Microsoft 365 Copilot App Will Auto-Install on Windows 11 This October
Microsoft is about to make another decision for Windows 11 users without asking first. Starting in October 2025, a new Microsoft 365 Copilot app will automatically install on any system that already has Office apps like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
What This Means for Users
If you have Microsoft 365 desktop apps on your Windows 11 machine, you’ll wake up one day in October to find a new app in your Start menu. This isn’t the same as the regular Copilot that’s already baked into Windows 11—this is a separate app designed specifically for Microsoft 365 tasks.
The app will help you search for files across projects, set up AI agents to automate Office tasks, and access other Microsoft 365 AI features from one central location.
The Admin Burden
IT administrators can block this installation, but they have to set up the blocking policies before October hits. This puts the work on admins to actively prevent something they never requested in the first place.
Organizations that don’t want the app will need to configure group policies, monitor for surprise installations during updates, and deal with confused users asking about the new software that appeared on their desktops.
Why This Feels Wrong
We already have Copilot built into Windows 11. We also have Copilot features inside individual Office apps. Adding a third Copilot interface seems like overkill when the functionality could just be better integrated into what already exists.
The pattern here is familiar: Microsoft installs something automatically, then offers ways to remove or block it afterward. It’s the same approach they’ve used with Edge, various Microsoft Store apps, and other bundled software.
Europe Gets a Break
Users in the European Economic Area won’t deal with this forced installation. Regulatory requirements mean Microsoft has to ask permission before installing apps in those regions. The result is a cleaner, less intrusive experience for European users.
The Naming Mess
This comes alongside Microsoft’s recent trend of slapping “Copilot” onto every service name. The result is a confusing collection of apps with long, similar names that are hard to remember and distinguish from each other.
At this rate, don’t be surprised if PowerPoint becomes “PowerPoint Copilot” just to show it has AI features.
What to Expect
When October rolls around, Windows 11 users with Office apps will likely see a new Microsoft 365 Copilot entry in their Start menu. There might be notifications about the new app and prompts to integrate it with existing Office applications.
Whether you’ll be able to uninstall it after installation remains unclear, though Microsoft usually allows removing apps that aren’t core Windows components.
The Real Issue
The core problem isn’t whether Copilot is useful—it can be helpful for many tasks. The issue is Microsoft continuing to make software decisions for users instead of letting them choose which AI tools they want on their systems.
Every automatic installation creates more work for IT departments and more confusion for end users. It also clutters systems with potentially redundant software when better integration of existing tools might serve users better.
For now, administrators who don’t want this app should prepare their blocking policies before October. Everyone else should get ready for another uninvited guest in their Start menu.
