Microsoft has initiated a new policy that enables IT administrators to uninstall the AI-powered Copilot digital assistant from managed devices. This feature, titled RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp, began rolling out on October 10, 2023, to systems running Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7535 within the Dev and Beta Insider channels.
According to the Windows Insider team, once this policy is activated on devices managed through either Microsoft Intune or the System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), the Copilot application will be uninstalled automatically. This policy applies to devices where both Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Copilot are installed, provided the Microsoft Copilot app was not user-installed and has not been launched in the last 28 days.
“Admins can now uninstall Microsoft Copilot for a user in a targeted way by enabling a new policy titled RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp,” stated the Windows Insider team in a blog post. They clarified that if the policy is enabled, the Microsoft Copilot app will be uninstalled once, but users retain the option to reinstall it at their discretion. This policy is applicable to Enterprise, Pro, and EDU SKUs.
To enable the new uninstallation policy, IT administrators can navigate to the Group Policy Editor and follow this path: User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows AI -> Remove Microsoft Copilot App.
Additional Updates and Bug Fixes
In addition to the uninstallation policy, the latest beta build addresses a known issue affecting File Explorer, which caused the explorer.exe process to crash when the desktop context menu was invoked. Another bug that led to the Windows Update settings page hanging during loading has also been resolved.
The Windows Insider team is actively working on further improvements, including fixes for a crash in the Settings app when interacting with audio devices. There are also ongoing efforts to resolve a problem where the Start menu fails to launch with a mouse click; however, it can still be accessed using the Windows key. This issue may extend to the notification center, which opens with WIN + N, and the quick settings menu, accessible via WIN + A.
These updates reflect Microsoft’s commitment to enhancing user experience and managing the features available on its devices effectively. As organizations increasingly rely on AI tools, the ability to customize and manage these applications is crucial for IT administrators in maintaining optimal performance and security.
