Microsoft Copilot in Word on Mac can interrupt writing, editing, and basic formatting tasks. Many users want it gone—but macOS does not offer a single OFF switch yet. Still, you can disable Copilot behavior and remove it from your workflow using the methods below.
Method 1: Remove Copilot from the Word Toolbar (Quickest Fix)
This method hides Copilot so you stop triggering it accidentally.
- Open Microsoft Word
- Click Word in the top menu
- Select Settings
- Open Ribbon & Toolbar
- Locate Copilot in the toolbar list
- Remove or uncheck it
- Save changes and restart Word
Result: Copilot disappears from the interface and stops interrupting your work.
Method 2: Turn Off Connected Experiences (Most Reliable Control)
Copilot depends on cloud-based “connected experiences.” Turning them off blocks Copilot features.
- Open Microsoft Word
- Go to Word → Settings
- Click Privacy
- Open Account Privacy
- Turn OFF:
- Optional connected experiences
- Experiences that analyze your content
- Close Word and reopen it
This action stops Copilot from analyzing text, making suggestions, or auto-opening.
Method 3: Sign Out of Your Microsoft Account (Hard Stop)
Copilot cannot function without an active Microsoft account.
- Open Microsoft Word
- Click Word → Sign Out
- Restart Word
Local documents continue to work normally. Cloud features such as OneDrive sync stop working.
Use this option only if Copilot continues to appear after disabling privacy features.
Method 4: Use a License That Does Not Include Copilot
Copilot activates automatically on subscription plans.
Copilot appears on:
- Microsoft 365 Personal
- Microsoft 365 Family
- Business plans with Copilot enabled
Copilot does NOT appear on:
- Office 2021 (perpetual license)
- Office 2019
- Standalone Word (non-subscription)
Switching to a non-subscription license removes Copilot permanently.
Can You Fully Disable Copilot on Mac?
No. Microsoft does not provide a system-level Copilot OFF toggle on Mac. You can only:
- Hide it from the UI
- Block its cloud features
- Remove account access
These steps currently offer the best control.
FAQs:
Can I completely disable Copilot in Word on Mac?
No. Microsoft does not provide a full OFF toggle for Copilot on macOS. You can only hide Copilot, disable connected experiences, or sign out of your Microsoft account to stop it from working.
Why does Copilot keep appearing in Microsoft Word on Mac?
Copilot appears automatically when you use a Microsoft 365 subscription that includes AI features. Word enables Copilot by default if your license supports it.
Does turning off connected experiences disable Copilot?
Yes. Turning off optional connected experiences blocks Copilot’s cloud processing and stops it from analyzing or suggesting content in Word.
Will disabling Copilot affect Microsoft Word features?
No. Core Word features like typing, formatting, saving files, and printing continue to work normally. Only AI-powered suggestions and Copilot prompts stop.
Can I remove the Copilot button from the Word toolbar on Mac?
Yes. You can remove Copilot from the Ribbon and Toolbar settings in Word. This hides the icon and prevents accidental activation.
Does signing out of Microsoft Word disable Copilot?
Yes. Copilot requires an active Microsoft account. Signing out immediately disables Copilot but also turns off OneDrive sync and cloud features.
Is Copilot enabled on all versions of Word for Mac?
No. Copilot only appears on Microsoft 365 subscription plans. Perpetual licenses like Office 2021 or Office 2019 do not include Copilot.
Will Copilot return after a Word update?
Yes, in some cases. Microsoft updates may re-enable Copilot UI elements. If this happens, re-apply the privacy and toolbar settings.
Can IT admins disable Copilot on Mac using policy settings?
No. macOS does not support Group Policy controls for Copilot like Windows. Manual user-level settings remain the only option.
Is there a permanent way to remove Copilot from Word on Mac?
Yes, but only by switching to a non-subscription version of Microsoft Word. Subscription plans automatically include Copilot.
By removing Copilot from the toolbar, disabling connected experiences, or signing out of your Microsoft account, you can stop Copilot from interfering in Word on Mac. These steps restore a clean, distraction-free writing experience.
If Copilot still shows up after following all steps, comment below with your Word version and license type, and we’ll help you shut it down completely.
