps → Installed apps
- Uninstall the modern Photos app
- Set Photos Legacy as default for image files in Default apps
Option B: Disable AI in Modern Photos App
Currently, Microsoft does not provide toggles to disable individual AI features in the modern Photos app. The legacy app is the only way to completely avoid AI integration. (https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/02/06/how-i-disabled-13-ai-features-in-windows-11-safely-no-third-party-apps-needed/)
7. Disable AI in Microsoft Paint
Paint now features Copilot-powered tools including Image Creator (powered by DALL-E), Generative Fill, and Cocreator. Unlike Notepad, Paint lacks a simple toggle to disable these features.
Method A: Using Registry Editor (All Versions)
- Press Windows + R, type
regedit, and press Enter - Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Paint(If the Paint key doesn’t exist, right-click Policies → New → Key → name it Paint)
- Right-click the Paint key → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value
- Create the following values and set each to
1:
DisableImageCreatorDisableGenerativeFillDisableCocreator
Method B: Using Group Policy Editor (Pro/Enterprise/Education)
- Press Windows + R, type
gpedit.msc, and press Enter - Navigate to:
Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Paint- Double-click each policy and set to Enabled:
- Disable Cocreator
- Disable generative fill
- Disable Image Creator
- Click Apply → OK and restart your PC
Note: Generative Erase and Remove Background cannot be disabled through these methods. For a completely AI-free Paint experience, consider installing the classic MS Paint from Windows 10. (https://www.ithome.com/0/920/028.htm)
8. Disable Windows Recall (Snapshot Feature)
Windows Recall is one of the most controversial AI features, taking periodic screenshots of your screen for searchable “memory.” While disabled by default on most systems, the components remain installed.
Method A: Uninstall via Settings (Recommended)
- Press Windows + I → System → Optional features
- Click More Windows features
- Scroll down and uncheck Recall
- Click OK and restart your computer
Method B: Using PowerShell (Administrators)
Run PowerShell as Administrator and execute:
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Recall"Method C: Using DISM Command
Run Command Prompt as Administrator and execute:
Dism /online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"Recall"Data Cleanup: After disabling, go to Settings → Privacy & security → Recall & snapshots → Delete all snapshots to remove existing data. (https://proton.me/blog/disable-windows-recall)
9. Disable “Click to Do” on Copilot+ PCs
Click to Do allows you to right-click selected text, images, or screenshots to send them directly to Copilot for AI processing. This feature is exclusive to Copilot+ PCs.
Method A: Via Settings
- Press Windows + I → Privacy & security
- Select Activity history (or Windows permissions)
- Find Click to Do and toggle it Off
Method B: Via Group Policy (Pro/Enterprise)
- Press Windows + R, type
gpedit.msc, and press Enter - Navigate to:
Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows AI- Double-click Click to Do and set it to Disabled
- Click Apply → OK and restart (https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/02/06/how-i-disabled-13-ai-features-in-windows-11-safely-no-third-party-apps-needed/)
10. Disable Gaming Copilot in Xbox Game Bar
Microsoft markets Gaming Copilot as a “personal gaming sidekick” that provides contextual game strategies through the Xbox Game Bar overlay.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Press Windows + G to open Xbox Game Bar
- Find the Gaming Copilot panel on the right
- Click Settings → Privacy settings
- Turn off all toggles to prevent model training and data collection
- Click the gear icon in Game Bar → More settings → Widgets
- Under Show in widget menu, toggle off Gaming Copilot
- (Optional) Also disable Edge Game Assist for a cleaner experience
11. Disable Windows Studio Effects (Copilot+ PCs)
Windows Studio Effects uses your device’s NPU (Neural Processing Unit) to apply AI-powered video and audio enhancements during calls.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Press Windows + I → Bluetooth and devices → Camera
- Click your connected camera under Connected cameras
- Select Basic settings → Advanced camera options → Edit
- Toggle off Use Windows Studio effects
- Click Apply
This disables: Background blur, eye contact correction, automatic framing, voice focus, portrait light, and creative filters. (https://www.ithome.com/0/920/028.htm)
12. Remove AI from Microsoft 365 Apps
For Microsoft 365 subscribers, Copilot appears in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.
For Personal/Family Subscriptions:
- Open any Microsoft 365 app (Word, Excel, etc.)
- Go to File → Options → Copilot
- Uncheck Enable Copilot
Alternative Method:
- Go to File → Account → Account Privacy → Manage Settings
- Under Connected experiences, uncheck Turn on experiences that analyze your content
- Restart the application (this applies across all Microsoft 365 apps linked to your account)
For Enterprise Users:
IT administrators can remove Copilot using PowerShell:
$packageFullName = Get-AppxPackage -Name "Microsoft.Copilot" | Select-Object -ExpandProperty PackageFullName
Remove-AppxPackage -Package $packageFullName(https://proton.me/blog/turn-off-copilot)
13. Disable OneDrive AI Photo Tagging
OneDrive uses AI to recognize faces and objects in your uploaded photos to help with organization and search.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Open the OneDrive app
- Click the gear icon → Settings
- Select Options → Photos
- Turn off Use tags to find and organize photos
This prevents AI from scanning your photos for facial recognition and object detection. (https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/02/06/how-i-disabled-13-ai-features-in-windows-11-safely-no-third-party-apps-needed/)
Enterprise & IT Administrator Guidance
For organizations managing multiple endpoints, Microsoft provides Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to disable AI features system-wide:
| Policy Path | Setting | Effect |
|---|---|---|
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows AI | Turn off saving snapshots of Windows | Disables Recall |
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows AI | Allow Recall to be enabled | Set to Disabled |
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows AI | Click to Do | Set to Disabled |
Compliance Note: Texas A&M University’s cybersecurity division recommends disabling Recall to protect user privacy and ensure legal compliance. Organizations should monitor devices for compliance using endpoint management platforms. (https://docs.security.tamu.edu/docs/endpoint-security/policies/MSRecall/)
Verification: Confirming AI Features Are Disabled
After completing these steps, verify your changes:
- Check Taskbar: No Copilot icon should appear
- Test Search: Windows Search should show no Copilot logo or suggestions
- Open Notepad: No Copilot button in the top-right
- Check Paint: AI creation options should be grayed out or missing
- Review Settings: Go to Settings → Privacy & security → Windows AI to confirm features are off
The Bottom Line
Microsoft’s aggressive AI integration has fundamentally changed the Windows 11 experience, but as this guide demonstrates, users still have control over their computing environment. While some features require Registry edits or Group Policy modifications—indicating Microsoft would prefer you keep these AI tools enabled—all major AI components can be disabled through native Windows tools.
The good news? Microsoft has reportedly acknowledged user frustration and is reevaluating its Copilot integration strategy. Until then, this guide provides the most comprehensive method to reclaim a clean, AI-free Windows 11 experience.
Have questions about disabling specific AI features? Connect with me on LinkedIn or leave a comment below.
About the author–
Javed Ahmad is an Information Technology Specialist at Accenture with a postgraduate degree in IT and over 5 years of enterprise-level experience. He specializes in creating hands-on guides for B2B platforms, software tools, and FinTech, helping users solve complex technical problems with professional-grade accuracy. LinkedIn.