Following user dissatisfaction, Microsoft is reversing its plans to automatically install the M365 Copilot app on compatible Windows PCs.
In September, Microsoft announced it would automatically install the M365 Copilot app—formerly known simply as Microsoft 365 or Office—on Windows PCs. The move was primarily intended to bring Copilot to even more users, including those who felt no need for it. Microsoft is now backtracking on that decision.
“The automatic installation of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on Windows devices with Microsoft 365 desktop apps has been temporarily disabled,” the company announced via the admin center, as noted by Windows Latest. The word ‘temporarily’ suggests that this delay does not mean a cancellation. Existing installations remain unaffected, Microsoft added. The company will notify administrators when forced installations are set to resume.
M365 Copilot should not be confused with Copilot. The M365 Copilot app is the spiritual successor to Office and contains the same app suite, but with deep Copilot integration for business users. The Copilot app, on the other hand, is a WebView version of Copilot intended for consumers. This confusing naming convention likely only encourages users to ignore Copilot altogether.
Change of heart
This seemingly small concession feels like a major step for Microsoft. Until now, the software giant has given Windows users very little choice regarding whether they want Copilot or not. Microsoft was certainly not the only major player guilty of shoving AI down the throats of its users.
In the case of Copilot, this aggressive approach seems to have backfired. Exact user figures are hard to come by, but the number of Copilot users is estimated to be between 30 and 35 million, which is significantly less than ChatGPT’s 900 million. Constantly pushing Copilot has even earned Microsoft the derogatory nickname ‘Microslop’.
Microsoft is also pausing further integration of Copilot into the Windows operating system. Plans announced last year to transform Windows 11 into an ‘agentic OS’ have received little support from Windows users. As a result, certain Copilot integrations in Windows software may be scrapped or even rolled back.