Here’s How I Turned It Off

The Copilot desktop application can be a useful resource for answering queries, creating content, and boosting productivity. Microsoft believes it’s so beneficial that they have made their AI more user-friendly with the Ask Copilot feature. Personally, I see it differently, so I’ve chosen to disable it.

What Is “Ask Copilot” on Windows?

When you right-click on certain files, such as text documents or images, you’ll find an option for Ask Copilot in the context menu.

Clicking this option will launch the Copilot desktop app with the chosen file uploaded and ready for your inquiries. For example, you can ask for summaries or conduct various types of file analysis that Copilot offers. It is designed to save you time by allowing quick information retrieval, ultimately making your interaction with files more efficient.

How to Disable “Ask Copilot” on Windows

If you’d like to remove the Ask Copilot option from your context menu, you’ll need to adjust the Windows Registry. Before doing so, it’s crucial to learn how to back up and restore the Registry in case anything goes wrong.

To disable the Ask Copilot feature, create a registry file. Open Notepad and copy the text below:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Shell Extensions\\Blocked]
"{CB3B0003-8088-4EDE-8769-8B354AB2FF8C}"="Ask Copilot"

Save the file somewhere on your computer with a .REG extension, naming it something like disable-ask-copilot-context-menu.reg.

Next, double-click the file and confirm with Yes when prompted to make changes to the registry. Restart your computer to see the Ask Copilot option removed from the context menu.

Should You Disable “Ask Copilot”?

There are multiple reasons I find the Ask Copilot feature unnecessary; primarily, I don’t see how it enhances my productivity. For instance, I prefer using ChatGPT for file summaries, as it offers more functionality than Copilot.

Additionally, my workflow is predominantly online-based, meaning I rarely use the Copilot desktop app that the Ask Copilot option launches. Even if I do need to analyze a file, I can effortlessly drag and drop it onto the web version of Copilot (the desktop app lacks this feature). Moreover, ChatGPT can analyze certain file types that Copilot cannot, such as code files (HTML, JS, JAVA, and CPP), as well as audio and video files for basic transcriptions.

Furthermore, I find Copilot to be better integrated within Microsoft applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Notepad, and the Photos app, making it more useful than the standalone desktop app accessed via the Ask Copilot option. Unless more features are added, this particular functionality feels redundant.

I also recommend disabling it due to the extra clutter it adds to the context menu. Many installed programs already contribute unnecessary items to this menu, causing it to become congested and harder to navigate quickly. Adding more options only complicates the already lengthy list.

Another point to consider is that this seems like a forced inclusion. Microsoft appears to be pushing users towards Copilot in every possible way—from pinning it to the Taskbar to making it challenging to disable.

While I don’t favor this feature, I’m not claiming it’s entirely without value. For those who enjoy using Copilot and frequently use the desktop app, it might be beneficial to keep. However, for someone like me, it serves no purpose.

If you agree, disabling it is a simple and safe option. You might also want to completely remove Copilot from Windows if you find it unnecessary.