Microsoft says it removed a Copilot app that was "incorrectly" added to Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems in April due to buggy Microsoft Edge updates.
The AI-powered Copilot digital assistant was also added to some Windows Server 2025 preview builds earlier this year, but the company removed it after backlash from Windows admins.
However, after updating the Edge browser in April, many were surprised to see a new 8KB Microsoft Copilot app added to the list of installed Windows programs on live production builds of Windows Server 2022. The same Edge updates also caused it to be deployed to home systems running Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 11 21H2 or later.
The company released a new Edge update on April 18, two days after acknowledging the issue, to prevent the app from installing on more Windows systems.
Microsoft initially resolved the issue for Windows Server 2022 devices on April 26 with Edge browser updates designed to remove the Copilot chat provider package from all impacted servers. This week, it also removed the Copilot app from all Windows 10/11 home devices.
"Edge version 126.0.2592.56 was released on June 13, 2024, and removed the same package from all Windows client versions affected by this issue," Redmond said on Thursday.
"The 'Microsoft Copilot' entry will not show in the Installed apps list in the Settings menu once the Edge browser is updated."
Not designed to collect user data, says Microsot
In April, Microsoft stated that even if the installed component causes a Copilot app to appear as installed on the system, it won't actually fully install or enable Windows Copilot.
Microsoft also clarified that the app didn't collect or relay any data to their servers, as it was only intended to prepare some devices for the future enablement of Windows Copilot.
"It is important to note that the Microsoft chat provider for Copilot in Windows does not execute any code or process, and does not acquire, analyze, or transmit device or environment data in any capacity," the company said.
"This package was intended to prepare some Windows devices for future Windows Copilot enablement and was not intended for all devices.
"Although the component installed as part of this issue can cause the Microsoft Copilot app to be shown as part of the Installed apps, this component does not fully install or enable Microsoft Copilot."