It impacts everyone who uses Microsoft's 365 apps. There are ways to stop the Copilot app being installed, but you’ll need to act before the start of Oct.

Microsoft’s Copilot app will soon install itself on all Windows devices with 365 desktop apps onboard. Copilot AI has become a core part of Microsoft’s business strategy over the last few years, and it now wants more of its core users to experience what it can do.

In a notification sent to users last week, spotted by Bleeping Computer, Microsoft noted how from early Oct. it will automatically install the app on computers with 365 suite apps like Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. An exact date for the rollout is unclear, but it says it'll happen on all compatible devices by the middle of Nov.

The company's statement says, “The Microsoft 365 Copilot app helps Microsoft 365 users be more productive by providing a single place to access Microsoft 365 Copilot features and capabilities, including search, chat, agents, and more.” The change will see the app added to the Windows Start Menu.

However, not everyone wants Copilot on their computer, and there are ways to stop it from automatically installing. Head to the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center on your device. As the name suggests, you'll need to be an admin to follow this process.

Then head to Customization > Device Configuration > Modern App Settings. Within here, you'll find an option called Enable automatic installation of Microsoft 365 Copilot app under the Microsoft 365 Copilot app section. Untick this box to stop the process going ahead.

The Copilot app is available across Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows, but this change only impacts those on Windows devices.

If you want the app to install on your device, Microsoft says you should tell everyone who uses your computer system that it's coming to minimize confusion when it does roll out. That's mostly aimed at business users, but it's also applicable for home use.

The change is happening globally, but it won’t impact customers in the European Economic Area. That’s likely due to AI legislation within the EU, but it may mean the brand follows suit on a rollout there at a later date.

I’ve been a journalist for over a decade after getting my start in tech reporting back in 2013. I joined PCMag in 2025, where I cover the latest developments across the tech sphere, writing about the gadgets and services you use every day. Be sure to send me any tips you think PCMag would be interested in.