Microsoft has decided to pause a recent controversial change to Windows 11. The company has temporarily stopped automatic installation of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on devices that already have Microsoft 365 desktop apps. This comes after the feature was originally planned as a forced rollout, something that didn’t sit well with many users.

Back in late 2025, Microsoft confirmed that it would begin automatically installing the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on supported Windows systems. This app is different from the regular Copilot that comes pre-installed on Windows. Instead, it focuses on productivity and works closely with apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The goal was to give users a single place to access AI-powered tools for writing, editing, summarizing documents, and creating presentations.

Microsoft is dialling back Copilot integration on Windows 11

It’s safe to say that the rollout didn’t go as expected. Many users, especially business and enterprise customers, were not happy with the idea of another app being installed without clear consent. Even though admins had options to control deployment, the overall response was still negative. It doesn’t really matter if Copilot has a friendly face – forcing AI tools to be installed onto users’ machines was never going to please everyone.

Now, Microsoft has hit pause on the automatic installation plan. According to an update shared through its Microsoft 365 message center, the feature has been temporarily disabled. The company hasn’t explained why, but it’s clear that feedback may have played a role in this decision.

“Automatic installation of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on Windows devices with Microsoft 365 desktop apps, planned for December 2025, is temporarily disabled,”

Admin 365 dashboard status, via Windows Latest

It’s important to note that this change only affects new installations. If the Microsoft 365 Copilot app is already on your system, it will stay there. Microsoft is not removing it automatically, but users still have the option to uninstall it manually. Admins can also continue to deploy the app through other methods if needed, so it’s not completely gone. It’s just no longer being pushed automatically for now.

At the moment, it’s unclear if Microsoft will bring back the forced rollout in the future. But for now, the company seems to be taking a step back and rethinking how it introduces AI features into Windows 11.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.