Note: due to some earlier confusion about the instructions I wrote in my original post,
I have revised my original post to restrict it to Microsoft Word for Windows only.
Microsoft just released an update this month to both Windows and Mac users that now includes the Copilot feature in the 365 Office desktop apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
This post provides instructions for disabling Copilot in Word (version 2501) on the Windows platform only (Windows 10 and 11).
Attention Excel and PowerPoint users: I found a post on Microsoft's Copilot website (link here) that seems to suggest that Microsoft in planning to roll out an off switch for those apps soon. There is no way to turn off Copilot in those apps, other than turning off your privacy settings.
Here's how to disable Copilot in Word for Windows:
Users with Word version 2501 who begin with a new blank Word document will now see a line asking them to draft with Copilot (see Screenshot #1 below). At this point you may be like millions of other jaw-dropping users this past week who are about to scream... or reach for the clonazepam.
Thankfully, Copilot in Word can be disabled once and for all, quickly and easily.
Click on File > Options > Copilot and then uncheck the Enable Copilot check box. See Screenshot #2 below.
Screenshot #1
Screenshot #2
Create yourself a great day!
Rupertsland,
Canada
