Copilot Not Working

How to Disable Copilot Blocking Outlook Email Composition on Mac

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to hide or disable Microsoft Copilot because it obstructs the email composition window and causes performance issues, including freezing.

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Writing and composing emails using the Microsoft Outlook application or web interface on a Mac.
Observed behavior: The Copilot pane covers the email compose area, blocking access to the text body, and frequently causes the application or browser tab to freeze entirely.

Before you start

Make sure your current email drafts are saved elsewhere before restarting the application, and check if your organization's IT administrator has restricted your ability to modify connected experience settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Turn Off Connected Experiences in Outlook

Manage your Outlook privacy settings to disable Copilot and other connected cloud services.

Because Copilot is deeply integrated into Microsoft 365 applications, it cannot always be uninstalled separately. However, you can manage its visibility by disabling Microsoft's connected experiences.

Access Outlook Preferences

Open the Microsoft Outlook application on your Mac, click on 'Outlook' in the top Apple menu bar, and select 'Preferences' or 'Settings'.

Navigate to Privacy Settings

Click on 'Privacy' or navigate to the 'Connected Experiences' section, depending on your specific version of Outlook.

Disable Connected Experiences

Toggle off the option for 'Turn on all connected experiences' to revoke Copilot's access, then restart Outlook to apply the changes.

Feature Limitations: Disabling connected experiences will also turn off other cloud-based Microsoft features, such as document translation and roaming settings.

Solution 2

Troubleshoot a Stuck Copilot Pane on Mac App

Force the application state to reset when the Copilot pane becomes unresponsive and freezes your screen.

Solution 3

Fix Copilot Blocking Email in Outlook Web and Hotmail

Resolve visual overlapping and freezing when accessing Hotmail or Outlook Web via Microsoft Edge on a Mac.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I completely uninstall Copilot from Microsoft Outlook?

Copilot is deeply integrated into Microsoft 365 applications as a core feature rather than a standalone add-in. Instead of fully uninstalling it, users can only manage its visibility or turn off connected experiences, depending on their subscription and administrator policies.

Will disabling connected experiences in Outlook affect other features?

Yes, turning off connected experiences to disable Copilot will also disable other cloud-based services in Microsoft 365, such as document translation, online media insertion, and cloud-backed formatting recommendations.

What should I do if Copilot completely freezes my Mac?

If Copilot causes Outlook to freeze your Mac, force quit the application by pressing Option + Command + Esc. Afterwards, ensure your macOS and Outlook application are fully updated, or temporarily use Outlook on the web in a private browser window to manage your emails.

Microsoft Copilot Issues