Microsoft's latest Windows Insider release introduces a policy allowing admins to remove the Copilot app from managed devices. But there's a catch - actually, several.
The announcement arrived in the first Windows Insider release of 2026 and intruduces a new policy titled RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp. It all sounds promising for admins who want the code off their computers, but Microsoft has attached some strict conditions.
First, a device must have both Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Copilot installed. Second, the Microsoft Copilot app cannot have been installed by the user. Third, the app must not have been launched in the last 28 days.
The last requirement is particularly onerous as getting through even a day without Copilot appearing can be tricky for many users. And even if admins succeed in removing it, users can simply reinstall Copilot if they choose.
Administrators have long been able to remove Microsoft Copilot via Intune or other management tools. According to Microsoft, the new policy enables removal "in a targeted way." Unless, of course, the user puts it straight back on.
The update arrived in build 26220.7535 for the Dev and Beta Windows Insider Channels, so there is no guarantee it will make it into production. The update also marks a brief window during which the Dev and Beta Channels are synchronized, allowing insiders to switch between them without reinstalling.
Other Copilot features in the update include AI-generated descriptions of images, charts, and graphs for Copilot via Narrator on all Windows 11 devices, rather than just on Copilot+ PCs, which, according to Microsoft, continue "to provide instant, on-device image descriptions using local AI."
The announcement reflects Microsoft's balancing act: offering enterprise control while protecting its very substantial investment in AI technology. ®
Source: The register