explaingit

zoicware/removewindowsai

11,605PowerShellAudience · generalComplexity · 2/5Setup · easy

TLDR

A PowerShell script that disables and removes Microsoft's AI features from Windows 11 in bulk, including Copilot, Recall, and AI enhancements in Photos, Paint, and Notepad.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((removewindowsai))
    What it does
      Disable Copilot
      Remove AI packages
      Block reinstalls
    Method
      Registry edits
      Appx removal
      Scheduled task
    Use Cases
      Privacy control
      Clean installs
      Automated setup
    Requirements
      Admin rights
      PowerShell 5.1
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Code map

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Disable Copilot, Recall, and all AI-enhanced built-in apps on a Windows 11 machine in a single script run.

USE CASE 2

Block AI packages from being reinstalled after Windows Updates using the bundled update blocker and scheduled task.

USE CASE 3

Roll back the script's changes using the built-in backup mode if you decide to restore AI features later.

Tech stack

PowerShell

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Must run as Administrator in Windows PowerShell 5.1 specifically, not PowerShell 7, which is not supported.

In plain English

RemoveWindowsAI is a PowerShell script that removes or disables the AI features Microsoft ships with Windows 11. Starting with the 25H2 build, Windows 11 includes features like Copilot, Recall, input tracking, and various AI enhancements scattered across built-in apps. This script targets all of them and gives users a way to opt out in bulk. The script works through several layers. First, it modifies Windows Registry keys to disable individual AI features, including Copilot (both the system integration and the Edge browser version), Recall (Microsoft's screenshot-and-search memory feature), voice effects, AI in the Settings search, AI features in Photos, Paint, Notepad, and Snipping Tool, gaming Copilot, and Copilot in Office apps. Second, it removes the actual software packages: AI-related Appx packages (including ones marked as non-removable) and packages stored in the CBS (Component-Based Servicing) store, which is the low-level Windows component registry. Third, it installs a custom Windows Update blocker to prevent the AI packages from being reinstalled during future updates. A scheduled task is also created to check after each Windows Update and remove any newly added AI features. There is a backup mode that records what was changed so you can revert later. The script runs through a graphical PowerShell console UI, but also supports command-line flags for non-interactive or automated use. It must be run as Administrator in Windows PowerShell 5.1, not PowerShell 7. Some antivirus programs flag it as malicious, which the README describes as a false positive common to system-modification scripts. Classic versions of Notepad, Paint, Snipping Tool, and Photos can optionally be reinstalled to replace the AI-enhanced versions.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
I want to run RemoveWindowsAI on a fresh Windows 11 25H2 install. What command-line flags run it fully non-interactive and enable the Windows Update blocker?
Prompt 2
How does the scheduled task created by RemoveWindowsAI work, and how do I verify it ran successfully after a Windows Update?
Prompt 3
RemoveWindowsAI is being flagged by my antivirus. What does the script actually do to Windows, and what permissions does it need to run?
Prompt 4
I ran RemoveWindowsAI earlier and now want to restore the AI features. How do I use the backup mode to revert the registry and package changes?
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