Quick Fix: How to Disable Copilot in Microsoft 365, Including Word and Excel

Disable Copilot in Microsoft 365, including Word and Excel, by turning off the Enable Copilot option in each app’s settings and, if needed, tightening privacy and admin controls. These steps work both for personal Microsoft 365 subscriptions and for most business tenants where Copilot is already deployed.

How Copilot Works in Word and Excel

Copilot in Microsoft 365 is an AI assistant that lives inside the ribbon and task pane, suggesting content, formulas, summaries, and edits based on your document or workbook. For personal and family Microsoft 365 plans, Copilot is integrated directly into the core apps and can be toggled on or off per app from the Options menu.​

In business and enterprise environments, Copilot in Microsoft 365 capabilities can also be controlled centrally from the Microsoft 365 admin center, including enabling, disabling, or limiting access for specific users or groups. Many users choose to disable Copilot to reduce AI prompts, protect sensitive content, or simply return to a more traditional Office experience.​

Turn Off Copilot in Word

On current builds of Microsoft 365, Word includes a dedicated Copilot setting so you can disable it without uninstalling Office or rolling back versions. Use these steps on Windows or similar ones on Mac where the Copilot preference appears under Word’s settings.​

1. Open Word and sign in with the account that uses Copilot.​

2. Go to File > Options to open the Word Options dialog.​

3. In the left pane, select Copilot.​

4. Clear the Enable Copilot checkbox to turn Copilot off in Word.​

5. Click OK, then close and restart Word for the change to take full effect.​

On some Word for Mac builds, you can also go to Word > Preferences > Copilot (under “Authoring and Proofing Tools”) and uncheck Enable Copilot, then restart Word. If the Copilot icon remains in the ribbon, you can customize the ribbon and remove the Assistance group that contains the Copilot button.

Turn Off Copilot in Excel

Copilot in Excel uses the same in‑app switch so you can disable Copilot without affecting Word, PowerPoint, or other apps. You must change this setting inside Excel itself and then restart the app.​

1. Open Excel with the account where Copilot is active.​

2. Select File > Options to open the Excel Options menu.​

3. Choose Copilot in the left‑hand list.​

4. Clear the Enable Copilot checkbox to disable Copilot in Excel.​

5. Click OK, then close and relaunch Excel so the setting applies.​

After restarting, the Copilot icon in Excel’s Home tab should be grayed out or removed, and Copilot panels will no longer open when you work with your spreadsheets. If you use multiple Microsoft 365 apps, repeat these steps in each app where you want Copilot disabled.​

Extra Privacy and Admin Controls

If you want to go beyond the basic toggle and reduce Copilot’s access to content and cloud services, there are additional controls in both user privacy settings and the admin center.​

• In Word or Excel, you can go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Privacy Options and turn off connected or “experiences that analyze your content,” which also limits AI‑driven features.​

• For Microsoft 365 admins, Copilot agents and apps can be enabled, disabled, or blocked in the Microsoft 365 admin center under integrated apps and Copilot controls, restricting Copilot features for selected users or groups.​

These controls are especially important in regulated or sensitive environments where organizations must ensure that AI features align with company policy and data governance requirements.​

Quick Troubleshooting Tips

Sometimes the Copilot toggle appears only after you update to the latest Microsoft 365 build, so make sure Office is fully updated if you do not see the Copilot option under File > Options. If Copilot continues to appear after you disable it, confirm that you restarted the app and that you are signed into the correct profile or tenant.​

If the in‑app toggle is missing entirely, your organization might be controlling Copilot in Microsoft 365 centrally, in which case you may need to ask your Microsoft 365 admin to adjust Copilot or app settings in the admin center. On Mac, you may also need to remove the Copilot button manually from the ribbon via Word > Preferences > Ribbon & Toolbar and by disabling related connected experiences in Privacy settings.

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