Microsoft pauses automatic installs of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app

In short: Microsoft is temporarily stopping Windows from automatically installing the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, and it is also tightening access to free Copilot Chat inside Office apps.

What happened

Microsoft says it will pause a planned rollout that would have automatically installed the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on eligible Windows 11 PCs that already have Microsoft 365 desktop apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

The pause was announced on March 16, 2026, in a Microsoft 365 Message Center post (MC1152323). Microsoft said existing installations will not be removed. IT admins can also opt out using the Apps Admin Center (a web dashboard companies use to manage apps on work devices).

Microsoft did not give a reason for the pause. The TechCrunch report links it to Microsoft reorganizing its Copilot work into four groups, and to a broader effort to focus on paying customers and reduce forced add-ons.

Separately, Microsoft is also changing what “free” Copilot Chat looks like inside Microsoft 365 apps. Starting April 15, 2026, Copilot Chat will be removed from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for users who do not have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license (a paid plan). Microsoft plans to label the remaining options as “Copilot Chat (Basic)” and “M365 Copilot (Premium).”

TechCrunch also reports Microsoft has dropped earlier plans to put Copilot into Windows 11 notifications and Settings. However, there is not clear confirmation that Microsoft is reducing Copilot entry points in other Windows apps like Photos, Widgets, and Notepad.

Why it matters

For many people, this means fewer surprise AI features showing up on their PC, at least for Microsoft 365 Copilot. It also signals a clearer split between what you get for free versus what you must pay for in Word and Excel, a bit like free TV versus a subscription channel.

Source: TechCrunch AI