It tienes the feeling that Windows 11 is trying to outsmart you With windows, assistants, and smart features everywhere, you're not alone. Copilot, Recall, voice effects, AI in Paint or Notepad… Microsoft has decided to turn its system into a permanent showcase of artificial intelligence, and not all users are happy with this direction.
The good news is that You still have considerable control over what happens on your PCWith a combination of community tools like RemoveWindowsAI and Flyoobe, along with some manual adjustments, it's possible to drastically reduce (or almost eliminate) Windows 11's AI features, gaining performance, privacy, and an experience much closer to a classic, lightweight Windows.
Why you might want to disable AI in Windows 11
Microsoft's commitment to AI is total: Copilot in the taskbar, AI in the Edge browser, models that power system search, intelligent features in Paint, Photos, Notepad, and even in camera and microphone effects. With each major Windows 11 update (such as the 24H2 or 25H2 branches), new "intelligent" components are added both in the cloud and on-premises.
The problem is that Not everyone wants that kind of experience.Many users miss the philosophy of Windows 7: a stable, predictable system that stays in the background while you work or play, instead of bombarding you with wizards, sidebars, and suggestions you never asked for. Here's why:
- Demand for resources. More AI generally means more background processes, increased memory usage, and services running even when you're not actively using them. On modest machines, or simply older computers, this can result in a slower, less responsive system.
- Concern for privacy. Features like Recall are designed to constantly capture what happens on your screen, index everything, and enable AI-powered searches. On paper, this sounds useful, but in practice, it means your PC stores a nearly complete visual history of your activity—a sensitive issue in work environments, on shared computers, or when handling sensitive information.
- Frequent updates that work against the userWindows 11 broke the mold of the idea that major new features only came with new operating system versions. Now, every few months, an update can introduce new layers of AI, change behaviors, or add features without your explicit consent.
RemoveWindowsAI: The most complete script to clean AI from Windows 11
In the absence of an official Microsoft switch To disable all AI in Windows, the community has mobilized. One of the most powerful solutions is RemoveWindowsAI, an open-source PowerShell script, hosted on GitHub and created by the developer known as zoicware, designed especially for current versions of Windows 11 and those that come with the 25H2 update.
Unlike a traditional program, RemoveWindowsAI isn't installed using a typical graphical wizard. It's a script that runs from PowerShell with administrator privileges. It offers two ways to use it:
- A lightweight graphical interface with switches for each group of functions.
- A more aggressive command-line mode that applies all changes automatically.
The most interesting thing is that The script is not limited to hiding buttonsIt acts directly on deep system elements: modifying Windows Registry keys, altering internal policies, removing Appx packages, and cleaning up related components in the service store (CBS, Component-Based Servicing). In other words, it not only disables AI but also uninstalls a large portion of its components.
Among the features Features that RemoveWindowsAI can disable or remove include Copilot built into Windows, Copilot in the Edge browser, Windows Recall, Input Insights and typing data collection, AI Actions, AI-based speech effects, AI in search settings and other parts of the system.
Which AI features does RemoveWindowsAI actually disable?
The list of functions that this script disables or removes is quite extensive.and varies slightly depending on the version of Windows 11 you have installed, but essentially it covers almost the entire ecosystem of native AI that Microsoft has been incorporating into the system.
Among the key features that RemoveWindowsAI disables are:
- Copilot on Windows: The integration of the assistant into the taskbar and the system is disabled.
- Recall (Memories): The feature that continuously captures and analyzes what you do on your computer is disabled.
- Input Insights and Typing Data CollectionThe collection of writing patterns and analysis of entered text is cancelled.
- Copilot in Edge: removes or disables the assistant integration in the browser.
- Image Creator and other AI modules in PaintImage generation and AI integrated into the drawing application are disabled.
- AI Fabric Service and related internal services: AI infrastructure services running in the background are removed.
- AI Actions and AI in configuration searchSmart actions and suggestions are deactivated in different areas of the system.
- Voice access and AI-powered voice effects: Voice control functions with intelligent processing and AI-based voice filters are turned off.
- AI-powered rewriting in NotepadThe option to rewrite text or modify its tone from Modern Notepad is disabled.
A key point is that RemoveWindowsAI It also blocks the reinstallation of AI packagesInstead of allowing Windows to redownload Copilot, Recall, or similar features, the script introduces "decoy packages" that trick the system into thinking it already has an updated version, thus preventing the silent return of these features in future updates.
How to run RemoveWindowsAI step by step
The most advisable is Use Windows PowerShell 5.1 instead of PowerShell 7The script's author states that this is the best-supported version. Make sure you run the console with administrator privileges, or the script will not be able to work with the system components.
- To open PowerShell as an administratorTo run PowerShell, use the Windows Start menu, type "PowerShell", hover your mouse over the result, and select Run as administrator. If you are using a limited account, you will need to enter administrator credentials.
- Once you have the PowerShell window with elevated privilegesCopy and paste this command (including parentheses and quotation marks) and press Enter: & ([scriptblock]::Create((irm «https://raw.githubusercontent.com/zoicware/RemoveWindowsAI/main/RemoveWindowsAi.ps1»)))
- If you trust the tool (it's open source and auditable), you'll need to allow it to run..
- The RemoveWindowsAI interface organizes options by color blocks.each switching a set of features:
- Deactivate Copilot policies.
- Remove AI-related Appx packages.
- Delete files associated with these functions.
- Remove Recall.
- Disable overwriting in Notepad.
- If you want a deep clean, it's common to activate options like Disable Copilot Policies, Remove Appx Packages, Remove Recall Feature and Remove AI Files.
