Microsoft has started removing Copilot buttons from several Windows 11 apps, beginning with Notepad and the Snipping Tool. The move follows months of user criticism over the company’s aggressive push to integrate its AI assistant across the operating system.
According to Engadget, the changes are part of Microsoft’s broader promise last month to dial back its Copilot branding and remove “unnecessary entry points” for the AI assistant. The first changes are appearing in the latest Windows Insider builds. In Notepad, the Copilot icon has been replaced with a pen icon labeled “Writing tools.”
The underlying AI features — such as text rewriting, summarizing, and drafting assistance — remain available, but the Copilot branding is gone. In the Snipping Tool, the Copilot button no longer appears when users select an area to capture. Microsoft has also moved AI-related settings out of prominent menus and tucked them into a section called “Advanced features”.
Why is Microsoft removing Copilot buttons from Windows 11?
The removal of Copilot buttons is a direct response to widespread user backlash. According to The Verge, Microsoft’s Windows and Devices EVP Pavan Davuluri acknowledged that the company had gone too far, stating, “You will see us be more intentional about how and where Copilot integrates across Windows”.
The company’s broader plan also includes removing unnecessary Copilot entry points from Photos and Widgets. Here is what is changing across Windows 11:
- Notepad: The Copilot icon has been replaced with a pen icon labeled “Writing tools.” The AI-powered text features are still available, but they are no longer called Copilot.
- Snipping Tool: The Copilot button no longer shows up when you take screenshots. This feature has been completely removed, and there is no option to turn it back on.
- Settings: AI-related controls have been moved from prominent menus to a neutral “Advanced features” section.
- Future apps: Microsoft has confirmed that Photos and Widgets will also see reduced Copilot entry points in upcoming updates.
According to Digital Trends, Microsoft is not removing the underlying AI capabilities — just the visible Copilot branding that many users found intrusive. The company has also paused plans to add more AI buttons across the operating system due to minimal user interest.
The changes are currently rolling out to Windows Insiders. A broader public release is expected in the coming months. For now, users running the latest preview builds will see the first signs of Microsoft scaling back its Copilot integration across Windows 11.
In short, Microsoft is removing Copilot buttons from core Windows 11 apps to address user frustration, though the AI tools themselves remain available under less intrusive branding.
