SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft's Edge browser now lets users hide the Copilot artificial intelligence assistant icon from the toolbar. Version 144.0.3719.82 includes the option to remove it by right-clicking the icon and selecting "Hide Copilot."
The change responds to feedback from users who found the persistent icon disruptive. Microsoft is extending similar adjustments to other products: the Copilot button in Office apps will move to the ribbon, and the icon in Notepad has been replaced by a "Writing Tools" option.
Some users have built third-party tools to strip what they consider unwanted AI features from Windows 11, a signal that Microsoft's aggressive Copilot rollout has generated friction alongside adoption.
Microsoft also announced it is discontinuing Collections, a feature that let Edge users save and organize links, notes and research within the browser. The company has not explained its reasons or provided a timeline for ending support.
Dropping Collections frees development and maintenance resources that Microsoft can redirect toward Copilot and its underlying infrastructure. Microsoft shares closed at $495.67, up 0.7 percent.
