How to remove Copilot icon from every line of my word document

Hi Emma Boylan,

Thank you for reaching out Microsoft Q&A. I completely understand how distracting and frustrating it can be to see the Copilot icon on every line of your Word documents, and I’m here to help you get this sorted out as smoothly as possible.

Based on your description and the official documentation from Microsoft, the icon you're seeing is part of the “Draft with Copilot” experience. It’s designed to appear in new documents or when creating a new line, indicating where Copilot can assist with drafting, rewriting, or transforming content. This behavior is currently intentional for users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot (work) or Copilot Pro (home) license.

Unfortunately, there isn’t yet a built-in option to disable or hide the icon from within Word settings but I’ve gathered a few steps that may help reduce or eliminate it:

Step 1: Update Word and Check for Copilot Settings Again

To begin, I recommend updating Word to the latest version, as Microsoft has gradually introduced the ability to disable Copilot in newer builds.

• Go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now

Once updated, try the following:

• Open Word and go to File > Options (or More > Options, depending on your layout)
• Look for the Copilot tab in the left-hand menu
• If available, uncheck Enable Copilot
• Click OK, then restart Word

This should disable Copilot’s active features and may remove the icons from new documents. If you still don’t see the Copilot tab, it’s possible that your current version or Microsoft 365 plan doesn’t yet support this setting. Kindly move to the next steps below.

Step 2: Use Privacy Settings

You can try disabling connected experiences:

• Go to File > Account > Manage Settings
• Uncheck “Turn on all connected experiences”

This may reduce Copilot’s visibility and functionality.

Step 3: Work Offline Temporarily

If you disconnect from the internet before opening Word, Copilot may not load at all. This is a temporary workaround but can be useful if you need a distraction-free writing session.

Step 4: Consider a Different Microsoft 365 Plan

If Copilot is not essential to your workflow, switching to a plan like Microsoft 365 Basic or Family Classic may remove Copilot entirely. These plans do not include Copilot features and therefore won’t display the icon.

For more details, please visit the official Microsoft support page:

Switching to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family Classic Plans.

I know this situation isn’t ideal, and I truly appreciate your patience. Microsoft is actively gathering feedback on this issue, and I encourage you to share your thoughts directly through Word by going to Help > Feedback > I don’t like something. The development team is aware of the concerns and is working to improve the experience, including rolling out updates that may offer more control over Copilot’s visibility in the near future.

If you have any other questions or need further assistance, I’m here to help.