Key Takeaways
- Most AI features can be turned off in your device or app settings, but there is rarely a single master switch. You disable them one feature or one app at a time.
- Meta AI and Google AI Overviews cannot be fully removed. You can mute, hide, or bypass them, and this guide shows the workarounds that hold up in 2026.
- Updates sometimes turn AI features back on or reinstall AI apps, so it is worth rechecking these settings after any major software update.
AI assistants have been added to nearly every device and app over the past two years, usually without asking. Copilot appears on your Windows taskbar, a Meta AI circle sits in your WhatsApp chats, Google answers your searches before showing you any websites, and your Samsung phone summarizes your calls whether you wanted it to or not.
If you would rather use your devices without AI watching, suggesting, and summarizing, this guide covers the five biggest offenders. Each section gives you the short answer first, then the exact steps. You do not need any technical experience, and every change here can be reversed later if you change your mind.
This guide pairs well with our walkthroughs on turning off Amazon AI search results and disabling Gmail's AI features.
How to Turn Off Copilot in Windows 11
Short answer: Uninstall the Copilot app from Settings, then remove the taskbar button and reassign the Copilot key if your keyboard has one.
Uninstall the Copilot app
Copilot is installed as a regular app on Windows 11, which means you can remove it like any other program.
- Open Settings (press the Windows key, type "settings," and press Enter).
- Go to Apps, then Installed apps.
- Type "Copilot" in the search box.
- Click the three dots next to Copilot and choose Uninstall, then confirm.
This removes the taskbar icon, the File Explorer right-click integration, and the Ask Copilot features. If you also see "Microsoft 365 Copilot" in the list, uninstall that too.
Remove the taskbar button and Copilot key
If you only want Copilot out of sight rather than uninstalled:
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and turn the Copilot toggle Off.
- If your keyboard has a dedicated Copilot key, go to Settings > Personalization > Text input and choose Customize Copilot key on keyboard to reassign it to something useful, like Search.
Turn off Copilot in Word, Excel, and other Office apps
- Open the app (Word, for example) and go to File > Options > Copilot.
- Uncheck Enable Copilot, click OK, then close and reopen the app.
- Repeat in each Office app. The checkbox only applies to the app you change it in.
Good to know: Windows updates occasionally reinstall Copilot. If it comes back after an update, repeat the uninstall steps. Windows 11 Pro users can also enable the "Remove Microsoft Copilot app" Group Policy added in the April 2026 update to keep it gone permanently.
How to Turn Off Meta AI in Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp
Short answer: Meta AI cannot be fully removed from any Meta app. You can mute it, delete its chats, block it from group conversations, and object to Meta using your data for AI training.
Mute Meta AI on Facebook and Messenger
- Open Messenger and find the Meta AI chat in your chat list.
- Tap the (i) info button in the top corner.
- Select Mute, then choose Until I change it.
- Optionally, archive the chat so it disappears from your inbox.
Mute Meta AI on Instagram
- Open Instagram and tap the messages icon (paper airplane) at the bottom.
- Tap the blue and purple Meta AI circle in the search bar to open the AI chat.
- Tap the (i) icon in the top right, then the bell icon.
- Turn on Mute messages and select Until I change it.
Block Meta AI from your WhatsApp chats
The Meta AI button in WhatsApp cannot be removed, but you can stop it from being used inside your conversations:
- Open a chat and tap the person or group name at the top.
- Scroll down and tap Advanced Chat Privacy.
- Turn the toggle on. Meta AI will no longer be available in that chat, even if someone types @Meta AI.
- Repeat for each chat you want protected. Group chats are worth doing first, since any member can otherwise summon the AI.
You can also delete any existing Meta AI conversation: open the Meta AI chat, tap the menu, and choose Delete chat.
Object to your data being used for AI training
- On Facebook, go to Settings & Privacy > Privacy Center.
- Find the AI at Meta section and select Submit an objection request.
- Enter the email tied to your account and submit.
Users in the EU and UK have stronger legal opt-out rights than US users, and Meta can deny requests depending on your region. Submitting the objection still puts your preference on record.
How to Turn Off Google AI Overviews in Search
Short answer: There is no official off switch, but three workarounds reliably remove AI Overviews: the Web filter, adding -ai to your search, and setting a custom search shortcut with the udm=14 parameter.
Use the Web filter
- Run any Google search.
- Look at the row of tabs under the search box (All, Images, Videos, News, Web).
- Click Web. You get traditional links only, with no AI summary.
Add -ai to your search
Typing -ai at the end of any search query suppresses the AI Overview for that search. For example: best cable modem for gigabit -ai. Quick, works on any device, no setup required.
Make it permanent with udm=14
Adding &udm=14 to a Google search URL forces web-only results every time. You can set this as your browser's default search engine:
- In Chrome, go to Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines.
- Click Add next to Site search.
- Name it "Google Web" and enter this URL: {google:baseURL}search?q=%s&udm=14
- Click the menu next to your new entry and choose Make default.
