I've noticed that "Copilot" was automatically installed on some of our Windows 11 (25H2) machines that are part of a hybrid domain setup, and it appeared on March 24th. We do have a separate "Microsoft Copilot" app in Intune that can force uninstall it, but this seems to be a different version. I'm curious if this is related to Edge or if there's another explanation. The uninstall command looks like this: "C:Program Files (x86)MicrosoftCopilotApplication146.0.3856.77Installercopilot_setup.exe" --uninstall --mscopilot --channel=beta --system-level --verbose-logging. Any insights on how this might be happening?
5 Answers
It sounds like you're dealing with the preview channel builds of Windows 11. That might explain the unexpected installations. You might want to check this out for a deeper look: https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/03/18/microsoft-appears-to-be-dumping-native-copilot-for-windows-11-in-favour-of-web-wrapper-yet-again/
Could the Microsoft Store be doing this automatically? I block Copilot's installation using an AppLocker policy just to keep it from sneaking in unnoticed.
Blocking the executable paths under C:Program Files (x86)MicrosoftCopilot might give you a better chance to intercept future versions. Also, don’t forget to check the Start menu for any leftover shortcuts after uninstallation. For ongoing prevention, you could set up an Intune proactive remediation that runs the uninstall command on a schedule if it tries to reinstall.
I tried that, but the new version just comes back an hour after uninstalling. The previous settings like OMA-URI for disabling it aren't working anymore.
Using AppLocker to block this app sounds like a solid strategy. However, the bigger challenge is Microsoft's approach to data flowing into their training systems by default. We need to consider our overall AI data governance, as this isn't just about blocking one app anymore. Other features like Teams transcription and the Edge sidebar share similar issues.
That's a good point. Can you elaborate on the data flow to the training pipeline? I'm not quite clear on what that entails.
Looks like Copilot has infested more than just the main apps! It's embedded in Edge, File Explorer, and even Notepad. You might want to consider using Windows 11 LTSC to avoid these issues altogether.
That article is quite revealing. Do you have any tips on how to prevent this version of Copilot from being installed? It's frustrating that the usual methods aren't effective.