- Once the selected actions have finished, the script itself will prompt you to restart your PC.This is an important step, because many of the changes to services, packages, and policies only take effect correctly after a complete Windows restart.
Flyoobe: another tool to control AI and much more in Windows 10 and 11
RemoveWindowsAI isn't the only community-driven solution for taming AI. Another very interesting utility is Flyoobe, also open source, which works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 and goes a little beyond simply disabling smart features.
Flyoobe analyzes your Windows installation and detects which AI components are present In that specific version of the system, differentiating between what is active and what is already deactivated. This allows for fairly granular control and reduces the risk of tampering with elements that don't correspond to your edition or build of Windows.
To start using Flyoobe you need to Download it from their GitHub pageBecause it is not signed by a developer recognized by Microsoft, the system may display a warning when running the file, indicating that it is a potentially dangerous application. This warning is common with open-source software that lacks a commercial signature.
Just like with RemoveWindowsAI, It is essential to run it as administratorRight-click on the executable and select Run as administrator to give it permission to make changes to the system, such as modifying the registry, policies, or removing components.
The result of the analysis is presented in the form of a list with boxesIf you want to completely disable AI, select all entries and click "Turn off selected" to deactivate all detected AI functions. If, on the other hand, only some bother you (for example, "Recall"), simply select those specific functions and click the same button.
Manually disable Copilot, Recall, and other AI components
Many users are hesitant to run such powerful scripts or prefer to have manual control over what they disable. Although RemoveWindowsAI and Flyoobe greatly simplify the process, Windows 11 offers some internal tweaks which also help to limit AI without relying on external tools.
The first objective is usually CopilotIn recent versions of Windows 11, Microsoft has made it a standard native application, so it's no longer just a system-linked sidebar, but a program that can be uninstalled like any other:
To remove Copilot from the settings:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
- Type “Copilot” in the search box.
- Click on the three dots to the right of the result and select Uninstall.
Another important area is that of System components or AI componentsThis is a relatively new section you'll find within Settings > System. This panel is designed to manage extensions, small language models, and additional elements that Windows can use for intelligent functions.
Copilot+ PC and Windows 11 Pro
On Copilot+ PC systems, with a dedicated NPU, special attention must be paid to Recall.As explained, this feature takes periodic screenshots and allows you to search your viewing history with the help of AI. Following privacy concerns, Microsoft made it optional, but it's a good idea to ensure it's turned off.
- Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Memories and snapshots.
- Make sure the Save snapshots option is turned off.
- If you activated it at any point, use the Delete all button to erase the stored captures.
If you're using Windows 11 Pro, you can also block Copilot from Group Policy.preventing future updates from easily reactivating it. To do this:
- Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
- Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot.
- Open the "Disable Windows Copilot" policy and set it to Enabled (you enable the deactivation).
Lastly, It's worth reviewing the applications that Microsoft is filling with AI.such as Notepad and Paint. In the case of Notepad, you can go into its settings (gear icon) and turn off the Copilot or text rewriting switch to return to traditional use, without suggestions or automatic tone changes.
AI in games, cloud and local effects: what to manually disable
Even with RemoveWindowsAI running, There are certain AI components that require manual adjustmentsbecause they operate on external services or are designed to be managed from their own configuration options.
One of them is Gaming CopilotCopilot is an assistant integrated into the Xbox Game Bar that offers suggestions for games, clips, and more. If you don't want any of this, open the Game Bar, go to its settings, and disable any privacy options or assistance related to AI or Copilot.
Another front is OneDrive and its facial recognition capabilities. Even if you don't use Copilot, Microsoft's cloud services can analyze your photos to identify faces and group people. This analysis can be disabled in your Microsoft account's privacy settings, either on the web or in OneDrive's own settings, by looking for the People or Facial Recognition section.
The Copilot+ PC also includes the Windows Studio EffectsThese are AI-based camera and microphone filters (background blur, eye correction, advanced noise reduction, etc.). If you prefer your camera and microphone to work "as is," without intelligent processing, open Settings > System > Sound and check both the microphone and camera settings to ensure these effects are turned off.
Finally, there is AI modules that barely consume resources when not in usesuch as certain image generators integrated into Paint or Photos. In these cases, if you can't completely uninstall them, the pragmatic strategy is simply to ignore them: as long as you don't click their buttons, they don't activate, generate additional traffic, or have any real impact on daily performance.
Recover classic and alternative apps without AI
One very effective way to stay out of Microsoft's AI is stop using the modern applications that the company updates with these features, replacing them with classic or third-party alternatives that do not depend on cloud services.
Beyond what the script offers, there are projects like Win7Games These are collections of installers for older Windows 7 utilities, including the classic Photo Viewer, the old Calculator, and even WordPad. They are lightweight, familiar tools, and, most importantly, free of the extra AI and telemetry layers found in many of their modern successors.
In the realm of text, one of the best alternatives to modern Notepad is Notepad + +It is open-source software, very powerful for text and code editing, and does not incorporate AI functionalities or cloud dependencies: all work is done locally and with total user control.
The browser is also a major front. Edge has become the number one showcase for Copilot and much of Microsoft's AI experimentation. If you want to minimize these types of integrations, The simplest solution is to abandon Edge and opt for alternatives like Firefox (which keeps AI as optional and disableable) or Vivaldi., whose team has openly declared its rejection of filling the browser with intrusive AI features.
In practical terms, AI is not inherently bad.The problem lies in how it's being shoehorned into Windows 11 without offering users simple, centralized control. Through scripts like RemoveWindowsAI, tools like Flyoobe, and a few manual adjustments, you can regain much of your control over your computer, return to a cleaner, lighter experience, and decide for yourself when and how you want artificial intelligence to be involved in your daily digital life.