RemoveWindowsAI Script Disables AI Features in Windows 11 Amid Privacy Concerns
A GitHub script named RemoveWindowsAI has gained attention for disabling Windows 11 AI features such as Copilot, Recall, and other AI-enhanced apps, while also blocking their reinstallation through Windows Update. The script works by targeting registry keys, removing AppX packages, deleting installers, and installing a custom update package.
RemoveWindowsAI can run in both an interactive GUI mode and a non-interactive mode, providing options for backups and the ability to revert changes. It supports Windows 11 versions from 25H2 onward, although some steps might require manual intervention from users. The script is open-source, with users cautioned to back up their systems as future Microsoft updates could restore the removed components.
Interest in the script surged following a popular post on X, resulting in the repository receiving over 12,000 likes, more than 300,000 views, 938 stars, and 25 forks.
Microsoft markets Windows 11 as an "AI PC," embedding features like Copilot and Recall, alongside on-device AI capabilities. Recall, launched in 2025, uses screenshot timelines and operates with opt-in user controls, encryption, and the ability to pause or filter the feature. Windows Hello remains available for authentication purposes.
Some users have voiced concerns about the AI features' resource consumption, potential data harvesting, and the difficulty of opting out. This backlash has been described as a reaction to forced AI integration, contributing to slower adoption rates of Windows 11 compared to previous Windows versions.
Microsoft has not commented publicly on the RemoveWindowsAI script but emphasizes that its AI features prioritize user control and security.
