Microsoft Lets IT Admins Uninstall Copilot on Devices

• IT admins can now remove Microsoft Copilot on managed Windows 11 devices using a new policy.
• The RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp policy is rolling out to Dev and Beta Insiders in Build 26220.7535 (KB5072046).
• The policy applies when Copilot wasn’t user-installed and hasn't been launched in 28 days; users can reinstall later.
• Admins enable the policy via Group Policy or manage it through Intune and SCCM on Enterprise, Pro, and EDU SKUs.

What Microsoft is rolling out

Microsoft is testing a policy named RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp that lets IT administrators uninstall the AI-powered Microsoft Copilot app from managed devices.

The policy began rolling out to devices on the Windows 11 Insider Dev and Beta channels with Insider Preview Build 26220.7535 (KB5072046) on January 9, 2026.

How the policy works

The RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp policy targets endpoints managed via Microsoft Intune or System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM).

According to the Windows Insider team: "Admins can now uninstall Microsoft Copilot for a user in a targeted way by enabling a new policy titled RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp." The team adds that the app will be uninstalled once the policy is enabled, and users retain the ability to reinstall Copilot if they choose.

Which devices qualify

The policy applies only where both Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Copilot are installed, the Microsoft Copilot app was not installed by the user, and the app has not been launched in the last 28 days.

Microsoft notes the setting is available for Enterprise, Pro, and EDU SKUs, giving organizations flexibility across common business and education editions.

How admins enable the policy

Admins can enable the policy through the Group Policy editor: User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows AI -> Remove Microsoft Copilot App.

For centralized management, the policy can be deployed via Intune or SCCM to remove Copilot from targeted users or device groups.

Other changes in the Insider build

Build 26220.7535 also includes fixes for a File Explorer crash triggered by the desktop context menu and a Windows Update settings hang.

Known issues being tracked

The Windows Insider team is working on several outstanding problems in this preview, including crashes in Settings when interacting with audio devices, and cases where the Start menu does not launch with a click (though it opens with the Windows key).

For IT teams, the new RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp policy provides a targeted option to manage Copilot rollout — balancing organizational control with user choice to reinstall the assistant if desired.