Office Settings & Configuration

How to Disable Feature Tips and Pop-Ups in Microsoft 365

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to stop instructional and promotional feature pop-ups from appearing in Microsoft 365, as modifying standard settings and registry values has not resolved the issue.

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to disable distracting instructional or promotional feature pop-ups in the Office application interface.
Observed behavior: Feature tips continue to appear because the standard 'Screen Tips' settings do not control promotional pop-ups, and Microsoft does not offer a native option to disable them entirely.

Before you start

Before proceeding, it is important to understand the difference between 'Screen Tips' (which can be disabled) and 'Feature Tips' (which are controlled directly by Microsoft).

Solution 1Recommended

Submit Feedback to Microsoft Regarding Feature Tips

Since there is no built-in setting to disable Feature Tips, the best approach is to submit a direct request to the Microsoft Office development team.

Microsoft 365 differentiates between 'Screen Tips' (the descriptive text when hovering over ribbon commands) and 'Feature Tips' (promotional or instructional pop-ups). Currently, Microsoft does not provide a built-in setting or registry key to completely disable all Feature Tips.

Open a Microsoft 365 Application

Launch any Office application, such as Microsoft Word or Excel.

Navigate to Feedback

Click on the 'File' menu in the top-left corner, then select 'Feedback' from the bottom of the left-hand navigation pane.

Submit a Suggestion

Click on 'I have a suggestion' and type out a request asking for a dedicated toggle setting to disable Feature Tips and promotional pop-ups. Click 'Submit'.

Limitation Acknowledged: While this does not immediately remove the pop-ups, it is the official channel Microsoft uses to gauge user frustration and prioritize future setting updates.

Solution 2

Disable Standard Screen Tips (Workaround for Hover Pop-ups)

If your goal is to hide the descriptive boxes that appear when you hover your mouse over ribbon commands, you can disable Screen Tips.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Tired of Distracting Pop-Ups? Try WPS Office

If unskippable feature tips and promotional pop-ups in Microsoft 365 are interrupting your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a clean, distraction-free interface while maintaining full compatibility with your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free, lightweight installer.
2. Install and Set as Default: Follow the quick installation steps and set WPS Office as your default application for opening documents.
3. Work Without Interruptions: Open your existing Office files in a streamlined environment free from forced feature pop-ups.

Clean, distraction-free user interface without forced promotional pop-ups.Highly compatible with Microsoft Office formats like DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX.Lightweight installation with fast startup times.Free to use with essential office productivity tools built-in.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do registry tweaks not disable Office feature tips permanently?

Microsoft controls Feature Tips dynamically through server-side updates and the cloud. This means that local registry keys or standard options often get overwritten or bypassed by the software's built-in cloud communication.

What is the exact difference between Screen Tips and Feature Tips?

Screen Tips are the small informational boxes that appear when you hover your cursor over a ribbon button. Feature Tips are larger, often unprompted pop-ups designed by Microsoft to teach you about new features or promote specific services within the app.

Can I turn off the 'What's New' pop-up in Microsoft 365?

The 'What's New' window is part of the broader Feature Tips system. While you can close it manually when it appears after an update, there is currently no native setting in Microsoft 365 to permanently prevent it from showing up.

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