Every search from your address bar will now skip AI Overviews automatically. The site tenbluelinks.org offers one-click setup instructions for other browsers and phones.
How to Turn Off Galaxy AI on Samsung Phones
Short answer: Go to Settings > Galaxy AI and turn off each feature's toggle. For a near-total shutoff, enable "Process data only on device," which disables every cloud-based AI feature at once.
Turn off individual Galaxy AI features
- Open Settings and tap Galaxy AI.
- You will see every AI feature listed: Writing Assist, Photo Assist, Call Assist, Note Assist, Browsing Assist, and more.
- Tap each feature and turn off its toggle. There is no single master switch, so work down the list.
Block all cloud AI at once
- In Settings > Galaxy AI, scroll to the bottom.
- Turn on Process data only on device.
This stops your data from being sent to Samsung's servers and disables every cloud-dependent AI feature in one move. It is the best single privacy step on a Galaxy phone.
Disable Gemini and Bixby
- First, reclaim the side button: go to Settings > Advanced features > Side button and change the long-press action to Power off menu.
- Then go to Settings > Apps, tap Gemini, and tap Disable. Repeat for Bixby.
Turn off Now Brief and Now Nudge
- Go to Settings > Galaxy AI > Now nudge > Personal data intelligence and turn the toggle off.
- For the lock screen, go to Settings > Lock screen and AOD > Now Bar and turn off the toggles there.
How to Turn Off Alexa+ on Amazon Echo Devices
Short answer: Say "Alexa, end Alexa Plus" to your Echo device, or cancel the subscription from Your Memberships and Subscriptions on Amazon's website. Your device reverts to the original Alexa.
Deactivate by voice
- Say "Alexa, end Alexa Plus" to your Echo device.
- Confirm with "yes" when Alexa asks. Your device returns to the classic Alexa experience.
Cancel from your Amazon account
- Sign in to Amazon and go to Your Memberships & Subscriptions.
- Find your Alexa+ subscription (or Early Access entry).
- Select Cancel My Subscription or End Early Access and follow the prompts.
Two cleanup steps afterward
- Reverting turns on Follow-Up Mode, which keeps the microphone listening after each request. Say "Alexa, turn off Follow-Up Mode" to disable it.
- Review your voice data settings: in the Alexa app, go to Settings > Alexa Privacy > Manage Your Alexa Data and opt out of saving voice recordings and using them to improve Alexa.
When you want the microphone fully off, press the physical mic button on the Echo. The light ring turns red and the device stops listening until you press it again.
Why AI Features Keep Coming Back
Software updates are the main culprit. Windows updates sometimes reinstall Copilot, Meta app updates can restore archived AI chats, and phone OS upgrades add new AI features that default to on. None of this means your settings failed. It means each update ships with AI enabled and ignores your previous choices.
The fix is a habit, not a setting: after any major update to your phone, computer, or apps, spend two minutes rechecking the toggles covered above. If you care about keeping AI and data collection out of your home network entirely, a privacy-focused router gives you a layer of control that no app setting can. See our guide to GL.iNet routers and network-level privacy for that approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you permanently turn off AI on all your devices at once?
No. There is no universal off switch. Each company controls its own AI features, so you have to disable them separately on Windows, your phone, your browser, and each app. The steps above cover the five platforms where AI is most aggressive.
Does turning off AI features stop data collection?
Partially. Disabling AI features stops those specific tools from processing your activity, but the underlying apps still collect data for ads and analytics. For Meta and Google, submitting a data objection request and adjusting your ad settings reduces collection further. Samsung's "Process data only on device" setting is the strongest single option, since it keeps AI processing off the cloud entirely.
How do you turn off Gemini on an Android phone?
Go to Settings > Apps > Gemini and tap Disable. Also check Settings > Apps > Choose default apps > Digital assistant app and switch away from Gemini. On Samsung phones, change the side button long-press action first so it no longer launches Gemini.
Can you turn off Apple Intelligence on an iPhone?
Yes. Go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle. Unlike most platforms in this guide, Apple provides a single switch that disables the whole feature set at once.
How do you get rid of the AI summary at the top of Google?
Click the Web tab under the search bar, or add -ai to the end of your search. For a permanent fix, set a custom search engine using the udm=14 URL parameter as described above. Google does not offer an official setting to disable AI Overviews.
Why is there no option to remove Meta AI from WhatsApp?
Meta built the assistant into the app itself rather than making it an optional feature, and the company has confirmed it cannot be removed. Your best options are muting the Meta AI chat and turning on Advanced Chat Privacy in each conversation, which blocks the AI from being used in that chat.
Does disabling AI features improve battery life or performance?
Often, yes. AI features run background processes and make frequent network requests. On older phones and computers, disabling assistants like Copilot, Gemini, and Galaxy AI can free up memory and reduce battery drain, though the difference varies by device.
