Windows 10: Copilot App on Windows set to autostart on System log in

Microsoft has released so many Copilot-Apps and services in the past that it is difficult to keep track of them all. Last year, the company announced that it would split Copilot from Windows by changing it into an app.

This approach removed the one and only reason for many Windows users to give Copilot a preference over the myriads of other AI-tools and services: the ability to control Windows features. Granted, the Windows-specific functionality was not impressive, but it had the potential of becoming a useful feature. Imagine running into a problem, telling Copilot about it, and the AI solving the problem on its own.

The new Copilot app works like the web-version of the AI service, which means there is little incentive to favor it over the web service. In fact, there are good reasons not to use the app and run AI services in a browser. Content blocking is just one which comes to mind.

Copilot autostarting with Windows


The new autostart entry of the Copilot app. Source: PhantomofEarth / X

Eagle-eyed Windows detective Phantom of Earth discovered that the latest Copilot App test version for Insiders contains autostart functionality. It is version 1.25014.121.0.

You may remember that Microsoft made the same move in the old Copilot for Windows. It was also set to open when Windows starts automatically, at least on some devices.

Naturally, this means that the app is set to autostart. In other words, Microsoft wants the app to run on launch and therefore in the background. There is a good chance that this want runs opposite to what many Windows users want.

Windows users who do not want that can disable the autostart functionality in the following way:

1. Launch the Copilot application.
2. Select Settings
3. Click on "Auto start on login" and make sure the checkmark is removed.

This takes care of the autostarting behavior. Note that you may also use other means, Autoruns for example, to tame the Copilot app and any other software that is misbehaving in this way.

The Task Manager functionality is severely limited, and therefore not a good option to control startup items on Windows PCs.

Closing Words


It is a good idea to check startup items on Windows devices regularly, as there is always the chance that a developer enables the autostart of an app automatically. There is a chance, slim as it may be, that Microsoft won't set the next stable version of the Copilot app to autostart with the operating system.

Do you use AI tools like Copilot? Let us know in the comment section below.

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Copilot App on Windows set to autostart on System log in appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

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None of the methods to disable Copilot work, can't even hide it

I suggest you post your question in the tutorial thread to find out if Brink or the other tutorial participants can help you Enable or Disable Copilot - TenForumsTutorials Best of luck, Denis

 

how do i disable copilot completely in windows 10

I have Windows 10 installed because Windows 11 is absolute BS and was not intended to be user-friendly. All of the features that I enjoy, like the Start Menu with Tiles and Categories, are missing because Microsoft obviously doesn't care what users want.

That said, Visual Studio is not installed on my PC. I had to search for it and the only option I had was to download it so I can safely say that Copilot obviously "works", or assaults as someone else said, without the benefit of Visual Studio. So...not sure how the above steps can do a thing to take care of an invasive and irritating feature. BTW, I have Copilot toggled off and it still pops up most of the time. I hate it and I want it gone. What other suggestions might you have?

 

What is Copilot and How did it get on my PC?

Here you go:

https://www.itechtics.com/?dl_id=144

Group Policy Editor Link for W11 installation

Run as Administrator and allow to install

NB: MUST SELECT ENABLE first AS THIS ALLOWS APP TO TURN OFF THE PROGRAM

1. Open Local Group Policy Editor from the Windows search - type Gpedit.msc in the Run command and click icon
   

1. Navigate to the following folder in the Group Policy Editor window using the left panel:User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot
   

1. On the right-side pane, double-click the 'Turn off Windows Copilot' policy.
   

1. Select 'Enabled' and click 'Apply' and then 'OK'. This allows the app to disable CoPilot
   
   Click 'Disabled' then Apply to turn off CoPilot
   

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1. To re-enable Windows Copilot, follow the same steps and select 'Not configured' or 'Disabled'. Then, click 'Apply' and 'OK'.
   

If the Copilot button is visible in the taskbar, it will disappear after you apply the policy. You do not need to restart your computer or enforce the Group Policies. The Copilot option will also disappear from the Settings app.