I'm dealing with a staff member who has a Copilot license, which is integrated into all their Microsoft 365 apps. They're only interested in using it for Teams and chat, but they find the Copilot features in Word and Outlook quite bothersome, especially the persistent Copilot icons that pop up whenever they start a new line. Microsoft only provides vague guidance with an outdated "Copilot" option in Word. I'm getting the feeling that there's no easy way to disable it for specific apps without diving into complex group policy settings. However, I recently discovered a Microsoft 365 Copilot app within Productivity Apps that might help manage its usage. Ultimately, removing that app seemed to do the trick. Also, I've read that adjustments to the Copilot button might be done through a process called "pinning" but it's not well documented yet. Any advice?
4 Answers
I wouldn't trust advice from random sources too much. It's probably best to experiment with removing the Copilot app as you did and see if that sticks. As for pinning, I agree it’s a poorly documented feature – good luck figuring it out!
Honestly, if they're not forced to use it, the simplest solution might be to just ignore it. If you start toggling settings for specific applications, it could get messy down the line when Microsoft rolls out updates. It’s designed to be annoying but it won't ruin their experience. Just let them use what they want and ignore the rest!
That’s easier said than done! The big Copilot icon pops up and is distracting. I'm just trying to find a balance where they can use Copilot features they like, especially in Teams.
Seriously, I wouldn’t stress too much about trying to disable Copilot. It’s bundled with the licensing, and rather than fighting it, just let the user adapt to it over time. They'll likely find it isn't as bad as it seems, and if they really need it, they'll use it!
Switching to Office 2016 could help you avoid that hassle altogether since you might not have Copilot integration in that version. It's worth considering if it meets your needs better!
Right? I tried looking into it, and it just led me down rabbit holes. Sometimes, these fixes are way more trouble than they're worth.