How to Remove "Ask Copilot" from the Windows 11 Right-Click Menu (and Why It May Come Back)

The “Ask Copilot” entry in the Windows 11 right-click menu comes from the Microsoft Copilot app, not from Windows itself. To remove it you can block its shell extension in the registry, uninstall the Copilot app, or use a menu editor. ContextCleaner from Automata Labs lists every right-click entry along with the app or package that added it, so you can switch off just that one entry without editing the registry yourself, and undo it later. One warning before you start: Copilot changes often, and on newer Windows builds the registry method that worked for months may no longer hide it.

See which app put each entry in your right-click menu, and switch off the ones you never use.

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Where does “Ask Copilot” in the right-click menu come from?

According to Eleven Forum’s tutorial, “Ask Copilot” was added to the context menu starting with Copilot app version 1.25044.93.0. It appears when you right-click one or more files, or Shift+right-click them. Choosing it opens Copilot with the selected files attached, so you can ask questions about them.

That detail matters. The entry is added by an app package, the same way many other apps add entries to the compact Windows 11 menu. It is not a fixed part of File Explorer, which is why you can remove it without breaking anything else.

How do I remove “Ask Copilot” with the registry?

The widely shared method uses the Windows Shell Extensions Blocked list. Windows skips any shell extension whose class ID (CLSID) appears in that list. Eleven Forum and PCWorld both describe it.

Back up the registry or create a restore point first. Then:

1. Press Win+R, type regedit and press Enter.
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions.
3. If there is no key named Blocked under it, create one.
4. Inside Blocked, create a new String Value named {CB3B0003-8088-4EDE-8769-8B354AB2FF8C}.
5. Create a second String Value named {ED215C26-C810-49CE-929E-31D7E83A82E9}. Eleven Forum labels the first ID as the older Ask Copilot entry and the second as the newer one.
6. Restart File Explorer from Task Manager, or sign out and back in.

The value data does not matter. Windows only looks at the value names. To apply the change for every account on the PC, use the same path under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE instead, which needs administrator rights. To bring the entry back, delete the two values.

Why does the registry fix not work anymore?

Eleven Forum’s tutorial now carries this note: “This tutorial no longer works starting with Windows 11 version 26H2.” Forum members also report that Copilot itself has changed, with some saying it now behaves more like a web-based app than the earlier standalone one. Copilot is updated through the Microsoft Store on its own schedule, so the class ID behind the menu entry, or the way the entry is registered, can change without a Windows update.

In practice that means:

• On older builds, the two Blocked values usually hide the entry.
• On Windows 11 version 26H2 and later, the forum reports the method no longer works.
• After a Copilot update, an entry you hid may come back under a new ID.

None of this is unusual for Windows 11 menu items. The compact menu pulls entries from packaged apps, classic registry commands and COM add-ons, which are registered in different places. Our guide to why a context menu item is not in the registry explains the four sources in detail.

Can I remove it by uninstalling Copilot?

Yes. Removing the Copilot app removes everything it adds, including the right-click entry. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Copilot, select the three-dot menu and choose Uninstall.

That is the most reliable option if you never use Copilot. It is a poor option if you do use Copilot and only dislike the menu entry. Copilot may also return later, for example when it is reinstalled from the Microsoft Store.

How do I remove “Ask Copilot” with ContextCleaner?

ContextCleaner is a right-click menu editor for Windows 11 and Windows 10. According to its product page, it scans all four places Windows builds the menu from, including Windows 11 modern menu items from packaged and MSIX apps, and shows which app, DLL or package added each row.

1. Install ContextCleaner from the Microsoft Store and let it scan.
2. Search for Copilot, or filter to third-party entries only.
3. Check the row’s origin to confirm it was added by the Copilot package, then switch it off.
4. Press Apply. Changes stay pending until you do, and a snapshot is written first.
5. Right-click a file to confirm the entry is gone.

What happens behind the scenes, according to the product page:

• Removals are non-destructive. Entries are marked hidden and add-ons go on a block list, so nothing is deleted.
• A snapshot is written before every apply. If it cannot be written, the change is not applied.
• Undo and redo are stored on disk, up to 25 steps each, surviving app and PC restarts.
• One administrator prompt per apply for machine-wide changes, not one per entry.
• Honest results. If Windows refuses an entry, ContextCleaner tells you how many instead of reporting success.

Be realistic about the limit. If a Windows build or Copilot update stops honoring a block for that entry, no menu editor can promise to hide it. Check the menu after applying, and after major Copilot updates. If it reappears, rescan and look for a new row.

Switch off Ask Copilot and every other entry you never use, with a snapshot before each change.

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Which method should I use?

	Registry Blocked list	Uninstall Copilot	ContextCleaner
Removes only the menu entry	Yes	No, removes the whole app	Yes
Needs Registry Editor	Yes	No	No
Works on Windows 11 version 26H2	Reported not to work	Yes	Depends on whether Windows honors the block
Easy to undo	Delete the values	Reinstall from the Store	Undo or restore a snapshot
Shows other entries too	No	No	Yes, all four menu sources
Admin rights	Only for all users	Yes, usually	One prompt per apply for machine-wide changes
Cost	Free	Free	One-time purchase

Pick the registry method if you are comfortable in regedit and on an older build. Uninstall Copilot if you do not use it. Use ContextCleaner if Ask Copilot is one of many entries you want gone and you prefer a reversible list over registry edits. Our page on how to remove app entries from the context menu covers other common offenders.

Common mistakes

1. Editing the wrong key. The values go in Shell Extensions\Blocked, not in Shell Extensions\Approved.
2. Adding only one ID. Older and newer Copilot versions use different IDs. Add both.
3. Not restarting Explorer. The menu often keeps the old entry until Explorer restarts.
4. Assuming it is permanent. Copilot updates can bring the entry back. Check after updates.
5. Uninstalling Copilot when you use it. If you only want the menu tidy, block the entry instead.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to remove Ask Copilot from the context menu?

Yes. It only removes a shortcut to Copilot. Files, Copilot itself and the rest of File Explorer keep working. Keep a backup or snapshot so you can reverse it.

Why did Ask Copilot come back after I removed it?

Copilot updates through the Microsoft Store and the entry can change. Eleven Forum also reports that its registry method no longer works on Windows 11 version 26H2 and later.

Can I remove Ask Copilot for all users?

Yes. Add the same two values under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE version of the path, which requires administrator rights. ContextCleaner batches machine-wide changes into one administrator prompt per apply.

Does Ask Copilot also appear with Shift+right-click?

Yes. Eleven Forum notes it is available when you right-click or Shift+right-click one or more files. If you want to rethink the whole menu, read our guide to Show more options in Windows 11.

How do I undo a context menu change?

Delete the values you added in the registry, or use ContextCleaner’s undo or snapshot restore. See how to undo context menu changes for each method.

Try ContextCleaner

Get ContextCleaner from the Microsoft Store. It is a one-time purchase, and the Store listing shows the current price.

One list for every right-click entry, and a way back for every change.

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Microsoft, Windows and Copilot are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. ContextCleaner is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft.

Last updated 19 October 2026. Published by Automata Labs, a software company in Canada.