How to Remove Ask Copilot from the File Explorer Context Menu on Windows 11

If you are using Windows 11 and are sick and tired of the endless stream of AI slop that is finding its way into the platform, this article will show you how to quickly and easily remove the annoying "Ask Copilot" feature from context (right-click menu). There are a couple of ways to do this, so pick the one that works best for your system and work your way through the steps.

What is "Ask Copilot" in File Explorer?

The "Ask Copilot" option appears when you right-click files such as images or documents in File Explorer. Selecting it sends the file to the Copilot app, allowing you to ask questions about the file. While helpful for some users, others may find it unnecessary or intrusive. Luckily, you can disable this feature. It's also a nice little data collection point for Microsoft, so think twice before using any AI features in Windows 11.

Method 1: How to Remove "Ask Copilot" from the File Explorer Context Menu on Windows 11

Just be aware that editing the Registry can cause system problems if done incorrectly. Be sure to back up your system before proceeding. You can read our guide on making a system restore point here.

To remove the option for the current user:

Open Start, search for regedit, and open the Registry Editor.
Go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions

Right-click the Shell Extensions key, select New, then Key, and name it Blocked
Right-click the new Blocked key, select New, then String Value
Name the string {CB3B0003-8088-4EDE-8769-8B354AB2FF8C}
Double-click the new string and set its value to Ask Copilot
Click OK and close the Registry Editor
Restart your computer or restart File Explorer by running the command to terminate and relaunch explorer.exe

To remove the option for all users (requires administrator access)

Open the Registry Editor
Go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions

Follow the same steps as above: create a Blocked key, add the string named {CB3B0003-8088-4EDE-8769-8B354AB2FF8C}, and set its value to Ask Copilot
Restart your PC or File Explorer

Method 2: How to Remove "Ask Copilot" from the File Explorer Context Menu on Windows 11

This option might not always be available, but for now it is, so take advantage of it. If it isn't available for you, Method 1 is still an option.

Open Settings and go to Apps
Select Installed apps
Find Copilot, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select Uninstall
Confirm the uninstallation

Once uninstalled, the "Ask Copilot" option will no longer appear in File Explorer. You may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect. If it ever comes back just repeat the process again. Windows updates quite often reset registry changes like this.

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