Microsoft is once again pushing its Copilot AI into Windows 11, with reports confirming the company has resumed automatically installing the Microsoft 365 Copilot app onto eligible devices. The move comes just months after the rollout was paused due to backlash and technical issues.
This time, the installation targets commercial Windows 11 machines that already run Microsoft 365 desktop apps like Word, Excel and Outlook. Instead of using the Microsoft Store or a traditional Windows update, the app is delivered through the Office updater itself, meaning many users will see it appear without any manual download.
The rollout began in mid-June 2026 and is expected to continue through early July. Crucially, the feature is enabled by default, so organisations must actively opt out if they do not want the Copilot app appearing across their systems.
Microsoft says the idea is to “simplify access” to its AI tools and make Copilot easier to discover inside everyday workflows. But critics argue the approach flips the usual expectation of consent, with IT administrators forced to disable something many users never asked for in the first place.
It is not the first time Copilot has caused controversy. Earlier in 2026, Microsoft made the assistant removable after strong user feedback, only to reintroduce it months later using a different, harder to block installation method.
There are some limits to the rollout. The automatic installs mainly affect business devices tied to Microsoft 365 subscriptions, rather than typical home PCs. Meanwhile, countries in the European Economic Area are exempt, likely due to stricter competition and privacy laws.
Still, the broader strategy is clear. Microsoft is continuing to weave Copilot deeply into its ecosystem, spanning Windows, Office apps and cloud services. For some users, the AI assistant offers productivity boosts like summarising documents or generating content. For others, the ongoing push raises familiar questions about control, privacy and how much say people really have over the software on their own devices.
