Windows users don't want Copilot on their taskbar; they want it in the bin.
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Key notes
- Microsoft’s move to add Copilot AI to the Windows 11 taskbar faced vociferous user backlash.
- Many immediately disabled/removed Copilot, calling it “trash” and unwanted bloat.
- The issue was Microsoft forcing it without asking, cluttering UI and breaking workflow.
- A small minority preferred system tray, and most demanded full removal over relocation.
When users were asked if they prefer the Copilot icon to be located at the center of the taskbar alongside other icons next to the search bar on Windows or at the bottom right edge of the screen next to the clock, notifications, and show desktop button, we will share the summary of the discussion on this Reddit post.
According to comments, this move to make Copilot a central part of the Windows experience has been met with overwhelming rejection by many users. This comes after Microsoft said that Copilot will make money in the long term, even if it is struggling now.
“Get it the **** off my system” and “in the trash where it belongs” were common refrains as users voiced their displeasure at having Copilot forced upon them. Numerous reports emerged of people immediately disabling, hiding, or removing the AI assistant from their installations.
The anti-Copilot sentiment stems from a combination of factors. Many stated they simply did not find the AI useful or optimized enough yet to warrant including it so prominently. Others took issue with Microsoft cluttering the user interface and breaking muscle memory with an unasked-for addition.
“Why can’t they be more sensitive about users’ preferences instead of just randomly picking things to fix or break?” one frustrated user questioned the Windows team’s decision-making.
A small minority did express a preference for having Copilot in the system tray if it had to exist, finding that location less obtrusive. But this was a decidedly fringe view.
For the most part, Windows users bluntly demanded Copilot be excised completely rather than relocated, expressing an unwillingness to have the AI productivity tool foisted upon them. “I’ve made it this far without a copilot. I’m good,” a user succinctly stated.
