How to Control Windows Copilot Startup Settings

Method 1Using the Settings App

The Settings ⚙️ app is the safest way to change this. It needs no extra software or advanced tools, and it doesn’t touch the registry. It works the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro.

If the PC is managed by an employer or school, an administrator may have locked the option. In that case the toggle will be greyed out or missing, and you will need to ask your IT team. If the whole Copilot in Windows tile is missing, your build probably doesn’t include the setting yet.

Follow these steps to stop Copilot from opening at startup, or to make it open at startup, from the Settings ⚙️ app:

1. Open the Windows Settings app. You can find it in the Start menu, or press the Windows key + I to launch the Settings app directly. The Settings window opens with a list of categories on the left.
2. Click Personalization in the left menu. The right side now shows options such as Background, Colors and Themes.
3. Select the Copilot in Windows tile on the right. If you can't find the tile, your build probably doesn't include this setting yet. Run Windows Update, then check again.

Quick recap so far: open Settings, go to Personalization, and select the Copilot in Windows tile. The next two steps find the startup option and change it.

4. Find the Open Copilot when Windows starts option. It sits among the Copilot settings on this page. If it isn't listed, use the registry method later in this guide.
5. Click the toggle switch to turn it On or Off. The switch moves right to show On, or left to show Off. Turn it Off if you want Copilot to stay closed until you call it up. To undo the change later, come back here and flip the switch again.

Close the Settings app when you're done. The change is saved as soon as you flip the switch, so you don't need to click anything to confirm it. You can test it by signing out and back in, or by restarting the PC.

Method 2Using the Registry Editor

The Registry Editor gives you direct control over the setting when the standard option is missing or doesn't work. It is available on Windows 11 Home and Pro. You edit a system value yourself, so a wrong change can cause problems.

Back up first. Create a System Restore point, or in the Registry Editor use File › Export to save a copy of the key you're about to change. Also note that this value is not a documented, supported switch, so it may have no effect on some builds. The path below is under HKEY_CURRENT_USER, so the change applies only to your own account.

Follow these steps to set the Copilot startup value in the registry:

1. Open Windows Registry Editor from the Start menu. Search for it by name. Windows may ask for permission to make changes. Click Yes to continue, and the editor window opens.
2. Go to this path: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Notifications\Settings. You can click through the folders in the left pane, or paste the path into the address bar at the top of the window. The values for that key then show in the right pane.
3. Look for AutoOpenCopilotLargeScreens in the right pane. It may not exist on your PC, and that's normal. If it's missing, skip to the last step in this list.
4. Double-click the value to edit it. Enter 1 to enable automatic startup or 0 to disable it, then click OK. The new number now shows in the Data column.
5. Create the value if it is missing. Right-click an empty space in the right pane, select New › DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it AutoOpenCopilotLargeScreens. Then double-click it and set your value the same way as in the previous step. The new entry should now appear in the list with the value you entered.

Quick recap: open the Registry Editor, go to the path in step 2, and edit or create the value. Set the value data to 1 to enable Copilot at startup, or 0 to disable it. To undo the change, set the value back or delete the entry you created.

You may need to restart your computer for these changes to take effect. If you'd rather not restart yet, signing out and back in is often enough to test the result.

If nothing changes after a restart, go back and check that the value name and number are exactly as listed above. Also remember that this value isn't an officially supported switch, so on some builds it simply won't do anything. In that case, use the Settings app method if your build has it.

Summary

You can manage Windows Copilot startup behavior to suit your needs, so it only runs when you want it to. Use the Settings app first, because it is simple and easy to reverse. Use the Registry Editor only if the Settings option isn't available, and keep a backup so you can roll back.