Why People Want AI Gone From Windows 11
Windows 11 is increasingly built around artificial intelligence. Copilot buttons in the taskbar, AI powered features in Paint, Edge and even system level tools are becoming hard to avoid. For a lot of users this feels less like helpful innovation and more like clutter, privacy risk and background bloat they never asked for.
If you mainly use your PC for gaming or performance focused work, all these extras can feel like unnecessary overhead. That is exactly the frustration that led to the creation of a new script called RemoveWindowsAI, hosted on GitHub by a developer who goes by the name zoicware.
The goal of this tool is simple. Strip as many AI features as possible out of Windows 11, especially on the 25H2 build and future versions that are expected to lean even harder into AI.
The developer explains that Microsoft is baking more AI components into the operating system with every major update. The script therefore aims to remove or disable these features to improve user experience, privacy and security. It is not an official Microsoft tool and it is definitely not aimed at casual users, but it is an option for those who are determined to keep Windows lean and predictable.
What The RemoveWindowsAI Tool Actually Does
Under the hood, RemoveWindowsAI is a collection of scripts and tweaks that go after Windows 11 AI features on several fronts. It does more than just turn off a Copilot button in the taskbar. It tries to make sure those bits do not quietly return with the next cumulative update.
Here are some of the key things it targets:
- Disables Copilot so the main AI assistant is no longer available in the shell.
- Disables Recall the controversial feature designed to track activity on your PC for later AI powered search.
- Blocks Input Insights and typing data collection reducing how much keyboard usage data is harvested for AI suggestions.
- Disables Copilot in Microsoft Edge removing the AI panel that appears in the browser.
- Disables Image Creator and AI in Paint so the classic art app is no longer wired into cloud AI image tools.
- Removes the AI Fabric Service which is one of the background components used to power AI features.
- Disables AI Actions and AI integrations that hook into system level context menus and workflows.
- Disables Voice Access and AI Voice Effects for those who do not want voice control or AI audio processing built into the OS.
- Disables AI in Settings Search so system search behaves more like a traditional, non AI enhanced tool.
The script goes further by removing various AI related files and registry entries and by trying to prevent AI packages from reinstalling themselves during updates. It even includes a custom Windows Update configuration aimed at blocking Microsoft from silently re enabling the same AI components with future patches.
Some AI features still cannot be fully removed by this script alone. Gaming Copilot and OneDrive AI are examples where the tool cannot directly rip them out, but the GitHub page includes instructions on how to turn those off manually in Windows settings.
For power users and PC gamers who already run debloating tools after a fresh Windows install, this fits in alongside popular utilities like Chris Titus Tech's Windows Utility. However, RemoveWindowsAI is much more focused on nuking AI specifically, rather than general cleanup.
Risks, Tradeoffs And Who This Is For
This kind of heavy handed tweaking comes with real risks. Windows 11 is being designed with AI as a core pillar, not just a bolt on feature. That means yanking out a lot of AI related services and registry keys can sometimes have side effects on parts of the system that do not obviously look like AI.
Because of that, this is not the sort of tweak you apply lightly. Editing the Windows registry, disabling system services and blocking updates is always something you should only do when you understand the potential fallout and are ready to troubleshoot problems. If your PC is mission critical for work or you are not comfortable repairing a Windows install, this is probably not for you.
The author of the article makes it clear they are not a security or software expert and advises anyone interested to do their own research before running scripts that dig this deep into the system. That is important. You should always read through scripts from GitHub before running them and only download from the original source, not random mirrors.
On the other hand, for users who already feel pushed toward an increasingly agentic operating system, where AI agents are allowed to rummage through files or constantly suggest actions, a tool like this is a way to push back. It will not stop Microsoft from continuing its AI push but it does give individual users a method to carve out their own more traditional Windows experience on their own hardware.
The broader context is that Microsoft talks about Windows evolving into an agentic OS, with deeper AI driven automation and file awareness. For privacy conscious gamers and enthusiasts who want a clean platform for their games and apps, that direction can feel uncomfortable. Being able to selectively remove or disable the parts they do not trust or do not want is part of keeping control over their systems.
There are a couple of silver linings mentioned too. Not every upcoming change to Windows 11 is about AI. For example, there are signs that the classic Run dialog box is getting a fresh new look. But that does not change the bigger trend that AI will be embedded even further into the OS over time.
If you decide to experiment with RemoveWindowsAI, make sure you:
- Create a full system backup or restore point first.
- Read the GitHub documentation carefully.
- Understand exactly which features you are removing.
- Be prepared to repair or reinstall Windows if something breaks.
For PC gamers and hardware enthusiasts who prefer a lean system with no surprise assistants, AI panels or background data collection, this tool is an interesting new option. Just treat it with the same caution you would with any powerful mod to your operating system.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/software/windows/if-you-want-to-scrub-windows-11s-ai-features-off-the-face-of-the-earth-some-legend-has-made-a-tool-that-does-just-that/
