Microsoft has announced that it will begin automatically installing the Microsoft 365 Copilot AI app for users who already have Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on their systems. This global rollout will start in October 2025 and will apply to all Windows PCs except those located in the European Economic Area (EEA), as detailed in Microsoft 365 Message Center updates.
The Copilot app will serve as the central hub for accessing AI-powered features across Microsoft 365. According to Microsoft, this move is intended to simplify the use of Copilot while encouraging users to discover more AI-driven productivity tools integrated into the suite.
However, individual users will not have the option to block this automatic installation. Only enterprise administrators can disable the rollout through the Microsoft 365 Apps Admin Center. For standard users, the only alternatives are to uninstall the app manually or disable it in Windows Startup settings if they do not wish to use it.
This decision reflects Microsoft’s broader strategy to push Copilot adoption more aggressively. Back in July 2025, Microsoft Edge introduced Copilot Mode with features for tab interaction and smart search. Copilot has also been bundled into Microsoft 365 subscriptions, which contributed to a 43% price increase.
While some user’s welcome AI assistance such as generating Excel functions from plain text, others view Copilot as bloatware if they prefer a leaner system. The rollout also highlights regional differences: users in the EEA are exempt due to EU regulations that prevent forced app installations without user consent. This exemption underscores the stricter stance Europe takes on user control and data privacy compared to global markets. Meanwhile, some users resistant to Microsoft’s approach may turn to alternatives like LibreOffice to avoid unnecessary integrations.
