Over the past few years, Microsoft has added its AI tool Copilot to several areas of Windows 11. The latest to get the Copilot is the file context menu or right-click menu.
Windows 11 now displays an Ask Copilot option in the file context menu (right-click) when you right-click on a supported file type. As of now, text and image file types are supported. That is, when you right-click a text file, PDF file, or Word document, the Ask Copilot option shows up. Clicking the Ask Copilot option brings up the Copilot window, where you can take the help of Copilot to summarize, analyze, or explain a file by uploading it to Microsoft servers.
The Ask Copilot feature might be handy for users who use and like Copilot. However, several users prefer other AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini to Copilot, and they might not want to see Ask Copilot in the context menu. Users who want an uncluttered context menu might also want to remove it, as they can always open the Copilot app and upload files to be analyzed or summarized.
Unfortunately, like many other features, this Ask Copilot context menu cannot be easily removed, as Windows 11 does not offer an option in the Settings app or Copilot settings to remove it. That said, you can edit the Windows Registry to remove Ask Copilot from the context menu.
Method 1 of 2
Remove Ask Copilot from Windows 11 file context menu (right-click menu) via Registry
Step 1: Type Registry Editor in the Start menu or taskbar search and then press the Enter key to open the Registry Editor.
Click the Yes button when you get the User Account Control prompt.
Step 2: In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions
Tip: You may copy and paste the above path in the Registry Editor’s address bar and then press the Enter key to quickly navigate.
Step 3: Right-click the Shell Extensions key, click New, and then click Key. Name it Blocked.
Step 4: Now, right-click the Blocked key, click New, and then click String Value. Name it {CB3B0003-8088-4EDE-8769-8B354AB2FF8C}.
Step 5: Finally, on the right side, double-click the newly created string value and then type Ask Copilot in the Value data field. Click OK.
Step 6: Restart Windows File Explorer via the Task Manager (see how to restart File Explorer), or reboot your Windows 11 PC once to apply the changes. That’s it!
Next time onwards, when you right-click on an image, text, or PDF file, the Ask Copilot option should not appear.
Method 2 of 2
Remove Ask Copilot from the Windows 11 file context menu by uninstalling Copilot
If you prefer using Copilot’s competitors, such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini, you can consider uninstalling Copilot from your Windows 11 PC.
Step 1: Open Windows 11 Settings. Go to Apps > Installed apps page.
Step 2: Change the view to List view by clicking its icon.
Step 3: Go through the installed apps list to see the Copilot’s entry. Click the three dots next to it, then click Uninstall (see the picture below).
Step 4: Click the Uninstall button when you see the confirmation dialog to uninstall Copilot from the Windows 11 installation. That’s it!
You can always install the Copilot again from the Microsoft Store.
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