Reasons that some organizations and people may choose to disable generative AI in basic and Windows Copilot specifically are likewise detailed.
With the release of upgrade 23H2, computer systems running Windows 11 will now have Microsoft’s generative AI platform Copilot installed and prepared for user interaction. For many, this is something to celebrate, but for others, Windows Copilot is something to be dreaded and disabled as quickly as possible.
Although disabling Windows Copilot is possible, it isn’t as easy as flipping a toggle switch on a settings menu. The treatment needs the editing of the Windows Registry File or an adjustment to default settings through the Group Policy Editor. We stroll you detailed through both processes.
Dive to:
Why would somebody want to disable Windows Copilot?
There are several reasons some individuals and companies might select to disable generative AIs in basic and Windows Copilot particularly.
1. Philosophical reasons
Many individuals and organizations are opposed to generative AI platforms such as Windows Copilot since they find expert system harmful, unpredictable and ethically questionable. These individuals and companies typically wish to prevent AI totally on these philosophical premises.
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2. Data protection
Some companies and companies operate under rigorous data security guidelines and guidelines that need to be adhered to at all times and in all cases. For those companies, AI in its existing version is too unforeseeable and too prone to unpredicted predispositions. In addition, insufficient is learnt about how such platforms use and share sensitive internal information. The security of AI-generated outcomes can not be trusted and confirmed properly to satisfy compliance requirements. Therefore, AI must be removed from all production and main systems in these organizations, at least for now.
3. Practical factors such as computing resources and power
For other individuals and businesses, disabling Windows Copilot is merely a practical matter. Copilot, like all generative AI platforms, requires a considerable quantity of calculating resources and power. According to the Windows 11 Task Supervisor (Figure A), Copilot uses over 260MB of RAM while running in the background, which doesn’t consist of the possible use of CPU and networking resources during a query. Depending upon the computer system devices included, these resource requirements might be enough to decrease performance to an unacceptable level. In such cases, Windows Copilot might be a background process that needs to be handicapped.
Figure A
Windows Task Supervisor revealing Copilot’s memory usage. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic How to disable Windows Copilot through the Windows Computer Registry File Editor Disclaimer: Editing the Windows Computer registry file is a major undertaking. A corrupted Windows Computer system registry file could render your computer unusable, requiring a reinstallation of the Windows os and possible loss of data. Back up the Windows Pc registry file and develop a valid restore point before you proceed.
To make edits in the Windows 11 Windows registry File, type “regedit” into the Windows 11 search tool. From the outcomes, pick the Regedit app and then use the left-hand window to browse to this key HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software application Policies Microsoft Windows (Figure B).
Figure B
Editing Windows Registry Apply For Copilot. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic We must create a brand-new key. In the left-hand navigation window, ideal click the Windows secret and choose Brand-new|Secret from the context menu and provide it the name WindowsCopilot(Figure C) 
. Figure C Include the WindowsCopilot key. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Now, best click the new WindowsCopilot secret you just created and select Brand-new|DWORD(32-bit)Value from the context menu and provide this new subkey the name TurnOffWindowsCopilot(Figure D 
). Figure D Include TurnOffWindowsCopilot. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Now, double-click the TurnOffWindowsCopilot subkey you just created and alter the Value Data entry to
1 and click OK( 
Figure E). Figure E Change the Data worth of TurnOffWindowsCopilot to 1. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Exit out of Regedit and reboot your computer system to disable Windows Copilot. If you wish to reverse the procedure and enable Windows Copilot once again, alter the Data value of the TurnOffWindowsCopilot subkey to 0.
How to disable Windows Copilot through the Group Policy Editor
If you are utilizing Windows 11 Pro or an Enterprise variation of the operating system, you can use the Group Policy Editor to disable Windows Copilot. Type “group policy editor” into the Windows search tool and pick the proper app from the results.
Utilizing the left-hand window, navigate to this policy: User Setup|Administrative Templates|Windows Components|Windows Copilot (Figure F).
Figure F
Group Policy Editor. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic In the right-hand window, double-click the Turn Off Windows Copilot policy, select the Made it possible for radio button, click Apply (Figure G) and then click OK.
Figure G
Select the Made it possible for radio button. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Exit the Group Policy Editor and reboot your computer. With this policy allowed, Windows Copilot will be disabled.
To re-enable Windows Copilot with the Group Policy Editor, change this setting to Handicapped and restart your computer.
