Microsoft starts removing Copilot branding from Windows 11 apps

Microsoft has begun removing Copilot AI branding and icons from the latest versions of Notepad and Snipping Tool in Windows 11. Following reports of negative user sentiment, the company has rebranded AI-driven features such as rewrite and summarise as “Writing tools” and paused the forced inclusion of AI buttons across its core application suite.

According to Windows Latest, the transition follows an update in March 2025 that initially integrated Copilot directly into Notepad for text summaries and rewrites. These integrations were generally not well received by users, leading to significant negative feedback about Microsoft pushing AI to users who didn't want it. The latest software revisions restore the standard appearance of these applications by removing the persistent Copilot icon.

Image credit: Windows Latest

Microsoft has confirmed that while the AI-assisted functionality remains accessible, features such as summarisation are now listed under a generic “Writing tools” menu. The company has also paused the mandatory deployment of Copilot buttons across all applications, citing minimal user interest in the forced integration. This adjustment occurs as Microsoft continues to manage approximately 80 different Copilot-related apps and services.

In addition to the UI changes, Microsoft is reportedly working on performance and security enhancements for Windows 11 that we expect to see being deployed on Insider builds in the near future.

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