Copilot is Microsoft’s AI assistant integrated into the Outlook email platform. While it offers helpful features like drafting emails, generating summaries, and offering suggestions, the bulk of the population doesn't want anything to do with it. So, if you prefer the old classic Outlook experience, Microsoft allows you to disable Copilot in both the Outlook desktop app on Windows 11 and the Outlook web version. But they will eventually force it on us.
Takeaways:
- This guide walks you through the steps to disable Copilot in both versions of Outlook.
- Can you disable Copilot in Microsoft Outlook (App and web)?
Table of Contents
Why Disable Copilot in Outlook?
Copilot is designed to enhance productivity by assisting with email-related tasks. However, some users may find the AI suggestions unnecessary or distracting. Others may prefer not to rely on artificial intelligence when composing or managing email. Fortunately, Microsoft has provided an easy way to turn the feature off if you do not wish to use it.
Disabling Copilot in Outlook follows a process similar to turning off the AI assistant in other Microsoft 365 applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.
How to Disable Copilot in Microsoft Outlook for Windows 11 and Web
To turn off the Copilot feature, follow these steps:
- Launch either the Outlook desktop app on your Windows 11 device or access Outlook via your web browser by visiting outlook.live.com or your organisation's Outlook web portal.
- In the top-right corner of the Outlook interface, click the gear icon to open the Settings menu.
- Scroll through the Settings panel and locate the section labelled "Copilot." Select this option to view Copilot-related preferences.
- In the Copilot settings page, you will see an option labelled "Turn on Copilot." Uncheck or clear this box to disable the feature.
- After disabling the toggle, click the "Save" button to confirm your changes. This will apply the new setting and disable Copilot functionality in your Outlook account.
What Happens After Disabling Copilot in Outlook?
Once you complete these steps, Copilot will no longer assist you within the Outlook app or web version. You will not receive AI-generated suggestions or summaries, and the AI interface will no longer appear in your email composer or reading pane.
This change only affects Outlook. If you use other Microsoft 365 applications, you may need to disable Copilot separately in each of those programs if you prefer a consistent experience without AI features.
If you ever decide to re-enable Copilot, simply return to the same settings area, check the box next to "Turn on Copilot," and save your changes. The feature can be toggled on or off at any time.
Disabling Copilot is a quick and reversible process, allowing you to customize your Outlook environment based on your preferences and workflow. I doubt you will ever want it back it doesn't really do anything worthwhile.
